Johnson was selected third overall in the 1977 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, who were coached by Don Nelson. Johnson helped lead Milwaukee to several division titles (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984). In his second season in 1978–79, he was the NBA’s third leading scorer (25.6 PPG), behind George Gervin (29.6) and Lloyd Free (28.8). Johnson claims to have coined the term “point forward”, a position he played out of necessity in 1984. During the 1984 playoffs, Milwaukee became short on point guards due to injuries. Nelson instructed Johnson to set up the offense from his forward position. Johnson responded, “OK, so instead of a point guard, I’m a point forward”. However, Dell Harris, then-Bucks assistant coach, claims that he first mentioned the term to Nelson. Johnson and the Bucks reached as far as the Eastern Conference Finals twice, in 1983 and again in 1984.
In the 1984 offseason, Nelson—who was also Bucks general manager—traded Johnson, forward-guard Junior Bridgeman, forward Harvey Catchings and cash to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for forward Terry Cummings, and guards Craig Hodges and Ricky Pierce. This was a homecoming for Johnson, as he grew up and attended high school just a few miles from the Clippers’ home at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. The Clippers struggled to win. During a game in the 1986–87 season, Johnson suffered a neck injury, which effectively ended his career. Johnson made a brief comeback during the 1989–90 season, playing only 10 games with the Warriors before retiring on December 27, 1989.
Smallthoughts: Old School Tuesday salutes …Marques Johnson.
Career information
High school
Crenshaw (Los Angeles, California)
College
UCLA (1973–1977)
NBA draft
1977 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Pro playing career
1977–1989
Career history
1977–1984
Milwaukee Bucks
1984–1987
Los Angeles Clippers
1989
Golden State Warriors
Career highlights and awards
5× NBA All-Star (1979–1981, 1983, 1986)
All-NBA First Team (1979)
2× All-NBA Second Team (1980–1981)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (1978)
NCAA champion (1975)
College national player of the year (1977)
Consensus first team All-American (1977)
Pac-10 Player of the Year (1977)
No. 54 retired by UCLA
Pac-10 Hall of Honor
Career NBA statistics
Points
13,892 (20.1 ppg)
Rebounds
4,817 (7.0 rpg)
Assists
2,502 (3.6 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2013
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