NBA: 50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame

50 greatest players who aren’t in the Basketball Hall of Fame: 3. Kevin Johnson

When discussing the history of the Phoenix Suns, individuals often point to two superstars as the defining legends of the organization: Charles Barkley and Steve Nash. That’s certainly understandable, as Barkley won MVP and led the franchise to its second-ever NBA Finals appearance, and Nash redefined offensive execution en route to two MVP awards.

One of the players whom one could easily argue belongs on a Suns Mount Rushmore with Barkley and Nash, however, is the point guard who helped Barkley become an MVP: Kevin Johnson.

Johnson, the 1988-89 Most Improved Player, experienced a rather significant level of success before Barkley ever arrived in Phoenix. He helped guide the Suns to the 1989 and 1990 Western Conference Finals, as well as the Western Conference Semifinals in 1992.

Johnson then helped Barkley lead Phoenix to the 1993 NBA Finals.
During that time, Johnson was named All-NBA in five different seasons. He received Second Team nods in four of those campaigns and averaged at least 19.7 points and 10.1 assists every year between 1988 and 1992.

That includes 1988-89, during which he averaged 20.4 points and 12.2 assists, and 1989-90 when he posted 22.5 points and 11.4 assists per game.

In short: Johnson produced elite numbers and won multiple playoff series.

Injuries robbed Johnson of his prime, which makes his success even more profound. Nevertheless, he managed to play 12 NBA seasons and achieved more than many point guards who are currently Hall of Famers.

Not only is he one of the best players outside of the Hall of Fame, but he’s a player who has a genuine argument for deserving to be in.