Vinnie Johnson facts for kids

Vincent Johnson (born September 1, 1956) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He was a very important player for the Detroit Pistons. He helped them win two National Basketball Association (NBA) championships in 1989 and 1990.

Vinnie Johnson was known as "the Microwave" in the NBA. This nickname came from his amazing ability to score points very quickly when he entered the game. He usually came off the bench as a "sixth man", which means he wasn't a starter but was one of the first players to come into the game. Besides the Pistons, he also played for the Seattle SuperSonics and the San Antonio Spurs.

Vinnie Johnson's College Basketball Journey

Vinnie Johnson started his college basketball career in 1975. He played at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. He was a star player there for two years. In the 1976–77 season, he led his team to the national tournament. He scored an average of 29 points per game and was named a junior college All-American.

After McLennan, Johnson moved to Baylor University in the same city. He played for Baylor during the 1977–78 and 1978–79 seasons. He was one of the best scorers in Baylor basketball history. He averaged 24.1 points per game in his two years there.

Johnson was named an All-American twice while at Baylor. He still holds the school record for the highest points-per-game average. He also scored 50 points in one game against TCU in 1979, which is a Baylor record.

Vinnie Johnson's Professional NBA Career

In 1979, Vinnie Johnson was picked as the 7th player overall in the NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. He played for Seattle for a couple of years. In November 1981, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons.

During the 1982-83 NBA season, Johnson had his best scoring year, averaging 15.8 points per game. He started in 51 of the 82 games that season. For most of his career after that, he became a key player who came off the bench. He was known for his energy and quick scoring.

Why He Was Called "The Microwave"

Vinnie Johnson was 6 feet 2 inches tall. He was very good at playing both point guard and shooting guard. This meant he could easily replace star players like Isiah Thomas or Joe Dumars when they needed a break.

The nickname "the Microwave" was given to him by Boston Celtics player Danny Ainge. It was because Vinnie could "heat up" the offense so quickly. He would come into the game and start scoring points fast and often.

Winning Championships with the Pistons

Vinnie Johnson was a big part of the "Bad Boys" Detroit Pistons team. This team won back-to-back NBA championships.

On June 14, 1990, Vinnie Johnson made a famous shot. With only 0.7 seconds left in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, he made a 14-foot shot. This shot helped the Pistons beat the Portland Trail Blazers 92–90. It also gave Detroit their second straight championship! For a short time after that amazing shot, some people even called him "007".

Johnson left the Pistons after the 1990–91 season. He played one final season with the San Antonio Spurs before he retired from the NBA in 1992.

His Jersey Number Retired

The Detroit Pistons honored Vinnie Johnson's great career. They retired his number 15 jersey in a special ceremony. This happened on February 5, 1994, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, which was the Pistons' home arena.

Vinnie Johnson always wore number 15 because he was inspired by a basketball legend named Earl Monroe. When a fan asked him about his jersey being retired, Vinnie said it was a "huge honor" and showed that he "did some great things for the organization."

Vinnie Johnson's Life After Basketball

After his basketball career, Vinnie Johnson started a company called Piston Automotive in 1995. This company became very successful. It supplied parts to big car companies like the Ford Motor Company and General Motors.

Today, Vinnie Johnson is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Piston Group. He also helps lead other companies and is a member of important business groups in Michigan.

See also

In Spanish: Vinnie Johnson para niños

• Michigan Sports Hall of Fame