Clarence Stephen Johnson (born November 3, 1957) is an American former professional

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...

player who played in the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United S ...

(NBA). He played the

power forward The power forward (PF), also known as the four, is one of the five traditional positions in a regulation basketball game. Traditionally, power forwards have played a role similar to centers. When on offense, they typically play with their ba ...

and

center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

positions.

Collegiate career

Johnson played collegiately at

Oregon State University Oregon State University (OSU) is a public land-grant, research university in Corvallis, Oregon. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate-degree programs along with a variety of graduate and doctoral degrees. It has the 10th largest engineering co ...

under

Naismith Hall of Fame The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves as basketball's most complete library, in addition to promoting and pre ...

coach

Ralph Miller Ralph H. Miller (March 9, 1919 – May 15, 2001) was an American college basketball coach, a head coach for 38 years at three universities: Wichita (now known as Wichita State), Iowa, and Oregon State. With an overall record of , his teams had ...

. He was the star player on the 1980–81 team (known as the Orange Express) which reached as high as no. 1 in the national rankings, before being upset in the second round of the

1981 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament The 1981 NCAA Division I basketball tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship g ...

by eighth-seeded

Kansas State Kansas State University (KSU, Kansas State, or K-State) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Manhattan, Kansas, United States. It was opened as the state's land-grant college in 1863 and was the first public instit ...

. That season, Johnson made 235 of 315

field goal A field goal (FG) is a means of scoring in gridiron football. To score a field goal, the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop kick, the ball through the goal, i.e., between the uprights and over the crossbar. The entire ba ...

s for a field goal percentage of .746, a single-season mark which was an NCAA men's basketball record until March 16, 2017, when

Devontae Cacok Devontae Calvin Cacok ( ; born October 8, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for CSKA Moscow of the VTB United League. He played college basketball for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, where in the 2017–18 season he led the nation ...

UNCW The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW or UNC Wilmington) is a Public university, public research university in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina System and enrolls 17,499 undergraduate and gr ...

finished with a field goal percentage of .800 of 230 shots.

Professional career

He was drafted the following summer, with the seventh pick overall, by the

Kansas City Kings The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference Pacific Division ( ...

in the

1981 NBA draft The 1981 NBA draft was the 35th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on June 9, 1981, before the 1981–82 season. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the USA Network. In this draft, 23 NBA te ...

, and played with the Kings from 1981 to 1984 before being traded to the

Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January 1 ...

. After a season and a half with the Bulls, Johnson played one season with the

San Antonio Spurs The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference Southwest Division ( ...

. While with the Spurs, Johnson led the league in field goal percentage at .632 one of the highest in NBA history. During the 1986 off-season, Johnson was traded to the

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Con ...

for longtime Portland's fixture

Mychal Thompson Mychal George Thompson (born January 30, 1955) is a Bahamian-American former basketball player. The top overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft, Thompson played the center position for the University of Minnesota and center and forward for the Na ...

; the team intended to start Johnson at power forward alongside defensive-minded center

Sam Bowie Samuel Paul Bowie (born March 17, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. A national sensation in high school and outstanding collegian and Olympic team member, Bowie's professional promise was undermined by repeated injuries ...

. Five games into the season, however, Bowie suffered a broken leg (one of many such injuries he would endure in his ill-fated career), and Johnson was moved to the starting center role, with aging veteran

Caldwell Jones Caldwell "Pops" Jones (August 4, 1950 – September 21, 2014) was an American professional basketball player. Jones was drafted out of Albany State College by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 14th pick in the 1973 NBA draft. He played three seaso ...

replacing him at power forward. Only a couple games later, on November 26, 1986, Johnson scored a career-best 40 points, while also grabbing 10 rebounds, during a 118–114 loss to the

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers (often referred to as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...

. That year, Johnson enjoyed his best season, averaging nearly 17 points per game, while averaging a .555 field goal percentage. The next season, Bowie again broke his leg, and Johnson assumed the starting center position. Unfortunately for him, he would himself be injured, and was replaced in the lineup by

Kevin Duckworth Kevin Jerome Duckworth (April 1, 1964 – August 25, 2008) was an American professional basketball player who played as center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A native of Illinois, he played college basketball at Eastern Illinois U ...

, whose stellar play earned him the job permanently. Nevertheless, Johnson earned a selection on the West All-Star team, but was unable to play due to injury. An attempt to start both players in a dual-post configuration, and the Johnson/Duckworth controversy was one of several which distracted the team in the 1988–89 season (which led to a losing record and a first-round playoff sweep). After that season, the rather unhappy Johnson was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA expansion draft, and was selected by the

Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. Founded in 19 ...

. Johnson, unhappy with being drafted by an expansion team, played only four games for the Timberwolves before being traded to the

Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics (commonly known as the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The SuperSonics competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Western Confe ...

; he played only 21 games for Seattle that season. He played 24 games for the

Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. Founded in 194 ...

the following year; and retired at the conclusion of the 1990–91 season. Johnson holds the NCAA single season and career records for field goal percentage. He led the NBA in personal fouls during the 1981–82 and 1986–87 seasons, and led the NBA in disqualifications during the 1981–82, 1985–86, and 1986–87 seasons.

Personal life

Johnson, who retired from playing and permanently settled in Portland,source
/ref> now works with an organization calle
The Best of Yachting
and is an investor in business in the area.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

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Kansas City The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more ...

, 78 , , 50 , , 22.3 , , .613 , , , , .642 , , 5.9 , , 1.2 , , .5 , , 1.1 , , 12.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 79 , , 21 , , 19.5 , , .624 , , , , .574 , , 5.0 , , 1.2 , , .5 , , 1.1 , , 11.7 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 50 , , 12 , , 17.9 , , .553 , , , , .571 , , 5.0 , , 1.3 , , .4 , , 1.0 , , 9.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, 31 , , 9 , , 19.2 , , .571 , , , , .582 , , 5.4 , , .6 , , .5 , , .7 , , 9.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, 74 , , 54 , , 22.4 , , .545 , , .000 , , .718 , , 5.9 , , .9 , , .5 , , .8 , , 10.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , s ...

, 71 , , 55 , , 25.7 , , style="background:#cfecec;", .632* , , , , .694 , , 6.5 , , 1.3 , , .6 , , .9 , , 13.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

, 79 , , 74 , , 29.7 , , .556 , , , , .698 , , 7.2 , , 2.0 , , .6 , , 1.0 , , 16.8 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 43 , , 33 , , 24.4 , , .529 , , .000 , , .586 , , 5.6 , , 1.3 , , .4 , , .7 , , 15.4 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

, 72 , , 11 , , 20.5 , , .524 , , , , .527 , , 5.0 , , 1.5 , , .3 , , .6 , , 10.0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

, 4 , , 0 , , 4.3 , , .000 , , , , , , .8 , , .3 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;",

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...

, 21 , , 0 , , 11.5 , , .533 , , , , .600 , , 2.4 , , .8 , , .1 , , .2 , , 5.6 , - , style="text-align:left;", , style="text-align:left;", Golden State , 24 , , 8 , , 9.5 , , .540 , , , , .595 , , 2.4 , , .7 , , .2 , , .2 , , 3.8 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 626 , , 327 , , 21.8 , , .572 , , .000 , , .634 , , 5.5 , , 1.2 , , .5 , , .8 , , 11.7

Playoffs

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1985 The year 1985 was designated as the International Youth Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** The Internet's Domain Name System is created. ** Greenland withdraws from the European Economic Community as a result of a ...

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Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, 3 , , 0 , , 7.3 , , .286 , , , , 1.000 , , 1.7 , , .7 , , .0 , , .0 , , 2.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal ente ...

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, 3 , , 0 , , 17.7 , , .333 , , , , .455 , , 2.0 , , .7 , , .0 , , .3 , , 5.0 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1987 File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, k ...

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, 4 , , 4 , , 34.3 , , .459 , , , , .628 , , 10.0 , , .5 , , .5 , , .3 , , 20.8 , - , style="text-align:left;",

1989 File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress Street Viaduct, Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxo ...

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, 3 , , 0 , , 11.3 , , .250 , , , , 1.000 , , 2.0 , , .0 , , .7 , , .0 , , 2.3 , - class="sortbottom" , style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career , 13 , , 4 , , 18.9 , , .407 , , , , .627 , , 4.4 , , .5 , , .3 , , .2 , , 8.5

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Steve 1957 births Living people 20th-century African-American sportspeople 21st-century African-American people African-American basketball players All-American college men's basketball players American men's basketball players Basketball players from Akron, Ohio Centers (basketball) Chicago Bulls players Golden State Warriors players Kansas City Kings draft picks Kansas City Kings players Minnesota Timberwolves expansion draft picks Minnesota Timberwolves players National Basketball Association All-Stars Oregon State Beavers men's basketball players Portland Trail Blazers players Power forwards (basketball) San Antonio Spurs players Seattle SuperSonics players