Eddie Johnson (basketball, born 1955)

Eddie Johnson (basketball, born 1955)

Edward Lee Johnson Jr. played 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He was a two-time NBA-All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks in 1980 and 1981. Johnson was sentenced to life in prison for sex crimes on a minor in 2008. He died of an undisclosed illness while serving his sentence.

About Eddie Johnson (basketball, born 1955) in brief

Summary Eddie Johnson (basketball, born 1955)Edward Lee Johnson Jr. played 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He was a two-time NBA-All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks in 1980 and 1981. Johnson’s notorious off-court behaviour due to drug abuse harmed his reputation as a player. His playing career ended when he received a suspension by the NBA due to a cocaine addiction in 1987. Johnson was sentenced to life in prison for sex crimes on a minor in 2008. He died of an undisclosed illness while serving his sentence. Johnson led the Southeastern Conference in scoring as a freshman with 21. 8 points per game. He led the Tigers in scoring and assists for his first three seasons, and was nominated to the All-SEC Coaches’ first-team from 1974 to 1976. Johnson played 20 games in the Continental Basketball Association for the Tampa Bay Thrillers in the 1986–87 season as he needed visibility to work his way back into the NBA.

He signed a contract with the Seattle SuperSonics as they needed an experienced guard for the end of the 1986-87 NBA season. He averaged 15.75 points pergame in 675 games played during his 10-year NBA career. He had three children with a fourth on the way. Johnson denied that his drug habits led to his personal issues and stated: “The whole idea of me abusing drugs is outlandish.” Johnson’s younger brother, Frank, is a former player and coach and was a distant cousin of fellow NBA player Tree Rollins, who was his teammate on the Hawks. Johnson passed out during a celebratory function at Auburn in 1979 in what was the first public indication of his drug habit. He passed out unharmed after he jumped off a second-story balcony during a game in 1980.