7
Phoenix Suns · 1988–2000 · Point Guard

Kevin
Johnson

The Best Point Guard Not in the Hall of Fame

After KJ's arrival, the Suns went from 28 wins to 55 in a single season — one of the largest turnarounds in NBA history. He then led Phoenix to 53+ wins in seven straight years, making the playoffs all 10 full seasons he played.

SCROLL
17.9
Points Per Game
9.1
Assists Per Game
49.3%
Career FG%
10/10
Playoff Seasons
7
Hall of Fame Inductions
The Journey

Career Timeline

1966
Born in Sacramento, CA
Raised by his grandparents in Sacramento; became a local basketball legend at Sacramento High School.
1987
NBA Draft — 7th Overall Pick
Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Later traded to Phoenix before his first full season.
1988
Arrives in Phoenix
Traded to the Suns mid-season. The turnaround was immediate — Phoenix went from 28 wins to 55, one of the largest single-season improvements in NBA history.
1989
Most Improved Player Award
Averaged 20.4 pts & 12.2 ast — joining Oscar Robertson & Isiah Thomas as the only players to average 20/12 in a season while shooting .500 from the field.
1990–91
Back-to-Back All-Star Selections
Cemented his status among the elite point guards of his era alongside Magic Johnson, John Stockton, and Isiah Thomas.
1993
NBA Finals
Led the 62-win Suns to the Finals alongside Charles Barkley. Set an NBA record with 62 minutes played in a triple-OT Finals game vs. Chicago.
1994
FIBA World Championship Gold
Led Dream Team II in total assists and assists average, shooting .500 from the field en route to a gold medal.
1995
46-Point Playoff Masterpiece
Dropped 46 pts & 10 ast in a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to eventual champions Houston — one of the greatest individual playoff performances in NBA history.
1998
Jersey #7 Retired — Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns retired his number in a ceremony honoring one of the greatest players in franchise history.
2000
The Final Return
Came out of retirement to replace injured Jason Kidd. Still had it — helped Phoenix win their first playoff series in five years before finally hanging up his jersey for good.
By The Numbers

Among the All-Time Greats

KJ's stats don't just hold up against Hall of Fame point guards — they surpass most of them. He is the only point guard not in the Hall of Fame with better career statistics than multiple inductees across every major category.

🏆
One of Only 5 Players Ever
With at least three seasons averaging 20 points AND 10 assists. The others: Oscar Robertson, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, Russell Westbrook — all Hall of Famers.
🎯
One of Only 2 Players Ever
To twice average 20 pts & 10 ast in a season while shooting .500+ from the field. The only other: Magic Johnson.
📊
One of Only 3 Players Ever
With seven seasons averaging at least 18 pts & 9 ast per game. The others: Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson.
⚡
#7 All-Time in Assists Per Game
Fifth among HOF point guards. Also sixth all-time in playoff assists per game — elite production in the moments that matter most.
🔥
5 All-NBA Selections
Equal to or greater than 12 current Hall of Fame point guards. He received MVP votes in five separate seasons.
📈
Best Stats of Any PG Not in HOF
17.9 PPG · 9.1 APG · 49.3 FG% — no point guard outside the Hall of Fame comes close to this combination of scoring, playmaking, and efficiency.
PLAYER FG% PPG APG ALL-STAR ALL-NBA HOF
Kevin Johnson 49.3% 17.9 9.1 3× 5× ❌ Not Yet
Magic Johnson 52.0% 19.5 11.2 12× 10× ✓ 2002
Isiah Thomas 45.2% 19.2 9.3 12× 5× ✓ 2000
Tim Hardaway 44.7% 17.7 8.2 5× 5× ✓ 2022
Chauncey Billups 41.5% 15.2 5.4 5× 3× ✓ 2024
Gary Payton 46.6% 16.3 6.7 9× 9× ✓ 2013

Career regular season statistics. Source: Basketball Reference / KMJ HOF Summary.

Recognition

Awards & Honors

🏀
3× NBA All-Star
Selected in 1990, 1991, and 1994 — a consistent presence among the league's elite.
📈
NBA Most Improved Player
1988–89 season. Averaged 20.4 pts & 12.2 ast while shooting .500 from the field.
⭐
5× All-NBA Selections
Equal to or greater than 12 current Hall of Fame point guards. Received MVP votes in five seasons.
🥇
FIBA World Championship Gold
Dream Team II, 1994. Led the team in total assists and assists average.
7️⃣
Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor
Jersey #7 retired by the Suns — one of only a handful of players to receive this honor in franchise history.
🏆
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
NBA's highest honor for community service. Awarded 1990–91 season.
🌍
World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
Inducted for lifelong commitment to youth education and community development.
🎓
California Athletics Hall of Fame
Honored for his legendary playing career at the University of California, Berkeley.
🏅
Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
Recognized as one of the Bay Area's all-time greatest athletes.
📚
National High School Hall of Fame
Inducted for his record-setting prep career at Sacramento High School.
🌟
Pac-12 Conference Hall of Honor
Recognized among the conference's all-time greatest players.
🏙️
Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame
Honored as a hometown hero — first as an athlete, then as Mayor of Sacramento (2008–2016).

In KJ's first seven full seasons in Phoenix, the Suns won the most regular season games in the NBA — 394 victories, averaging 56 wins and never fewer than 53. The only team to win 50+ games every year during that span.

The Kevin Johnson Legacy
Testimonials

What They're Saying

❝

I had a front row seat to Kevin's brilliance.

Charles Barkley
Phoenix Suns Teammate
❝

Averaging 20 points and 10 assists over multiple seasons is rare. Doing it while leading a franchise from the middle of the pack to championship contention is extraordinary.

Isiah Thomas
Hall of Famer · Detroit Pistons
❝

He set a high bar for what it means to be a point guard, and he inspired players like me to reach for that standard.

Steve Nash
2× MVP · Hall of Famer · Phoenix Suns
❝

When I joined the Phoenix Suns, I got to see up close what made him special. Kevin wasn't the loudest guy in the room, but his presence said everything.

Jason Kidd
Hall of Famer · Phoenix Suns
❝

Outside of Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, I can't think of another guard who has impacted the way the position is played today, like Kevin Johnson did. He was an explosive player and a premier adversary.

John Stockton
Hall of Famer · Utah Jazz
❝

One night early in my rookie season Kevin taught me a lesson I'll never forget. After that game, I went into the locker room crying. I had never had anyone put it on me like that.

Allen Iverson
Hall of Famer · Philadelphia 76ers
❝

For his legacy as a player and the work he has done to lift up others, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor.

Shaquille O'Neal
Hall of Famer · 4× NBA Champion
❝

The Suns became one of the NBA's most exciting and respected franchises in large part because of the tone Kevin set — one built on discipline, teamwork, and belief.

Ann Meyers Drysdale
Hall of Famer · Phoenix Suns Executive
Beyond Basketball

Community Leader

The Hall of Fame recognizes players who transcend the game. KJ's impact off the court is as extraordinary as anything he accomplished on it.

NBA Steward & Ambassador
→
First former NBA player to serve as Mayor of a major U.S. city (Sacramento, 2008–2016)
→
Led the effort to save the Sacramento Kings from relocation and built the $1.2B Golden 1 Center arena (2009–2013)
→
Key advisor during the Donald Sterling scandal and NBPA mentorship (2014)
→
Led NBPA search that resulted in first African American woman to lead a major U.S. sports union
→
John R. Wooden Lifetime Achievement Award (2008) and J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (1991)
Community Accomplishments
→
Honored by President George H. W. Bush as the 411th Point of Light (1991)
→
Founded St. HOPE community development corporation — transforming public education, economic development, and the arts in Sacramento
→
Transformed Sacramento High School from one of the lowest to highest performing schools in California serving Black students
→
Founding President of the African American Mayors Association (2014) and Former President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (2015)
→
NCAA Silver Anniversary Award (2012)