Steve Johnson (basketball) facts for kids
Johnson as a freshman at OSU
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 3, 1957 Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| High school | San Gorgonio (San Bernardino, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Oregon State (1976–1981) |
| NBA Draft | 1981 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall |
| Selected by the Kansas City Kings | |
| Pro career | 1981–1991 |
| Career history | |
| 1981–1984 | Kansas City Kings |
| 1984–1985 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1985–1986 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1986–1989 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1989–1990 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 1990 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1990–1991 | Golden State Warriors |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 7,345 (11.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,450 (5.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 777 (1.2 apg) |
Clarence Stephen Johnson (born November 3, 1957) is a former American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a power forward and center.
Contents
College Basketball Star
Steve Johnson played college basketball at Oregon State University. His coach was Ralph Miller, a famous coach now in the Hall of Fame. Steve was the main player on the 1980–81 team, known as the "Orange Express."
Record-Breaking Season
That season, his team reached the number one spot in national rankings. However, they were upset in the second round of the 1981 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament by Kansas State. During that year, Steve made 235 out of 315 shots. This gave him a field goal percentage of .746. This was an NCAA men's basketball record for many years. It was finally broken in 2017 by Devontae Cacok.
Playing in the NBA
After college, Steve Johnson was chosen as the seventh overall pick in the 1981 NBA draft. The Kansas City Kings drafted him. He played for the Kings from 1981 to 1984.
Moving to New Teams
- He was then traded to the Chicago Bulls.
- After a season and a half with the Bulls, he played one season for the San Antonio Spurs.
- While with the Spurs, Steve was the best in the league at field goal percentage. He shot .632, which was one of the highest in NBA history.
Time with the Portland Trail Blazers
In 1986, Steve was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. The team planned for him to play power forward. But their main center, Sam Bowie, got injured early in the season. So, Steve had to move to the starting center position.
On November 26, 1986, Steve had his best game ever. He scored 40 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. That year, he had his best season, averaging almost 17 points per game. He also had a .555 field goal percentage.
Later Career and Challenges
The next season, Sam Bowie got injured again. Steve took over as the starting center. But then Steve himself got hurt. Another player, Kevin Duckworth, took his spot and played so well that he kept the job. Even though he was injured, Steve was chosen for the West All-Star team. However, he could not play because of his injury.
After the 1988–89 season, Steve was chosen by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1989 NBA expansion draft. He was not happy about joining a new expansion team. He played only four games for the Timberwolves before being traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. He played 21 games for Seattle that season. He then played 24 games for the Golden State Warriors the next year. Steve retired from basketball after the 1990–91 season.
Career Highlights and Records
Steve Johnson holds the NCAA records for the highest field goal percentage in a single season and throughout a career. He was also known for having many personal fouls and being disqualified from games often during his NBA career.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from playing, Steve Johnson settled down in Portland. He now works with an organization called The Best of Yachting. He also invests in businesses in the Portland area.
Images for kids
-
Steve Johnson as a freshman at Oregon State University.
See also
In Spanish: Steve Johnson (baloncestista) para niños
