Sports stats



G League Austin Spurs

Dennis Johnson Announced as Head Coach of the Austin Toros

August 19, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Austin Spurs News Release


AUSTIN, Texas, August 19, 2005 -- Dennis Johnson, a 13-year NBA veteran, five-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA Champion, has been named head coach of the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Southwest Basketball, LLC owner David Kahn and Mike Berry, Toros team president.

"It is an honor to introduce Dennis Johnson as the Austin Toros head coach," said Berry. "Dennis brings a rich history of NBA championships and a tremendous work ethic to the Toros franchise, but first and foremost he is a class individual. We welcome Coach Johnson's leadership and I know he and our players will make a great impact both on and off the court."

Johnson is no stranger to the D-League, serving as head coach for the Florida Flame last season. After one year at the helm, Johnson announced his resignation earlier this month to pursue opportunities that would allow him to move closer to his family, which is based outside Los Angeles.

Although the team posted a 17-31 overall record, the Flame won nine of its final 14 games, with three of its final five losses during that period coming by six points or fewer. Johnson's experience as a former NBA player helped to prepare players for the next level, including guard William "Smush" Parker, who became the team's first NBA call-up in January 2005. Parker recently signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Currently, Johnson is serving as an assistant coach for the USA World Championship Qualifying team that is competing in the Dominican Republic. Tulsa 66ers coach Joey Meyer is also an assistant on that team.

Johnson joined the Flame staff after an extensive career with the NBA, both as a player and a coach. During his playing days with the Seattle SuperSonics, Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics, Johnson claimed three NBA championships as well as other awards and honors. In addition to his All-Star selections, Johnson was named to nine consecutive NBA All-Defensive Teams.

"I am very happy for DJ," said NBA legend Larry Bird, now the President of the Indiana Pacers. "As a former teammate and friend, Dennis is a good person and I am sure he will do a great job."

Johnson brings a wealth of NBA coaching experience to the Toros. He was an assistant for the Boston Celtics (1991-94) and later served as head coach of the CBA's LaCrosse Bobcats in 1999-2000, when they reached the championship series.

In 2000, Johnson became an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers and ended the 2002-03 season as the Clippers head coach, finishing with an 8-16 record. In addition to his playing and coaching experience, Johnson was also an advance scout for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2003.

His successful basketball career was a distant dream from his childhood years growing up in Compton, Calif. His high school playing days as a 5-9 guard at Dominguez High school consisted of one-to-two minutes of action throughout his entire senior season. Everything changed when the coach at Harbor Junior College saw Johnson playing ball on the California streets. He was intrigued by his tough defense and convinced him to enroll in school. After two years of growing both physically and mentally, Johnson emerged as a star, averaging 18.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game while helping Harbor Junior College to a state championship.

Johnson received just two scholarship offers to play college basketball and signed a letter of intent to play for Pepperdine University. He played only one season for the Waves, averaging 15.7 points per game and leading Pepperdine into the Top 20 and a berth in the 1976 NCAA Tournament. He filed for hardship following his junior year at Pepperdine and was given permission to enter the 1976 NBA Draft, where he was selected in the second round by the Seattle Supersonics.

After barely making the team his first year with Seattle, Johnson became an impact player in his second season following the hire of Lenny Wilkens, who stepped in to take over the struggling 5-17 SuperSonics. After trading Don "Slick" Watts, Wilkens moved Johnson into the starting rotation and Seattle went on a 12-game home winning streak. The SuperSonics finished the 1977-78 season at 47-35, eventually losing to the Washington Bullets in the NBA Finals.

In 1979, Johnson guided the Sonics to an NBA Championship, defeating Washington in five games. After scoring 32 points in a Game 4 overtime victory, Johnson was named the Finals MVP. He averaged 15.9 points per game during the 1978-79 season and was selected to both his first NBA All-Star and All-Defensive Teams.

Johnson was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 1980 and was selected to the All-NBA First team in 1980-81, joining Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and George Gervin. Averaging 18.8 points per game, he helped guide the Suns to a Pacific Division title.

During the 1982-83 season, Johnson was traded to the Boston Celtics. He joined a cast of star players, including Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, that went on to win NBA titles in 1984 and 1986.

"The best player I ever played with was Dennis Johnson," said Bird in a previous statement. "Nuff said".

Johnson retired following the 1989-90 season as the 11th player in NBA history to amass more than 15,000 points and 5,000 assists.

Born September 18, 1954 as the eighth child of 16, Johnson and his wife Donna are the parents of three children: Dwayne (25), Denise (13), and Daniel (11).

For more information about Dennis Johnson and/or the Austin Toros log on to austintoros.com or call (512) 236-8333.

Check out the Austin Spurs Statistics

• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...

NBA G League Stories from August 19, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central