Larry Johnson Tribute

David 26,262 March 14, 2015 – updated on March 14, 2026 No Comments

When Jerry West was asked back in 1992 to pick the best passer, rebounder, scorer, etc. for a special trading card series by Upper Deck, The Logo selected The GOAT as the “Best All-Around Player” and a Grandmama as the "Future Best All-Around Player."

So, how good was Larry Johnson?

In his first year, the No. 1 Draft pick won Rookie of the Year over Dikembe Mutombo, who made the All-Star game as a rook!

His game was so good and all-around that Converse came up with a brilliant commercial idea with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson as Doctors creating the perfect basketball player. At the end, they argue over the player's name. Larry Bird says his name should be “Larry.” Magic thinks he should be a “Johnson.”
“Larry!”
“Johnson!”
“Larry!”
“Johnson!”


Unfortunately, one of those NBA greats didn’t want to do the ad. I’m pretty sure I know which one.

As an encore, Johnson showed why Jerry West thought so fondly of him by making All-NBA 2nd Team and earning a starting spot in the NBA All-Star game. SLAM Magazine even put him on the cover of their debut issue.

Then, two months after signing the biggest deal in NBA history (12 years/$81 million), he injured his back. That injury ended his path to becoming the league's best all-around player. The UNLV great and coolest grandma ever still played a decade in the NBA and will always be remembered by Hornets, Knicks, and most basketball fans lucky enough to see him in his prime as one of the best basketball talents ever.

Here's what former Charlotte teammate Kendall Gill had to say about his ex-partner in crime.

‬ I played with a lot of great players in my day. But Larry Johnson before he hurt his back was the best I've ever played with. His combination of size, strength, athleticism and Intelligence was unsurpassed. I have not seen anyone like him since. He could take you outside and then beat you up inside. Think Lebron with Hakeem Olajuwons footwork and Shaq's strength. Damn he was beautiful to watch man! At 6'7 250lbs I saw first hand how he dominated Barkley, Malone, Robinson just to name a few. If not for the injury LJ would have gone down as one of the best to do it! Looking back I wished I would have played my whole career with him.

GRANDMAMA

 

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