Report: Dennis Johnson Elected to Hall of Fame

Filed under: Celtics, SuperSonics

The 2010 inductees to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will be announced Monday evening, with Jazz great Karl Malone and star small forward Scottie Pippen surely leading the way. But one other name -- that of champion Sonics and Celtics guard Dennis Johnson -- has drawn high interest in recent years. Unfortunately, Johnson went through years of nomination and years of rejection by secretive Hall of Fame voters. But the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn reports that D.J. has reached the vote threshold this year and will be announced as a Hall of Famer Monday.

Johnson died of a heart attack in early 2007 while coaching the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League. The response from fans, players and those connected to the game was massive, as Johnson was beloved around the league.

Remembered best for his role as the point guard of "Big Three" Celtics, Johnson won two championships with Boston in 1980s, and defended Magic Johnson as well as anyone could. But back in the 1970s, D.J. took the Sonics to two straight NBA Finals series, and won MVP of the Finals in 1979 as Seattle won its first and only professional championship. As Johnson is more well-known for his Celtics works, some might equate him to an elite role-player. But Johnson was the best player on those Sonics teams, and championships from before the dawn of Magic and Bird still do count for something.

The Newark Star-Ledger reports that legendary Jersey City, N.J., high school Bob Hurley will be inducted, as well.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/04/03/report-dennis-johnson-inducted-to-hall-of-fame/