"Spurs honor Dallas Mavericks coach" The Dallas Morning News

[biba]

Spurs honor Dallas Mavericks coach

Mavs coach reflects on unlikely career as San Antonio jersey is retired

Sunday, December 23, 2007
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News [email protected]
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...e.2b62160.html

SAN ANTONIO – Of all the great moments he had in nine seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, Avery Johnson had no trouble picking out his standout memories.

And "the shot" could do no better than tie for first.

"There was a family in San Antonio whose home burned down near Christmas," Johnson said. "And I took their kids Christmas shopping. I can remember holding that little boy's hand at Toys R Us. I would say moments like that – and that shot on the court – kind of encapsulated my career."

And what a career it was for a 5-11 point guard who was never drafted by an NBA team, yet is one of only two players in league history under 6 feet to have played 1,000 games. The other: Calvin Murphy.

In an emotional ceremony Saturday night – complete with a video tribute and reflections by Spurs luminaries – the Mavericks' coach had his No. 6 Spurs jersey unveiled in the rafters of the AT&T Center, alongside those of his pals David Robinson and Sean Elliott, who were in attendance.

Also hanging on high: George Gervin's, James Silas' and Johnny Moore's jerseys.

Lofty company, to be sure. Someday, Tim Duncan's jersey – and probably Manu Ginobili's, Tony Parker's and Bruce Bowen's – will join the current sixsome.

A solemn occasion, it wasn't. Not with Gregg Popovich involved. The Spurs' coach for all four of their championships, starting with the one Johnson's baseline shot at Madison Square Garden delivered in 1999, had said beforehand he was going to roast Johnson as much as honor him. He didn't disappoint.

"Avery who?" he asked when pressed for a comment. And Popovich had a tough time being serious when talking about the Spurs of yesteryear.

"That particular team had Avery's personality stamped all over it," Popovich said. "He was a very focused player, very demanding player, which is unique because he wasn't that good.

"Usually the demanding players are the Michael Jordans of the world. This guy still got it done even though all he did was go left his entire career. And nobody ever figured it out. If that's all you can do and you end up winning a championship, you deserve to be honored."

Elliott said Johnson's passion made him what he is and was a primary reason the Spurs became champions.

"Coaches don't make point guards," Elliott said. "God makes point guards. And in Avery, he made an even better man."

But for every serious commentary, there was a moment meant to keep Johnson humble and the event light.

"As we all know," Popovich said, "Avery wasn't that talented. But at the end of every quarter, he always shot it.

"It never went in. But we lived with that because that was Avery. He was competing, always."

When the jersey was unveiled, Johnson got choked up, as he did several times during the 45-minute ceremony after the Spurs had beaten the Los Angeles Clippers.

Johnson said he hoped his career could be in some small way inspire others who aren't necessarily the biggest, fastest or prettiest.

"For those young people out there that really aren't the high-fliers or the dunkers or the 3-point shooters, here's a guy who wasn't drafted and [was] in obscurity, didn't go to a big college, but he had a chance to join the big boys in the rafters that went to the big schools and were bigger in stature," Johnson said.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said that Johnson came to him when the Spurs contacted Johnson about retiring his number.

"It shows a lot of class on behalf of the Spurs' organization," Cuban said. "I remember he asked me if I thought it was appropriate that he accept it, given the rivalry and everything. I told him: ' yeah, you earned it.' "

There are too many memories for Johnson to run through. His Spurs career started with getting cut in 1991. The Spurs let him go again the following year, although technically he left as a free agent. Before he rejoined the Spurs, he was cut by Denver – on Christmas Eve. He finally latched onto the team for good in 1994. He joined forces with Robinson on numerous community projects.

One initiative became Johnson's personal project. He essentially built the Antioch Community Center. A threadbare community – just like the one where Johnson grew up in New Orleans – now has a gleaming activity and learning center.

Popovich added that the honor was meant to glorify a man as much as a career.

"There are a lot of players that have more stats than Avery and they don't get their jerseys retired," Popovich said. "He's always going to be a San Antonio Spur in our minds. And that's because of what he did in the community."

[mikekim]

"That particular team had Avery's personality stamped all over it," Popovich said. "He was a very focused player, very demanding player, which is unique because he wasn't that good.

"Usually the demanding players are the Michael Jordans of the world. This guy still got it done even though all he did was go left his entire career. And nobody ever figured it out. If that's all you can do and you end up winning a championship, you deserve to be honored."

-hilariously awesome

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said that Johnson came to him when the Spurs contacted Johnson about retiring his number.

"It shows a lot of class on behalf of the Spurs' organization," Cuban said. "I remember he asked me if I thought it was appropriate that he accept it, given the rivalry and everything. I told him: ' yeah, you earned it.' "

-shows how much of that fire, intensity, and heart Avery has lost...haha

[freemeat]

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said that Johnson came to him when the Spurs contacted Johnson about retiring his number.

"It shows a lot of class on behalf of the Spurs' organization," Cuban said. "I remember he asked me if I thought it was appropriate that he accept it, given the rivalry and everything. I told him: ' yeah, you earned it.' "

Dad, can I please!? PLEEEEEEASE?

[porscha]

the le of the article is annoying

felt AJ mentioning too much about his CHARITY work, try to let people realize he's saint no. 2?
or just lack of confidence of people's recognition about his retired jersy?
a true spurs has always been very low key about their charity contribution

[SenorSpur]

Ask Malik Rose and Chucky Brown how that feel about Avery

[SpursFanFirst]

There were some great Pop quotes in there!
Maybe someone will YouTube this soon so we can all watch it.

[ShoogarBear]

Ask Malik Rose and Chucky Brown how that feel about Avery

Or we could ask Vinnie Johnson what he feels about David Robinson and Sean Elliott.

[Ignignokt]

Or we could ask Vinnie Johnson what he feels about David Robinson and Sean Elliott.

that aj sucks?

[biba]

Spurs toast, roast Avery Johnson

'None of us could have pictured this'
By JEFF CAPLAN
Star-Telegram staff writer

"Avery who?"

That was Spurs coach Gregg Popovich's first quip Saturday night before San Antonio defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the evening's warm-up act.

The real fun came afterward when Avery Johnson's No. 6 was unveiled in the rafters of the AT&T Center, with the other four starters from the 1999 NBA le team on hand to toast -- and roast -- one of the game's most improbable success stories.

Moments after Popovich told of how Johnson was the fire and soul of the Spurs' first championship team because he was a "very focused player and a very demanding player, which was unique because he wasn't that good," Spurs owner Peter Holt greeted Johnson.

Arms extended for a hug, Holt froze and told Johnson, "You've got to say, 'Go Spurs Go.' Johnson, for this night, acquiesced, and the two embraced.

The ceremony, broadcast live on San Antonio television, went off in spectacular fashion, starting with a retrospective video montage. Nearly all of the 18,797 fans in attendance stayed to witness "AJ's" memorable night that didn't end before tears were shed.

"You are the epitome of hard work," said former teammate Sean Elliott after he cracked up the crowd with a few zingers. "We've had people throughout the years that said we could've won the championship with another point guard. I can't disagree more. It wasn't just the jump shot or your nifty dribble drive. It was your character."

The Spurs' all-time assist leader, now in his fourth season as coach of the rival Mavericks, conducted practice Saturday afternoon in Dallas before heading for his former home, where he played 10 of his 16 NBA seasons.

The ultimate undersized overachiever, the 5-foot-11 Johnson went undrafted after two fine seasons at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., his third college stop.

But, signed as a free agent, he did get cut. Twice. Once on Christmas Eve.

"None of us could have pictured this," Johnson said of his special night. "This is not anything you were thinking about when [then-head coach] Larry Brown and Pop called me and told me I was going to be cut that night.

"I had to explain that to my wife and she said, 'Again?' That was two times in two years. I was just trying to feed my family, keep my NBA career alive. I thought that was the end of my time here."

When Popovich returned to the Spurs as general manager in 1994, he brought back a more polished Johnson for a third stint and his first multi-year contract.

Johnson became "The Little General" and remained a fixture through 2001. In '99, the starting five of David Robinson and Elliott -- with their numbers already in the rafters, they took turns praising and poking fun at Johnson -- Mario Elie (now a Mavs assistant), Tim Duncan and Johnson came together as one of the NBA's fiercest defenses.

"That particular team had Avery's personality stamped all over it," Popovich said. "Usually demanding players are the Michael Jordans of the world, and this guy still got it done. Even though all he did was go to the left his entire career, nobody ever figured it out. So, if that's all you can do and you end up doing what he did and get a championship, you deserve to be honored."

The everlasting image in the minds of Spurs fans is the freeze frame of Johnson launching the le-clinching, left-handed baseline jumper in Game 5 of the Finals against the Knicks.

But for Johnson, whose many civic contributions rank as high, or possibly higher, as his on-court accolades, the shot is 1A.

"There was a family in San Antonio whose home burned down near Christmas and I went and took their kids Christmas shopping," Johnson said. "And I can remember me holding that little boy's hand in Toys 'R Us.

"I would say moments like that, and that shot on the court, that kind of encapsulates it all."

Little General ...
Some of Avery Johnson's notable career stats with the Spurs:

10.1 Points per game

48.7 Field-goal percentage

6.9 Assists per game

6,486 Points

4,474 Assists

1,309 Rebounds

712 Steals

644 Games played

... little tidbits

Was not drafted by an NBA franchise out of Southern (La.) University despite holding NCAA Division I records for highest career assists-per-game average (12.0) and highest single-season assists average (13.3).

Played three stints with the Spurs -- 1990-92, 1992-93 and 1994-2001.

Spurs' all-time leader in assists.

Led San Antonio to the 1999 NBA championship, hitting the game-winning shot in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Knicks.

Johnson and Calvin Murphy are the only NBA players under 6 feet to play 1,000 career games.

[email protected]
Jeff Caplan, 817-390-7760

[clubalien]

I think it is an insult that averys jersey is retired and tims isn't

[phyzik]

I think it is an insult that averys jersey is retired and tims isn't

I didnt want AJ's jersey up their either, bu tI have to ask...... huh?? Last I checked, Tim is still playing with his jersey number.

[spursfan09]

I think it is an insult that averys jersey is retired and tims isn't

I agree.... I mean how long has Tim been retired for? I mean come on Spurs organization, lets step up, get on the ball here.....oh.... wait.

[m33p0]

I think it is an insult that averys jersey is retired and tims isn't

should we retire number 21 now to be on the safe side?

err... wait. which tim are you referring to anyway?

[raspsa]

Arms extended for a hug, Holt froze and told Johnson, "You've got to say, 'Go Spurs Go.' Johnson, for this night, acquiesced, and the two embraced.

Wouldn't it be funny if they replayed this moment on the big screen every time the Mavs come to visit? That would be awesome.

[spursfan09]

Lol. That would be awesome. lmao

[SequSpur]

huh? wtf are we talking about here?

[wildbill2u]

I loved Tim's remark:

His voice is gone, but it still echoes

[mikekim]

Wouldn't it be funny if they replayed this moment on the big screen every time the Mavs come to visit? That would be awesome.

HA! that would be just great...Let's do it!

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

I cried.

[raspsa]

HA! that would be just great...Let's do it!

Never happen though. Pop would surely veto the idea as being in poor taste.