Dennis Johnson, Dead at 52

He was a class act... Never any off court problems to marr his legacy like so many others. He'll be missed!

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How sad to read this about Dennis Johnson. Much too early, young to pass...
I did not know him as a person, but as a fan of the game, watching on TV years ago, he always hustled and earned the respect of his team mates...
I hope he was told by family and friends, he was loved, important in their lives... and now, will rest in peace.

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I was actually thinking this morning about how i would rip Larry Bird about how he is not disciplining his loser pacers who got locked up. I was going to ask him what would have happened if DJ and ainge got locked up- probably would have changed the course of the Celtics. Nowadays these loser thug players get away with anything- for money or political correctness. Yet true athletes, like DJ leaves us. To DJ, i was a young NBA fan back in the day, and though i was a knick fan, i will not forget you cutting down the lane getting the pass from bird off that steal to amazingly win that game. A consumate professiona. G-d bless.............

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This is a great and shocking loss. Dj was one of the best defenders this game has ever seen. He was consistent, graceful, humble, and a precise. I moved from Africa when I was 8yrs of age and moved to Seattle during the fateful winning season. Dj was my favorite Sonic- #24 - I pray for his soul and his family's peace.
I hope that he will be remembered always for his committment and contribution to the NBA. I will never forget him, neither should Seattle,Phoenix, Boston,or the NBA.

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I have always been a Detroit Pistons fan, but I really admired Dennis Johnson for the all-out team player that he was. He was overshadowed by Larry Bird, Kevin Mchale,and Robert Parrish,But I think the Boston Celtics would have had two less championships without D.J.

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As a long time Celtic fan, and now a transplanted Magic fan, I am sorry to hear about the passing of DJ. He was a true professional. What a shame it is to lose a true basketball player who really knew how to play the game. I find it very hard to watch the so called professionals of todays NBA, with their lackluster efforts, and me first attitude. Like, look Johnny, I can dunk the ball! Big deal, but can you shoot from outside, or do you know how to defend and pass. Basketball left us with the beginning of the 90's. I would take the original Dream Team, and match them against any combination of players in todays NBA.

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What a shock to hear about such a 'young' guy like DJ passing away - he was a great Celtic...and for the most part as a Laker Fan, I always hated his 'hustle and flow' in the game:-). He played with urgency, repected his peers across the league and always had that freckled smile. God bless you DJ!
Renee

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Thank you for the memory. You always is heart of Boston Celtics fans.

Harry Suhendra

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Thank you for the memory. You always is heart of Boston Celtics fans.

Harry Suhendra

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I am very saddened to hear of DJ's passing. He was a very big part of my childhood. He was my idol. As a basketball player I was always #24 from a young girl all the way through high school and copied his free-throw. I was in 5th grade when the Sonics won the championship and was fortunate to attend one of the final home playoff games. DJ lived in a nearby neighborhood and on many Saturday mornings grocery shopping with my Mom, I would see him shopping with his family. He was such a nice person to make a young girl's day to accomodate my earnest requests to give me so many autographs. He would always get a smile on his face and laugh when he would once again see me approach him to ask for his autograph. I have followed his career and he was a class act on the court and off. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

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I actually saw in person, DJ & the Sonics win a few of the 1979 championship games in Seattle. They played in the old Kingdome, so us regular folks could actually afford to attend the games, if at a distance. I still recall sitting in the nose bleed seats, and watching the the Sonics (including Downtown Fred Brown, pre-3 point shot & Jack Sikma) swoop & flow down the floor on a fastbreak. I remember thinking, thank you Lord, for allowing us to see & play such a great game. I recently attended a Sacramento Kings regular season game with a ticket price of nearly $150 bucks, and left feeling like it was not really worth it. Today's pro's don't seem to have a heart for the game. You can honestly tell whether players love the game and play it for real, and not just to suit themselves.
Dennis Johnson was a player that the people who knew the game, respected. May God rest his soul in peace.

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a sad loss for the celtic family, a fabulous team player who could do anything expected of him to make his team better ..... after spending his youth showing us how to be a shooter, he spent the rest of his time in professional basketball teaching us how to be a great team player....... his jersey number belongs in the rafters next to all the other great celtic ledgends ..... thank you dennis johnson

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In 1979. my wife commented on a "renter" next door. It was unusual to see a renter doing yard work. "he must be a real Sonic fan, he is wearing a full Sonics sweatshirt and pants" I looked and couldn't believe my eyes. It was D.J. the year the Sonics won the NBA championship.
Our neighbors stretched a banner across the street between houses cheering for the Sonics to win.

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I used to be in love with Dennis Johnson and wondered why no one ever really recognized his talent. He was an outstanding player and he will be missed. My condolences to his family..

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I think it was his first finals with Seattle vs. the Washington Bullets. He blocked seven shots in one game. A guard! Six years after failing to make his high school team. One of my favorite players in the 80's. A class act.

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Basketball has lost one of their "greatest" today.I am a Bostonian for 40 yrs. There will never be another D.J.! He was such an example for every athlete and human being. May he rest in peace.

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DJ was pure basketball. He played with class his entire career, and made the Sonics and Celtics class teams. He "spoke" with his actions, not with his mouth. To have as many championship rings as him, you have to have something special, and he did.

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When beggars die, thwere are no comets seen. But the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. The world of sports has its beggars, not in the level of their competence, but in the dishonor they bring to their talents, great, small or mediocre. Then there are princes, those we remember not only for their talents on the field of play, but more importantly for what they teach us all. True athletes, the Dean Johnsons. RIP.

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I was very fortunate to have witness his skills both as a fan and as a player in Seattle playing against DJ and other fellow Sonics in a local summer basketball league. My father was the sportscaster for the Sonics during his years in Seattle so I had the opportunity to watch him at every home game as well as on the road from time to time throughout out his career. When he came out of Pepperdine to the Sonics, he was called the "Helocopter" because he would rise up for a jumper and just hang for a while. The last time I saw DJ was in LA at a club with wife Donna. He always had a smile on his face and loved to talk smack with me. DJ was always very polite to others and I'm sure you'll here from his other team mates this week how much he meant to their "team" as an individual. My best to the family.

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I was born and raised in the new england area and back in the day bird ,parrish, ainge, walton, mchale and dj were virtually unstoppable dj was one of the best guards around and i am saddened to here of his passing may celtics fans everywhere remember him in their prayers.

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