Frank Johnson (basketball) facts for kids
Johnson with Wake Forest in 1981
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 23, 1958 Weirsdale, Florida, U.S. |
| High school | Lake Weir (Summerfield, Florida) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Wake Forest (1976–1981) |
| NBA Draft | 1981 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall |
| Selected by the Washington Bullets | |
| Pro career | 1981–1994 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1981–1988 | Washington Bullets |
| 1988–1989 | Houston Rockets |
| 1989–1991 | A. Ranger Varese |
| 1991 | Marr Rimini |
| 1991–1992 | Olympique Antibes |
| 1992–1994 | Phoenix Suns |
| As coach: | |
| 1997–2002 | Phoenix Suns (assistant) |
| 2002–2004 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2017–2018 | Milwaukee Bucks (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 4,937 (8.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,025 (1.7 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,476 (4.2 apg) |
Franklin Lenard Johnson (born November 23, 1958) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played for ten seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with teams like the Washington Bullets, Houston Rockets, and Phoenix Suns.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
High School and College Success
Frank Johnson played basketball for the Lake Weir Hurricanes in high school. In 1974–1975, during his junior year, he was a key player for the Hurricanes. His team had an amazing undefeated season, winning all 33 games and Marion County's first state championship.
After high school, Frank went on to play college basketball for Wake Forest University. He was recognized as an All-American player in the 1980–81 season. His achievements were honored when he was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 1998.
Joining the NBA
In 1981, Frank Johnson was chosen in the first round of the 1981 NBA draft. The Washington Bullets picked him as the 11th overall player. He played as a point guard in the NBA, which is like the team's quarterback, setting up plays and passing the ball.
He played for the Bullets from 1981 to 1988. Later, he joined the Houston Rockets for the 1988–89 season. He also played for the Phoenix Suns from 1992 to 1994. With the Suns, his main job was to help out and give a break to their star player, Kevin Johnson.
Frank played a total of 650 games in the NBA, including regular season and playoff games. On average, he scored 8.3 points and made 4.2 assists per game during his career.
Playing Overseas
Besides playing in the NBA, Frank Johnson also played professional basketball in Italy. He played for Ranger Varese from 1989 to 1991. During his time there, his team even reached the finals of the Italian Championship in 1990. He also played for Marr Rimini in 1991.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Frank Johnson became a coach. He worked as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns starting in the 1996-97 season. He served under coaches like Danny Ainge and Scott Skiles.
In February 2002, Frank was promoted to head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He coached the team for almost two seasons. He was replaced in December 2003 because the team's performance was not as strong as hoped during the 2003-04 NBA season. Later, in 2017, he also worked as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Personal Life
"Fourth Quarter Frank"
Frank Johnson earned a cool nickname during his playing days: "Fourth Quarter Frank." This nickname came from his ability to perform well and help his team win close games, especially in the final quarter when the pressure was on.
Family in Basketball
Frank isn't the only basketball player in his family. His brother, "Fast Eddie", also played in the NBA. Eddie played for more than eight seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and also had stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle SuperSonics. Eddie was a two-time NBA All-Star in 1980 and 1981, showing the basketball talent runs in their family!
See also
In Spanish: Frank Johnson para niños
