Lee Johnson (basketball) facts for kids
Lee Willie Johnson, born on June 16, 1957, is an American former professional basketball player. He played for a short time in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and also in many other basketball leagues around the world.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 16, 1957 Plumerville, Arkansas |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Omaha South (Omaha, Nebraska) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 1979 / Round: 1 / Pick: 17th overall |
| Selected by the Houston Rockets | |
| Pro career | 1979–1993 |
| Career history | |
| 1979–1980 | Arrigoni Rieti |
| 1980 | Houston Rockets |
| 1980 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1980–1981 | Rochester Zeniths |
| 1981–1984 | Seleco / Febal Napoli |
| 1984–1987 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
| 1987–1988 | Enichem Livorno |
| 1988–1989 | Paris Basket Racing |
| 1989–1993 | Olympique Antibes |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Contents
College Basketball Days
Lee Johnson played college basketball for four years at East Texas State University. After his college career, he was chosen by the Houston Rockets in the 1979 NBA draft. This draft is where NBA teams pick new players.
Professional Basketball Career
Lee Johnson played only one season in the National Basketball Association (NBA). During that time, he played for both the Houston Rockets and the Detroit Pistons.
Playing in Other Leagues
After his time in the NBA, Johnson played for several other basketball teams. He joined the Rochester Zeniths in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He also played in different countries like Italy, Israel, and France.
- In Italy, he played for a team called Arrigoni Rieti. With this team, he helped them win the FIBA Korać Cup in the 1979–80 season. This was a big championship in European basketball.
- In Israel, he played for Maccabi Tel Aviv from 1984 to 1987. This team is very famous in Israeli basketball.
- Later in his career, he also played for teams in France, like Olympique Antibes.
Awards and Achievements
Lee Johnson earned several important awards during his basketball career:
- In the 1980–81 season, he was named the CBA Rookie of the Year. This award goes to the best new player in the league.
- He also won the CBA Playoffs MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in the same 1980–81 season. This means he was the best player during the league's championship games.
- He helped his teams win championships, including the FIBA Korać Cup in 1980 and the French League championship in 1991.
- While playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv, he won the Israeli League championship three times (1985, 1986, 1987) and the Israeli Cup three times (1985, 1986, 1987).
