Career Retrospective- Dennis Johnson

[@80sCardCollector]

Grew up in Boston in the 80s and he was my favorite player! RIP to this Celtic Legend!

[@tracemiller9924]

After watching all the players over decades, DJ is the real one, the real star, solid play, every time, and just as clutch as bird in the layoffs. He should be here to know were still thinking of him. Thanks for the incredible drama and climatic resolutions. RIP

[@therealdarrell282]

DJ was a beast on the floor. He deserves his recognition as one of the greats to ever play in the NBA.

[@tuat.mvpformallybigd.2635]

The late great DJ. He was a great player and team mate. Need more guys like him. Bird and DJ had that it thing between them. Bird had his jersey number and DJ's number put together hanging high above the Boston basketball court. RIP DJ.

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@thinkcivil1627]

The Boston/Lakers series in 1984 totally changed when the Celtics switched and put DJ on Magic Johnson. DJ shut him down, harassed Magic into making mistakes and it was the formula that led Boston to their 15th title. I was thrilled when he was finally enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

[@xastric6944]

aids

[@jc940]

Me too! I just wished he was alive to give his HOF speech. RIP Great One!!

[@LazlosPlane]

Knicks fan here. Remember seeing DJ as a rookie the first damn time and said to myself "Here is a HOFamer." Never flashy, always dependable just did whatever it took to win. Great, great, "throwback" type player. Played the game like a MAN. RIP, DJ.

[@debbypratt501]

Love The Chemistry Of Larry And Dennis♥️♥️♥️

[@cdog187]

man D.J. had some serious drive to win...by far one of the most underrated NBA players ever....R.I.P. Mr. Johnson

[@Amick44]

Larry and Magic had (understandably) tremendous respect for him.

[@donaldthomas5852]

I always enjoy watching DJ he is a very complete player with good speed and control. Boston was the team i was for durning those years.

[@reggietheist]

My favorate player of all time. The most Clutch player on the celtics teams. The most underated player in any sport of all time. RIP DJ.

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

DJ and Bird we're definitely the most clutch players on the Celtics team ever!

[@leahmollytheblindcatnordee3586]

I checked and it looks like Dennis Johnson was inducted into the hall of fame in 2010. It should have been done sooner. If Larry Bird said he was the best player he ever played with, then he was. I enjoy watching DJ so much. He's very recognizable for some reason and I love how he worked .

[@trysometenderness7466]

Never flashy but DJ was so solid for Boston. One of the greatest players of all time. No doubt.

[@russelljackson171]

DJ is the best perimeter defender of all time to me. I started watching him play at Pepperdine. One of my favorite players!

[@radar0412]

Dennis Johnson and the Seattle Supersonics reign would end because of the arrival of one Magic Johnson in 1980. And don't you forget it. The 1979 defending NBA Champion Supersonics would lose to the Mighty Lakers in the Western Conference finals in 1980.

[@xastric6944]

who made magic with aids

[@jc940]

And Michael Jordan put an End to Magic Johnson's reign! And don't you forget it!!!😊

[@Amick44]

​@@jc940 great, greater, GREATEST!

[@roxydejaneiro5640]

Over and over again he outplayed Magic Johnson. As long as people say Magic Johnson was better, DJ is underrated.

[@m.slusher6226]

Didn't have to watch Boston long to realize DJ and Bird were on the same wavelength. It was beautiful to watch.

[@jeffreylocke8808]

Hall of Fame is what Dennis Johnson personified.

[@arciefan]

All around great player, playmaker, defender, and clutch shooter. Absolutely always looking to set up his team mates. Great, Great player. Can't say enough good things about DJ!

[@mikelynch7271]

DJ is one of my all time favorite Celtics , he was clutch as all Hell & never shrunk in the moment . His Defense against the likes of Magic & James “the Boston strangler” Toney was the difference between winning & losing... RIP DJ

[@acnicodemus4734]

Correction: It's ANDREW Toney

[@michaelj529]

Well said.

[@jonw.3886]

DJ needed to go to Boston where his greatness was realized by the other players. There was probably a lot of jealousy in Seattle and Phoenix because DJ was playing the game on a different level than everyone else, even the coaches. In those kinds of situations, you're labeled as not being a team player when in reality, you're exposing the weaknesses of the players and the coaches. That's very difficult for bruised egos to see, that maybe they are in fact the problem. In Boston, it was expected of you to play at your highest level and that's the kind of team environment that DJ needed. Bird himself said DJ is the greatest player he played with.

[@kevinwalsh1178]

Rick Robey for DJ?!?! Maybe one of the most underrated trades in NBA history.

[@Amick44]

Certainly most lopsided!

[@jjs777fzr]

RIP DJ. Gone but not forgotten.

[@pbasswil]

Love this. Love that someone's putting a spotlight on this great player. Boston was a once-in-a-lifetime synergy of fantastic talent. DJ was a cornerstone of it, but one that often got overlooked. Bird always said he was the greatest player he ever played with - and he also played with McHale, Parrish, Ainge, etc, etc! Man, these guys all made each other better and better. I never get tired of watching tapes of the '80s Celtics! Love DJ.

[@oracleyoda5805]

a real bona fide winner, clutch performer, played both ends, was a big game performer, did the things that put a ring on your finger, HOF awaits, much deserved, we all know. Thank you for the memories.

[@C6SHOUTC6M]

Man miss my great uncle bro! He was

[@davidyetter5409]

Watching the mid 80s celtics with DJ, McHale, Parish, Bird and Ainge .... They were in sync. Each working independent of the others, but aware of the others. Everybody got shots, because they we're aware of the others. DJ was a consumate team player.

[@johnkenney5363]

Bird told the story of when his friend and fellow Celtic, Rick Robey, disappointingly came to tell Bird that the Celtics had just traded him. Bird asked him whom he got traded for. Robey told him, Dennis Johnson. Bird replied, "Let me help you pack your things."

[@Amick44]

😃

[@flagcoco69]

My Mom's favorite player ever, going all the way back to the Sonics championship teams. Loved it when he came to our hometown Phoenix Suns, booed Jerry Colangelo mercilessly when he traded DJ for Rick Freaking Robey, cheered the Celtics on the rest of his career.

[@sarnow76]

Bird said DJ was the greatest player he ever played with.

[@johncase2408]

Amen! The greatest duo! They; D.J. and Bird should've gone into the hall together.

[@russelljackson171]

Magic Johnson said he was the best defender he played against.

[@C6SHOUTC6M]

@@russelljackson171 y’all should have seen at his funeral you guys are watching on the outside it really showed how respected he was when bird magic Jordan all those guy were there got to meet greats and seen how respected my great uncle was

[@irishgrl]

I’m with Larry, I feel DJ was his best pairing.

[@madcapper6]

Huge mistake by Lenny driving DJ out of Seattle. Even back in those days the good far outweighed the bad. One thing the Sonics and Suns both didn't really understand is that there are two types of teams in the NBA: those that trade players like DJ and those that win championships. No one understood that better than Red Auerbach.

[@edwolf6017]

Rick Robey for DJ is an all time heist by Red..

[@Amick44]

Lenny was a smart, excellent coach. He was also a relatively young coach when he traded DJ. I'm sure in retrospect, he wishes he had dealt differently with Dennis as well.

[@cflo1386]

One of the greatest underrated player to have ever play the game.

[@teej783]

I don't remember hin being underrated (I've been a Celtic fan since the Johnny Havlicek days) just being on the stacked Celtic teams made the league pass out HOF selections like consolation prizes.

[@cflo1386]

teejay Trujillo Look at his body of work in Seattle and Phoenix it speaks volume, Boston wasn't the only team he played on.

[@Amick44]

It sure does. He made each of his teams' noticeably better. On both ends. Bird called him his greatest teammate.

[@mikjord]

DJ, Bobby Jones are two unsung heroes.

[@NeuMasterful]

I am very happy today. DJ finally takes his place in the hall. Few, if any players give me such a kick from just watching them play. "A defensive menace on the parquet floor, thats the Celtics Dennis getting down for the score" Thank you Mr. Naismith for inventing the artform that is basketball, and thank you Mr. Johnson for performing your own brand of art.

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

RIP Dennis Johnson! 🙏🏀🌠

[@Madawg65]

I was born in Seattle and to this day he will always be my favorite player of all time..

[@ithajean]

Mine too incredible all around game and professional

[@leodurocher5454]

celtics fan here, dj was a monster big game player. He had no weaknesses on offense or defense...his outside shot could be inconsistent but usually in a regular season garbage time game....60 pct when it mattered, 40 pct shooter when it didnt....fit in perfectly with the great 80s celtics

[@melissabowers6268]

He is in now. As a Suns and Celtics fan, I am so happy he was finally inducted. The Secretary of Defense is what they called him here in the Valley of the Sun.

[@mosammat.the_ll]

dj was a legend

[@kevinwalsh1178]

It’s a travesty that DJ wasn’t still alive when inducted into HOF.

[@Amick44]

Man isn't it? There is NO excuse for waiting so long to induct Dennis and Bernard King to the hall. They made Bobby Dandridge wait too long as well. Anyhow, deservedly all are finally in.

[@Amick44]

No kidding. As a Celtic fan, tired of getting killed by Andrew Toney, I was thrilled to get DJ. And he performed as they needed and neutralized Toney.

[@jamaalthecashier]

RIP DJ, you were one of the most overlooked great guys in the NBA, you are truly missed.

[@julianmarsh1378]

The story is that the Lakers had just finished up preparing for the upcoming game with Boston...as they were leaving, coach Riley said, "Wait a min. Haven't we learned anything? DJ always plays at a higher level in the playoffs..." and he led the team back in to reconsider their strategy.

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@johmhill7312]

DJ's vertical at 1:55.........he had hops!

[@bigcolt5256]

loved the tandem of Dennis with Gus Williams

[@kenneth7826]

Me 2.....Gus Williams from my Vernon N.Y.

[@madcapper6]

One of the best series in NBA history was the 1980 conference semis between the Sonics and Bucks. In Game 1 in Seattle, JJ went up for a 15 footer vs three defenders with the shot clock winding down and rookie Marques Johnson stripped the ball and took it solo the other way for a 103-101 lead with 5 seconds to go. The ball was inbounded to DJ and he took it up the court and hit it from 45 feet to win it for the Sonics 104-103.

[@jaceywhite8603]

madcapper6 the 80s Bucks was a great underrated team that gave opposing teams problems they just couldn’t win the big one. Marques Johnson used to go toe to toe with Doc, Sidney Moncrief, the great center Bob Lanier, great team

[@ebsmith29]

He made big play after big play. He definitely should be in the hall of fame.

[@JellyBean2144]

DJ and the Iceman were my two favorite players back in the 80s. My saddest day for me, was when DJ left the Sonics and became a Sun, and then later a Celtic. DJ was awesome!!!

[@robertcherry1369]

Definitely deserving of his Hall of fame spot remember his sonic days and how he played defense on David Thompson didn’t shut him downs but , a few points less on his playoff game average continue to rest in Basketball D J one of the greats

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

Now... it's weird to hear a coach try to say that DJ wasn't team oriented! When I have only seen him be... team oriented! Lol. Bird said DJ was a 40% shooter in reg season & 60% in the playoffs! Lol. Bird and DJ were unbelievable in they could look at the other team & read the play! They were both so in tune with each other It was unbelievable! They were definitely the dynamic duo on the court!

[@springfieldbearpatrol2937]

I know him from the Lakers rivalry and the first thing I think of is his team approach. It’s strange to hear that this was in question as a younger player. From what I saw he was a very poised, talented player- in synch with the other players and game plan.

[@MP-tf7cc]

Great all around player & very unselfish in Boston. Never saw him miss a big shot at the end of a game.

[@arautus]

It's too bad he didn't live to see his induction into the Hall of Fame.

[@jc940]

That was just wrong, shame on the powers that be in the Hall Of Fame!

[@kevindickson2178]

don't forget dj was great before joining celtics

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@brandonterzic]

The steadiest player ever. He was my favorite after Bird on that team. He was like Rondo and Rodman combined.

[@jc940]

I've often wondered what could've been if DJ would've went from Seattle to Boston instead of wasting those PRIME YOUTHFUL 3 seasons in Phoenix. Probably another 2 championships for Beantown! I believe DJ was already 30 years old when he started his run with Celtics, RIP Dennis Johnson

[@edwigecatan3111]

One of my favorite Celtics player ever. RIP..

[@terencewinters2154]

RIP DJ

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@Amick44]

Thankfully, he got in, though later than it should have been. Walton said he was the best guard in the league before Magic came in. Agree totally. And one of the few he could control Magic to a decent degree. Terrific all around game. And like Larry, he seemed to expect to make the right play and succeed.

[@fezzik7619]

Born in the 70’s I grew up with the 80’s Celtics. They were like gods to a Massachusetts kid. DJ was THE point guard. Magic was hated in those days. We didn’t know then that Stockton would end up being the best PG of all time. The only thing is DJ was the 4th star on the team after Bird, Mchale, and Parrish so he didn’t draw national recognition

[@bobdavis3357]

DJ is in the NBA HOF.

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@jingqi9106]

DJ is one of my favorite players because he played with such a high basketball IQ, he was a great defender, he was so clutch, and he made his teams better as is evidenced by his finals MVP in Seattle and he record in Boston. He also made Larry Bird a better player. RIP to a great player. 🙏🏻

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@bryantharris5914]

DJ was just so clutch. That 'layup' off the steal was not an easy shot. It was well defended. He easily could have missed it or had it blocked. So there was a conventional wisdom that DJ was the guy to leave open off the double team because he wasn't as high percentage a shooter as Danny Ainge. That was a bit misleading. DJ liked to take half/full court heaves at the end of each quarter. Anyone who saw him play can remember his 'from the hip' heaves 3/4 of the court. Those count as shots too, even though you rarely hit them. When it was a real shot and it counted you could count on DJ. He also drew assignments like Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas. He had to keep the offense moving and play defense on the other teams best scorer. What a player.

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@madcapper6]

I agree he was remembered more for his years in Boston. It required him going to a high profile east coast team before he got the recognition he deserved. But Sonics fans knew what DJ was about long before that and it just took a while for fans around the league to catch up. Oftentimes you didn't realize how much better he made the team or how much of an impact he was making until he was gone, the reason he was so underrated. The Sonics' era of supremacy died a quick death when he left.

[@MegaRobertino]

Great man Great player

[@dominiclacoote2855]

DJ was tough perfect for Boston

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@madcapper6]

Longtime Sonics fan. He was the reason the Sonics won it in '79 and they never came close to another title after he left. Sonics dropped 22 games in the standings the year he left Seattle and the Suns dropped 12 games the year he got traded to Boston. Vote him in already!!

[@Amick44]

@NeuMasterful Well said! Bill Walton called DJ the best guard in the league until Magic entered. Bird called him the best he ever played with. Made each of his teams better and they all went down a notch or more when he left.

[@jstinson7072]

I have DJ ranked #30 all-time Wonderful player

[@Amick44]

That sounds pretty close.

[@Cmorbley-_-gaming]

I like dj he so fast

[@Amick44]

Best player on Seattle (champs) and Phoenix. Terrific secondary star at Boston. Results similar, champs at 2 of the 3. Made each of his teams better. A force at both ends of the floor. Only Jordan and West have equalled or bettered him in offensive/defensive balance.

[@ithajean]

Walt Frazier type guard could play and both ends.

[@Amick44]

True. Frazier a superior offensive player. DJ stronger on D. Each a big headache on both ends.

[@DavidHolcomb1776]

This is weird to me but shows how old I am but before I ever knew who Bird or Magic really were I was as kid rooting for the Bullets in 78' when they beat DJ's Sonics and when they lost to his Sonics in 79'.I knew how good he was then cuz he was the man on those teams.

[@mikem591]

DJ was scary with the Sonics. He was more solid with the Celtics. Didn’t have the same hops but was a perfect fit for the Celtics.

[@juniorjohnson9509]

When DJ got to the Celtics, he finally had teammates who were just as good, if not better, than him so that he did not have to carry the team every game.

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@juliojgr19]

Strong body, very big brain and lionheart.

[@shermanmiller3203]

To DJ’s family: DJ was COLD!!! Period, No Mo Talk

[@josephdonnelly2663]

DJ had a high basketball IQ. Given the chance, i think he would have made a great coach.

[@xastric6944]

deandre jordan

[@RealityChecking4u]

The host at the end of this misspoke. DJ was an NBA All Defensive 1st team 6 times, not 5. He was also NBA All Defensive 2nd team 3 times.

[@terencewinters2154]

He should be a posthumous HOF member. Oh he is !!!!

[@soundking4]

Bird said he was his favorite teammate. 'Nuff said.

[@jjs777fzr]

Watching the interplay between DJ and Larry was wonderful. And how did that steal happen against the Pistons? I know the steal happened because of Bird but the spidey sense DJ had to be cutting to the hoop in about a second how does that even happen? Its just not what you would do on the court.

[@madcapper6]

The title of the article in the next day's sports page was, "DJ Howitzer Puts Sonics 1 Up." That was the kind of player DJ was. He was clutch. It's no accident that he never played on a losing team in his entire NBA career and every team he played on was elite.

[@djbosox]

When Larry Bird says that he`s the smartest player that he ever played with.. well enough said.

[@officialmightynotoriousaka3897]

R.I.P. D.J.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@mrboo3049]

Is there a retrospective for BOB LANIER

[@xastric6944]

there probably is for bob's burger

[@sarnow76]

Give him the fucking hall of fame. He was a great player especially in the 4th quarter and could PLAY DEFENSE.

[@kcender3771]

Yeah, he was that good. Really.

[@FilipoSooaUlufale]

I wished the Detroit Pistons would've scooped up Dennis Johnson as a free agent in the 1990 offseason to prepare for 90-91, he would've been a better fill-in to start at PG whenever Isiah Thomas missed a large chunk of that year due to a torn wrist ligament that ruined his prime and his chances of being on the 1992 Dream Team. Better than giving Gerald Henderson, Sr. a little more playing time than he needed.

[@SrustinLim]

4:14 I love Riley's expression on DJ's game winner.

[@wrsawy]

DJ was so special. He was a great celtic, but I remember him pairing up with gus williams, downtown freddie brown, JJ and Sikma. That sonic team was a blast to watch. When he died I was in downtown Seattle, people all over were talking about him.

[@Amick44]

I know. I STILL love watching those Sonic teams, even today. Real b-ball, not just a bunch a athletes tossing down alley oops or guys jacking 3's (I know, didn't have rule then).

[@monolithgeometry3221]

Back in the day If I'm watching basketball I'd go Doc J, if I'm betting on basketball I'm going DJ

[@Amick44]

That's interesting!

[@ernestbutts9418]

I love me some DJ, clutch player

[@malcomvaughn370]

He will always be a sonic !! D.J.and J.J Gus .Lonny .And Sikma 79 world Champion 😏

[@junoxtc]

R.I.P. DJ ... GO CELTICS!!!

[@greenwolfegreen6028]

What a player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Amick44]

It was. A terrible mistake by Seattle to trade DJ. Westphal was great too, but had foot problems by the time he got to Seattle. DJ was in his prime and Seattle paid the price for a bad move.

[@teej783]

The trade was for Roby I think.

[@Amick44]

And Boston is still laughing about that (Robey).

[@geniusvenus8868]

+Mick A Rick Robey was a good player.I believe Johnson was traded because of the drug accusations he had in Phoenix.

[@Amick44]

Robey was a fine sub. Fair as a spot starter. But DJ was an all star, a force at both ends of the floor.

[@madcapper6]

The comment at 1:27 of the vid about DJ being a point guard for the Sonics is inaccurate. DJ in fact was the 2 guard for that team and the PG was Gus Williams. DJ was probably the best playmaking 2 in the league back then and was the original quasi-guard prototype that guys like Dumars and Sidney Moncrief modeled their game afterward. DJ sometimes took the PG role on certain plays when game situations called for it but he wasn't the PG. He made the position switch after he became a Celtic.

[@jaceywhite8603]

madcapper6 Gus Johnson aka “the wizard “ was so good. Your right he was the point on that Sonics team. Great underrated backcourt I believe they both made the All NBA team one year together. Great 3 guard rotation with Fred Brown similar to the Bad Boy Pistons with Zeke, Dumars, and Vinnie Johnson.

[@jaceywhite8603]

Sorry I meant Gus Williams. That Sonics team also had John Johnson playing point forward that team was deep

[@shiehy]

RIp DJ ur awesome

[@perfectiondark24]

His neice is beast.

[@MrPatrickdoan]

R.I.P Dennis

[@terencewinters2154]

Birds steal wouldve been nothing without his cut and score

[@terencewinters2154]

Upped hid game in playoffs