I spent a little while Monday looking over KJ's career record. I would like to add that if he had had the standard star-type tail extended onto his profile, I could envision an extra 2-3 seasons of perhaps 9- 13 PER /year. I also don't think that's at all unreasonable given his slender physique and exceptional athleticism. That career path, especially on a title contender like the Suns, may have cemented his legacy as an excellent shooter and playmaker. Plus, if anybody had 6th man, gun-for-hire potential, Kevin Johnson was the man. Aside from the silly LCD arguments, I don't remember his nearest comp, but in retrospect, I would consider maybe Moncrief as the best match. Played for one team in an out-of-the spotlight city, but always being in the right place when it counted. KJ would certainly be a very worthy and positive addition to the HOF.
If you imagine that Chauncey Billups was a better point guard than Kevin Johnson, you really need to reconsider the issue. Billups constituted much more of a three-point shooter than Johnson and an even better free throw shooter, although he did not reach the free throw line as often. In almost every other way, offensively, Chauncey Billups was not on the same planet as Kevin Johnson: not as a passer and playmaker, not as as scorer and two-point, pull-up jump-shooter, not as a finisher at the rim. Kevin Johnson was one of the best point guards—even one of the best players—ever in all of those regards, whereas Billups would never make the conversation. K.J. proved more efficient—with a slightly higher True Shooting Percentage and a significantly better assists-to-turnover ratio—and much more explosive and prolific. Johnson played in 308 fewer regular season career games and still tallied 1,075 more career assists than Billups. The 2004 NBA Finals MVP Award is great, and Billups indeed proved outstanding in that series, but Johnson was arguably at least as effective in both the 1989 Western Conference Finals and the 1990 Western Conference Finals, especially when one accounts for playmaking. And while Billups made two All-Defensive Second Teams, one could easily argue that he was never as good of a defender as Johnson, especially at the latter's defensive peak in 1993, when Phoenix reached the NBA Finals with K.J. arguably amounting to the best defensive point guard in the league. Indeed, Billups recorded fewer career steals while playing 308 more regular season games. When you write, "There is no evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, that suggests Johnson was a stellar defensive player," that just means that your research and knowledge are insufficient. If you want, I can provide plenty more details and sources.
Kevin Johnson was a superstar-level player, one of the best offensive players in the NBA throughout his prime. He did not leave as great of a "legacy" as Isiah Thomas (because of the latter's championships) or John Stockton (because of the latter's longevity and durability), but K.J. was really a better player than both. He proved every bit as prolific as Thomas and perhaps even more explosive, yet he was a much more efficient player, as borne out by a comparison of their field goal percentages, two-point field goal percentages, free throw percentages, True Shooting Percentages, turnover rates, and assist-to-turnover ratios. Johnson was a better shooter than Thomas and a more disciplined, discerning player who forced fewer shots and passes. He also created a similar impact on winning (the Suns won the most regular season games in the NBA and the second-most playoff games, behind only the Bulls, in Johnson's first seven full seasons in Phoenix from 1989-1995) and proved at least as clutch (Johnson, along with Thomas, made the "Sporting News" All-Playoffs Second Team at guard for the decade of the 1990s.) And compared to Stockton, K.J. was every bit as masterful of a pick-and-roll orchestrator and similarly efficient, yet he was a much more aggressive, prolific, and explosive scorer, a guy who could go toe-to-toe with the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon and Magic Johnson in the biggest of playoff games, matching or out-dueling them. Stockton, conversely, lacked that kind of scoring ability, and specifically did not compare to Johnson as a left-handed (off-hand) finisher in the lane and around the rim.
In short, for prime or peak value, Kevin Johnson was the best small guard in NBA history—no small guard, to this day, has combined explosiveness with efficiency nearly as well as he did. Chauncey Billups, conversely, was not remotely a superstar-level offensive player, as evidenced by his .435 career two-point field goal percentage, which is pathetic, and the fact that only once did he average more than 7.2 assists per game in a season—and never more than 8.6 (by comparison, Johnson averaged over 9.0 assists per contest for his career and in seven different seasons). That said, Billups was arguably at least as valuable as a guy like Allen Iverson, who proved inefficient and overrated, an "empty calories" type of "superstar." But that was not Kevin Johnson, who melded the efficiency of John Stockton with the explosiveness of Isiah Thomas.
Does the character clause not apply for the hall of fame? Dudes like Kevin Johnson shouldn't be celebrated at all, regardless of stats, and any article about him should mention the horrible things he's done. You can't separate his personal transgressions from the player especially if the character clause is, however unlikely to ever be invoked in actuality, one reason why he shouldn't be in the hall of fame.
Does the character clause not apply for the hall of fame? Dudes like Kevin Johnson shouldn't be celebrated at all, regardless of stats, and any article about him should mention the horrible things he's done. You can't separate his personal transgressions from the player especially if the character clause is, however unlikely to ever be invoked in actuality, one reason why he shouldn't be in the hall of fame.
I spent a little while Monday looking over KJ's career record. I would like to add that if he had had the standard star-type tail extended onto his profile, I could envision an extra 2-3 seasons of perhaps 9- 13 PER /year. I also don't think that's at all unreasonable given his slender physique and exceptional athleticism. That career path, especially on a title contender like the Suns, may have cemented his legacy as an excellent shooter and playmaker. Plus, if anybody had 6th man, gun-for-hire potential, Kevin Johnson was the man. Aside from the silly LCD arguments, I don't remember his nearest comp, but in retrospect, I would consider maybe Moncrief as the best match. Played for one team in an out-of-the spotlight city, but always being in the right place when it counted. KJ would certainly be a very worthy and positive addition to the HOF.
Great article -- thank you! 😊 🏀
If you imagine that Chauncey Billups was a better point guard than Kevin Johnson, you really need to reconsider the issue. Billups constituted much more of a three-point shooter than Johnson and an even better free throw shooter, although he did not reach the free throw line as often. In almost every other way, offensively, Chauncey Billups was not on the same planet as Kevin Johnson: not as a passer and playmaker, not as as scorer and two-point, pull-up jump-shooter, not as a finisher at the rim. Kevin Johnson was one of the best point guards—even one of the best players—ever in all of those regards, whereas Billups would never make the conversation. K.J. proved more efficient—with a slightly higher True Shooting Percentage and a significantly better assists-to-turnover ratio—and much more explosive and prolific. Johnson played in 308 fewer regular season career games and still tallied 1,075 more career assists than Billups. The 2004 NBA Finals MVP Award is great, and Billups indeed proved outstanding in that series, but Johnson was arguably at least as effective in both the 1989 Western Conference Finals and the 1990 Western Conference Finals, especially when one accounts for playmaking. And while Billups made two All-Defensive Second Teams, one could easily argue that he was never as good of a defender as Johnson, especially at the latter's defensive peak in 1993, when Phoenix reached the NBA Finals with K.J. arguably amounting to the best defensive point guard in the league. Indeed, Billups recorded fewer career steals while playing 308 more regular season games. When you write, "There is no evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, that suggests Johnson was a stellar defensive player," that just means that your research and knowledge are insufficient. If you want, I can provide plenty more details and sources.
Kevin Johnson was a superstar-level player, one of the best offensive players in the NBA throughout his prime. He did not leave as great of a "legacy" as Isiah Thomas (because of the latter's championships) or John Stockton (because of the latter's longevity and durability), but K.J. was really a better player than both. He proved every bit as prolific as Thomas and perhaps even more explosive, yet he was a much more efficient player, as borne out by a comparison of their field goal percentages, two-point field goal percentages, free throw percentages, True Shooting Percentages, turnover rates, and assist-to-turnover ratios. Johnson was a better shooter than Thomas and a more disciplined, discerning player who forced fewer shots and passes. He also created a similar impact on winning (the Suns won the most regular season games in the NBA and the second-most playoff games, behind only the Bulls, in Johnson's first seven full seasons in Phoenix from 1989-1995) and proved at least as clutch (Johnson, along with Thomas, made the "Sporting News" All-Playoffs Second Team at guard for the decade of the 1990s.) And compared to Stockton, K.J. was every bit as masterful of a pick-and-roll orchestrator and similarly efficient, yet he was a much more aggressive, prolific, and explosive scorer, a guy who could go toe-to-toe with the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon and Magic Johnson in the biggest of playoff games, matching or out-dueling them. Stockton, conversely, lacked that kind of scoring ability, and specifically did not compare to Johnson as a left-handed (off-hand) finisher in the lane and around the rim.
In short, for prime or peak value, Kevin Johnson was the best small guard in NBA history—no small guard, to this day, has combined explosiveness with efficiency nearly as well as he did. Chauncey Billups, conversely, was not remotely a superstar-level offensive player, as evidenced by his .435 career two-point field goal percentage, which is pathetic, and the fact that only once did he average more than 7.2 assists per game in a season—and never more than 8.6 (by comparison, Johnson averaged over 9.0 assists per contest for his career and in seven different seasons). That said, Billups was arguably at least as valuable as a guy like Allen Iverson, who proved inefficient and overrated, an "empty calories" type of "superstar." But that was not Kevin Johnson, who melded the efficiency of John Stockton with the explosiveness of Isiah Thomas.
Does the character clause not apply for the hall of fame? Dudes like Kevin Johnson shouldn't be celebrated at all, regardless of stats, and any article about him should mention the horrible things he's done. You can't separate his personal transgressions from the player especially if the character clause is, however unlikely to ever be invoked in actuality, one reason why he shouldn't be in the hall of fame.
Does the character clause not apply for the hall of fame? Dudes like Kevin Johnson shouldn't be celebrated at all, regardless of stats, and any article about him should mention the horrible things he's done. You can't separate his personal transgressions from the player especially if the character clause is, however unlikely to ever be invoked in actuality, one reason why he shouldn't be in the hall of fame.
I agree he’s HoF worthy.