Joe Johnson (basketball)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joe Johnson
Johnson with the Hawks in 2008Photo by Chris Nelson
Johnson with the Hawks in 2008
Photo by Chris Nelson
Position Shooting guard
Height ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight 235 lb (107 kg)
League NBA
Team Atlanta Hawks
Jersey #2
Born June 29, 1981 (1981-06-29) (age 26)
Little Rock, Arkansas
Nationality USA
High school Central International Studies High School
College Arkansas
Draft 10th overall, 2001
Boston Celtics
Pro career 2001–present
Former teams Boston Celtics (2001-02)
Phoenix Suns (2002-05)
Awards 2007 All-Star, 2008 All-Star
Official profile Info Page
Medal record
Competitor for Flag of the United States United States
World Championships
Bronze 2006 Japan USA

Joe Marcus Johnson (born June 29, 1981 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is a National Basketball Association player, currently a member of the Atlanta Hawks and the United States men's national basketball team.

Contents

[edit] College career

Joe Johnson was offered many scholarships from Duke, Connecticut, etc., but chose the Arkansas Razorbacks because it was his dream to play for them. While playing for the Razorbacks, Johnson led the team in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per game, and rebounding, averaging 5.7 rebounds per game, becoming the first freshman in the school's history to lead the team in both. Joe Johnson also has 360 waves.

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Boston Celtics

After playing two seasons at the University of Arkansas, Johnson was selected 10th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2001 NBA Draft.

Johnson started 33 of Boston's first 38 games as a rookie, but his playing time dwindled as the Celtics made a push for the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 1995. Midway through his rookie season, Johnson was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with guards Randy Brown, Milt Palacio and a first round pick for veteran forward Rodney Rogers and guard Tony Delk on February 20, 2002.

[edit] Phoenix Suns

Johnson became a force with Phoenix as he averaged 15.2 points per game in his three and a half seasons with the Suns. He also developed into one of the most lethal three-point shooters in the NBA. He is notorious for his great ball-handling ability considering his size, and for his jump shot.

In the 2004-05 season playoffs, Joe Johnson required surgery on his face; after dunking a basketball, he swung off the rim and landed horribly on his face. Because of the injury, Johnson wore a face mask for the rest of the playoffs. The Suns lost to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs, 4 games to 1.

[edit] Atlanta Hawks

Johnson (#2) shoots a three against the Boston Celtic during the 2008 NBA playoffs.Photo by Chris Nelson
Johnson (#2) shoots a three against the Boston Celtic during the 2008 NBA playoffs.
Photo by Chris Nelson

In the summer of 2005 Johnson became a highly touted restricted free agent and expressed a desire to leave the Suns to assume a larger role on the Atlanta Hawks. On August 19, 2005 a deal was finalized and Johnson was involved in a sign-and-trade deal with the Hawks for Boris Diaw and two future first-round draft picks.

In his first season as a Hawk, Johnson led the Atlanta Hawks in several categories: points (20.2 per game), assists (6.5), and steals (1.26), three-point field goals made (128), and minutes(40.7). He was only one of five players in the league to average at least 20 points and six assists in the 2005-06 season. Johnson was the only Hawk to play in all 82 games and extended his current league-leading consecutive games played streak to 346 as of November 25th, 2006.

On March 5, 2006 he was one of 23 NBA players named to the 2006-08 USA Men's Senior National Team.

Johnson scored a career high 42 points on March 7, 2006 against the Golden State Warriors and recorded a career high 17 assists on March 13, 2006 against the Milwaukee Bucks. He recorded his first career triple-double on February 1, 2006 with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Charlotte Bobcats.

He played for the US national team in the 2006 FIBA World Championship, winning a bronze medal.[1]

He continued his development in the 2006-2007 season, when he averaged 25.0 points, 4.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.05 steals per game. His 25.0 scoring average was behind only Allen Iverson among qualifying NBA guards, and ninth-best overall. Johnson also shot a career-best 47.1% from the field. Johnson was named by Commissioner David Stern to the 2007 Eastern Conference All-Star team, replacing the injured Jason Kidd (back).

Johnson's scoring average had increased in each season of his 6-year NBA career through 2006-2007.

In 2008, Johnson made the 2008 All-Star Game as a reserve. He also was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month twice during the season.[2]

[edit] References

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Johnson, Joe
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Johnson, Joe Marcus (full name)
SHORT DESCRIPTION American basketball player
DATE OF BIRTH June 29, 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH Little Rock, Arkansas
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH