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Boston Celtics: 25 Best Players To Play For The Celtics

By Phil Watson

Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON, MA – CIRCA 1985: Dennis Johnson #3 of the Boston Celtics shoots against the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA basketball game circa 1985 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Johnson played for the Celtics from 1983-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – CIRCA 1985: Dennis Johnson #3 of the Boston Celtics shoots against the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA basketball game circa 1985 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Johnson played for the Celtics from 1983-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

18. <strong> How Acquired: </strong>Trade, Phoenix Suns, June 27, 1983. PG-SG. 1983-90. Dennis Johnson. 20. player

Dennis Johnson was already a four-time All-Star and a former NBA Finals MVP when he came to the Boston Celtics in a draft night trade in 1983.

The Celtics sent Rick Robey and two second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns to get Johnson, the 21st overall pick and a third-round choice.

BOS_20_JOHNSON
BOS_20_JOHNSON /

It was a huge win for the Celtics.

A classic combo guard, Johnson was an All-Star for the Celtics in 1985 and was named to four All-Defensive teams, helping the Celtics to four straight NBA Finals from 1984-87 and championships in 1984 and 1986.

Johnson finished his career in Boston, retiring in October 1990 after he was non-tendered as a free agent.

In seven seasons with the Celtics, Johnson averaged 12.6 points, 6.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 33.9 minutes per game, shooting .446/.156/.840.

Johnson declared for the pros after a single season at Pepperdine as a JUCO transfer, averaging 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

The Seattle SuperSonics took Johnson in the second round of the 1976 NBA Draft. He wasa two-time All-Star and MVP of the 1979 NBA Finals with the Sonics before being traded to Phoenix in June 1980.

Johnson was a two-time All-Star with the Suns, as well.

Johnson was later an assistant coach with the Celtics from 1993-97 and served as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers later, posting an 8-16 record as interim coach in 2002-03.

He was later a coach in the D-League with the Florida Flame and the Austin Toros, a position he held when he died of a heart attack after a practice on Feb. 22, 2007, at the age of 52.

Johnson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and is 46th in NBA history with 5,499 assists and 44th with 1,477 steals.

Next: Combo Forward Played Big For 2 Title Teams

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