Alabama Crimson Tide coach Avery Johnson won the NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999. A lightning fast and highly intelligent point guard, Johnson was nicknamed “The Little General” for his size and leadership qualities. The latter meant he was destined to coach. Given his 16 years in the NBA (that’s a long career folks; LeBron James is in his 15th season now), Johnson started where he was known — as an NBA assistant. Within a year he was head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, who he led to the NBA Finals in 2006 with superstar Dirk Nowitzki. (They lost to the Miami Heat, but Johnson was named NBA coach of the year.) Johnson also coached the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets.
Johnson’s road to the NBA wasn’t easy. He attended three colleges before leading the nation in assists his senior year at Southern University. Still, Johnson went undrafted by the NBA and played in the USBL awaiting his chance at an NBA job. When he got one with the Seattle Supersonics, he never looked back. The Spurs retired Avery Johnson’s number #6, which hangs in the San Antonio rafters. Now as a college coach, instead of calling Dirk Nowitzki’s number at big moments, Johnson will keep it in the family: Avery Johnson Jr. is on his current Alabama squad. He fits the Avery Sr. mold at 5’11” with blazing speed. Not surprisingly, Avery Jr.’s ‘Bama profile reveals he’d like to “go into coaching some day.”
[Viewing notes: Virginia Tech vs. Alabama in a first-round NCAA Tournament game at 9:15 PM ON TNT from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Virginia Tech coach is Buzz Williams. Alabama head coach Avery Johnson.]
