Larry Johnson (basketball, born 1969)

Larry Demetric Johnson ( born March 14, 1969 in Dallas, Texas ) is a former American professional basketball player in the NBA. During his career he played at the position Forward for Team Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks. Its size and weight were given at the beginning of his professional career with 197 cm and 125 kg. Despite the rather low body measurements Johnson could take advantage of his explosiveness and body mass very well for the position of power forwards.

Johnson completed his college studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and won with their basketball team 1990 NCAA Championship. In the 1991's NBA Draft, he was named " Number One Pick" drafted by the Hornets and in the same season (1991 /92), honored as the best NBA players new to the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. At the same time he had with this award, the NBA All- Rookie First Team this year at.

Together with the chosen next year in second place of the draft Alonzo Mourning and 1.60 m small Muggsy Bogues he reached with the Hornets to the second round of the playoffs. Due to injury problems Johnson had the following season sidelined 31 games, which is why the Hornets could not reach a playoff spot. Since there were tensions between Johnson and Mourning, the latter was traded in 1995 after an off in the first playoff round to Miami. A year later, Johnson was traded in exchange for Anthony Mason to the Knicks after the failure to reach the playoffs.

The Knicks reached in the years with Johnson every year at least the second playoff round. In 1999 they were fourth in the Atlantic Division, but then reached the final of sensational.

On 10 October 2001 Johnson announced his early resignation from basketball. The reason had chronic back problems, which amplifies restricted him in his game.

In games, Larry Johnson was often referred to by his nickname " Grandma ". This had its origin starred in a commercial for the shoe manufacturer Converse, in the Johnson an old granny. In 1994 he was on the cover of the first issue of the American SLAM Magazine.

In the final year, 1999, Johnson launcher a game-winning four -point play, which resulted from a challenge with a made ​​3- point shot. The Knicks had three points behind with 11.9 seconds remaining game time. By this action they went with 92:91 in the lead, which also remained Final. This action was later referred to as " phantom four -point play" because Johnson's 3- point shot did not happen until after the challenge and really should not have been considered.

Larry Johnson played ten seasons 707 games; he scoring average of 16.20 points per game with a hit rate of 48.44 % FG, 3PT 33.24 % and 76.60 % FT.

With the national team of the United States of America Johnson won the 1994 FIBA World Championship.

He had a guest role in the series all under one roof and played in the movie Space Jam.

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