NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of The 1990s

50 greatest NBA players from the 1990s — 20. Kevin Johnson

Kevin Johnson came into the 1990s as the reigning Most Improved Player in the NBA and an All-NBA performer after being acquired by the Phoenix Suns from the Cleveland Cavaliers in February 1988 along with Tyrone Corbin, Mark West, a first-round pick in 1988 and second-rounders in 1988 and 1989 in exchange for Larry Nance, Mike Sanders and a 1988 first-rounder.

In the 1990s, Johnson was a three-time All-Star and a four-time All-NBA selection. He was second in the NBA in assists and assists per game in 1991-92 and fourth in assists in 1989-90 and 1990-91, third in the league in 3-point percentage in 1996-97, fifth in free-throw percentage in 1997-98 and third in assists per game in 1989-90 and 1996-97, fourth in 1990-91 and fifth in 1993-94.

Though he battled injuries later in his career with the Suns, Johnson helped them to the 1993 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Chicago Bulls. In the series, he averaged 17.2 points, 6.5 assists, three rebounds and 1.3 steals in 43.3 minutes per game, shooting .421/0-for-2/.920.

Johnson retired in October 1999 and in the 1990s with Phoenix averaged 18.8 points, 9.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 35 minutes per game, shooting .493/.319/.834.

He returned to the Suns in March 2000 in a brief comeback bid, retiring permanently in August 2000.

Johnson was sixth in the 1990s with 5,259 assists and second with an average of 9.3 assists per game.

The mayor of Sacramento since 2008, Johnson is 19th in NBA history with 6,711 assists and sixth with an average of 9.1 assists per game.