The 75 greatest players in NBA history, ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER)
By Cal Durrett
65. Kevin Johnson-20.70
Three-time NBA all-star Kevin Johnson spent twelve seasons in the NBA and is best known for his time as a member of the Phoenix Suns. He spent all but half a season with the Suns after initially being drafted and playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In Phoenix, Johnson quickly developed into a star, winning Most Improved Player in his second season and first full season with the Suns and making the first of three all-star teams in his third season.
His play helped turn the Suns into a perennial contender; they made the Western Conference Finals in consecutive seasons in 1988–89 and 1989–90 with Johnson as their best player and the NBA Finals with Johnson playing alongside Charles Barkley.
While he didn't ultimately win a championship, the Suns made the playoffs with him 11 straight times, an impressive feat. Ironically, while he has a career PER over 20, he only made the all-star team three times, though he actually made five all-NBA teams, which is usually much harder to do. That shows just how good and impactful he was during his prime.