View source for Ervin Johnson

{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1967)}}
{{for|the former Los Angeles Lakers player named Earvin Johnson|Magic Johnson}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Ervin Johnson
| image = Ervin Johnson at Buckley (cropped).JPG
| image_size =
| caption = Johnson in 2010
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|12|21}}
| birth_place = [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6 
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 245
| high_school     = Block ([[Jonesville, Louisiana]])
| college = [[New Orleans Privateers men's basketball|New Orleans]] (1989–1993)
| draft_year      = 1993
| draft_round     = 1
| draft_pick      = 23
| draft_team      = [[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| career_start = 1993
| career_end = 2006
| career_number = 50, 40
| career_position = [[Center (basketball)|Center]]
| years1={{nbay|1993|start}}–{{nbay|1995|end}}|team1=[[Seattle SuperSonics]]
| years2={{nbay|1996|full=yes}}|team2=[[Denver Nuggets]]
| years3={{nbay|1997|start}}–{{nbay|2002|end}}|team3=[[Milwaukee Bucks]]
| years4={{nbay|2003|start}}–{{nbay|2004|end}}|team4=[[Minnesota Timberwolves]]
| years5={{nbay|2005|full=yes}}|team5=Milwaukee Bucks
| highlights      = 
* Third-team [[NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|All-American]] – [[United Press International|UPI]] ([[1993 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans|1993]])
* [[Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year|Sun Belt Player of the Year]] (1993)
* 2× First-team All-[[Sun Belt Conference|Sun Belt]] (1992, 1993)
* No. 40 [[New Orleans Privateers men's basketball#Retired jerseys|retired by New Orleans Privateers]]
| stats_league    = NBA
| stat1label      = [[Point (basketball)|Points]]
| stat1value      = 3,473 (4.1 ppg)
| stat2label      = [[Rebound (basketball)|Rebounds]]
| stat2value      = 5,148 (6.1 rpg)
| stat3label      = [[Block (basketball)|Blocks]]
| stat3value      = 1,087 (1.3 bpg)
| medal_templates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Summer Universiade]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1991 Summer Universiade|1991 Sheffield]] | [[United States national basketball team|National team]]}}
}}

'''Ervin Johnson Jr.''' (born December 21, 1967) is an American former professional [[basketball]] player who is a community ambassador for the [[Denver Nuggets]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA).<ref name=spyropoulos>{{cite web |last1=Spyropoulos |first1=Eric |title=Nuggets honor Black History Month: Recognizing Ambassador Ervin Johnson's impact |url=https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-black-history-johnson-022220 |website=NBA |access-date=August 10, 2020 |date=February 22, 2020}}</ref> He played in the NBA for the [[Seattle SuperSonics]], Denver Nuggets, [[Milwaukee Bucks]] and [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] as a [[Center (basketball)|center]] from 1993 to 2006.

==Early life==
Johnson attended Block High School in [[Jonesville, Louisiana]], where he played [[basketball]] until he quit in the 10th grade.<ref name=lewis>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Ted |title='Ervin Legend': How Ervin Johnson's unconventional route to UNO lead to Greater New Orleans Hall of Fame induction |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/article_870d787c-60a1-5c07-9925-8d2177362023.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=August 10, 2020 |date=July 22, 2018}}</ref> Three years after high school, he worked at a [[Baton Rouge]] supermarket and grew 8 inches. A friend suggested that he try out for the [[New Orleans Privateers men's basketball|New Orleans Privateers]], which did not have a [[Center (basketball)|big man]].<ref name=lewis /> Privateers head coach [[Tim Floyd]] offered Johnson a scholarship on sight despite Johnson not having played basketball in years.<ref name=lewis /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/features/johnson_040224.html |title=Ervin Johnson: Keeping the Faith &#124; THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES |work=Nba.com |date=2004-02-24 |access-date=2013-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626004312/https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/features/johnson_040224.html|archive-date=June 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==College career==
UNO recorded 87 victories during Johnson's time in the program. They earned two NCAA tournament bids and one NIT tournament appearance. When he finished, he was the second all-time leading scorer in UNO history (1,608 points), first all-time in field goal percentage (59%), first all-time in double-doubles with 55, first all-time in rebounds with 1,287 (10.5 per game), third all-time in double-figure scoring games (81), eighth all-time in steals (109), second all-time in games played (123) and first all-time in blocks (294). Johnson was named All-American South Conference for the 1990–1991 season, All-Sun Belt Conference for the 1991–1992 season, and the 1992–1993 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unoprivateers.com/news/2007/6/19/47577.aspx|title=Ervin Johnson Hall of Fame|date=19 June 2007 |access-date=June 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626004553/https://unoprivateers.com/news/2007/6/19/47577.aspx|archive-date=June 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Johnson completed his degree in general studies from the University of New Orleans during the 1996–97 NBA season, and was commencement speaker at graduation ceremonies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ervin_johnson/bio.html |title=Ervin Johnson Bio |work=NBA.com |access-date=2013-04-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108140815/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ervin_johnson/bio.html |archive-date=2012-11-08 }}</ref>

===Honors===
Johnson was named Basketball Times 2nd Team All-American for 1992–93 and 3rd Team All-American by Basketball Weekly and United Press International. He was named Honorable Mention All-American for the same season by the Associated Press.

Johnson was named MVP of the NABC All-America Game in 1993.<ref name="unoprivateers1">{{cite web|url=https://unoprivateers.com/news/2005/10/26/80575.aspx|title=Sun Belt Announces All-Time Men?s Basketball Team|date=October 26, 2005|access-date=June 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626005246/https://unoprivateers.com/news/2005/10/26/80575.aspx|archive-date=June 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 29, 1997, his Privateer jersey (40) was retired at [[Lakefront Arena]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unoprivateers.com/news/2007/6/19/86095.aspx|title=UNO Hall of Fame|date=19 June 2007 |access-date=June 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626005415/https://unoprivateers.com/news/2007/6/19/86095.aspx|archive-date=June 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, Johnson was named to the All-Time Men's Basketball Team for the Sun Belt Conference in celebration of the conference's 30th basketball season.<ref name="unoprivateers1"/>

==Professional career==
[[File:Ervin Johnson.jpg|thumb|right|Johnson signing an autograph in 2003]]
A 6'11", 245-pound [[center (basketball)|center]] from the [[University of New Orleans]], Johnson was selected 23rd overall by the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] in the [[1993 NBA draft]], and played for the Sonics, [[Denver Nuggets]], [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] and [[Milwaukee Bucks]].

On February 14, 1996, Johnson scored a career-high 28 points, alongside grabbing 12 rebounds, in a win against the Timberwolves.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199602140SEA.html|title = Minnesota Timberwolves at Seattle SuperSonics Box Score, February 14, 1996}}</ref> Johnson and the Sonics would make it to the [[1996 NBA Finals|Finals]] that postseason, before losing to the Bulls.

The following season, after signing with the Nuggets, Johnson scored 19 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and blocked 5 shots on December 20 in a win against the [[Vancouver Grizzlies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199612200DEN.html|title = Vancouver Grizzlies at Denver Nuggets Box Score, December 20, 1996}}</ref> That [[1996–97 NBA season|year]], Johnson led the league in total defensive rebounds, with 682.

During the 1997 offseason, Johnson was traded to the Bucks for [[Danny Fortson]], [[Johnny Newman]], and [[Joe Wolf]]. On April 11, 1998, Johnson scored 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a loss against the [[New Jersey Nets]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199804110MIL.html|title = New Jersey Nets at Milwaukee Bucks Box Score, April 11, 1998}}</ref>

Johnson played a key role on the [[2000-01 Milwaukee Bucks season|2000–01 Bucks]], grabbing a playoff career-high 17 rebounds on May 15 against the [[Charlotte Hornets]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200105150MIL.html|title = Charlotte Hornets at Milwaukee Bucks Box Score, May 15, 2001}}</ref> and playing in every game of their playoff run leading up to their Game 7 loss (in which he started and played 42 minutes) in the Eastern Conference Finals against the 76ers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200106030PHI.html|title = Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers Box Score, June 3, 2001}}</ref>

Three years later, now in Minnesota and 36 years old, Johnson played an important role on another [[2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves season|team's]] deep playoff run. This time, he averaged 20 minutes a game in the playoffs, but still started most games en route to a Western Conference Finals loss to the Lakers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2004.html|title = 2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves Roster and Stats}}</ref>

Johnson returned to the Bucks for one season, and retired after the end of the [[2006 NBA playoffs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnser02.html|title = Ervin Johnson Stats}}</ref>

==NBA career statistics==
{{NBA player statistics legend}}

Source<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnser02.html|title=Ervin Johnson|website=Basketball Reference|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]|accessdate=5 April 2022}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|*
|Led the league
|}

===Regular season===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1993}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1993–94 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 45 || 3 || 6.2 || .415 || – || .630 || 2.6 || .2 || .2 || .5 || 2.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1994}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1994–95 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 64 || 30 || 14.2 || .443 || .000 || .630 || 4.5 || .3 || .3 || 1.0 || 3.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1995}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1995–96 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 81 || 60 || 18.8 || .511 || .333 || .669 || 5.3 || .6 || .5 || 1.6 || 5.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1996}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1996–97 Denver Nuggets season|Denver]]
| '''82''' || style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|'''82'''* || '''31.7''' || .520 || .000 || .615 || '''11.1''' || '''.9''' || .8 || '''2.8''' || 7.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1997}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1997–98 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 81 || 81 || 27.9 || .537 || – || .601 || 8.5 || .7 || '''1.0''' || 2.0 || '''8.0'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1998}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1998–99 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| style="background:#CFECEC; width:1em"|50* || 7 || 20.5 || .508 || – || .610 || 6.4 || .4 || .6 || 1.1 || 5.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1999}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1999–2000 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 80 || 74 || 26.6 || .516 || .000 || .605 || 8.1 || .6 || '''1.0''' || 1.6 || 4.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2000}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2000–01 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| '''82''' || 19 || 24.2 || '''.545''' || – || .538 || 7.5 || .5 || .5 || 1.2 || 3.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2001}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001–02 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 81 || 9 || 20.5 || .461 || .000 || .455 || 5.8 || .3 || .5 || 1.0 || 2.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2002}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2002–03 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 69 || 17 || 17.0 || .452 || – || '''.682''' || 4.3 || .3 || .5 || .9 || 2.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2003}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2003–04 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota]]
| 66 || 47 || 14.7 || .534 || .000 || .607 || 3.5 || .4 || .4 || .7 || 1.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2004}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2004–05 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota]]
| 46 || 23 || 8.9 || .519 || '''1.000''' || .640 || 2.5 || .1 || .2 || .3 || 1.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2005}}
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2005–06 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 18 || 0 || 4.5 || .412 || – || .500 || 1.3 || .1 || .1 || .1 || .8
|-
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 845 || 452 || 20.1 || .505 || .200 || .605 || 6.1 || .5 || .6 || 1.3 || 4.1
{{s-end}}

===Playoffs===
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1994 NBA Playoffs|1994]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1993–94 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 2 || 0 || 4.0 || .000 || – || – || 2.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1995 NBA Playoffs|1995]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1994–95 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| 4 || 2 || 13.5 || .286 || – || '''1.000''' || 5.3 || .0 || .3 || 1.0 || 3.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1996 NBA Playoffs|1996]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1995–96 Seattle SuperSonics season|Seattle]]
| '''18''' || '''18''' || 14.1 || .371 || – || .818 || 3.9 || .4 || .3 || .8 || 3.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1999 NBA Playoffs|1999]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1998–99 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 3 || 2 || 30.7 || .462 || – || .500 || 6.0 || .3 || .7 || 1.7 || 4.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2000 NBA Playoffs|2000]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[1999–2000 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 5 || 5 || 31.0 || .500 || – || .611 || 9.8 || .4 || '''1.2''' || 1.2 || '''6.2'''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001 NBA Playoffs|2001]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2000–01 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| '''18''' || 10 || '''32.1''' || '''.574''' || – || .625 || '''10.8''' || .6 || .5 || '''2.1''' || 5.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2002 NBA Playoffs|2003]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2001–02 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 6 || 3 || 12.7 || .375 || – || – || 4.0 || .5 || .5 || .8 || 1.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2004 NBA Playoffs|2004]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2003-04 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota]]
| '''18''' || 16 || 19.8 || .500 || – || .625 || 4.7 || '''.7''' || .6 || .6 || 2.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2006 NBA Playoffs|2006]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[2005-06 Milwaukee Bucks season|Milwaukee]]
| 3 || 0 || 3.7 || .000 || – || '''1.000''' || 1.3 || .0 || .3 || .0 || .7
|-
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 77 || 56 || 20.5 || .462 || – || .678 || 6.1 || .5 || .5 || 1.1 || 3.5
{{s-end}}

==Post-playing career==
Johnson was a community ambassador for the [[Denver Nuggets]]. He also hosts clinics to teach basketball fundamentals to children in [[Colorado]].<ref name=spyropoulos />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ervin Johnson}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
*[http://www.nba.com/playerfile/ervin_johnson/ NBA.com profile – Ervin Johnson]
{{basketballstats|bbr=j/johnser02}}

{{1993 NBA draft}}
{{Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Ervin}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:All-American college men's basketball players]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Basketball players from New Orleans]]
[[Category:Centers (basketball)]]
[[Category:Denver Nuggets players]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1991 Summer Universiade]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Bucks players]]
[[Category:Minnesota Timberwolves players]]
[[Category:New Orleans Privateers men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Seattle SuperSonics draft picks]]
[[Category:Seattle SuperSonics players]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games gold medalists for the United States]]
[[Category:Summer World University Games medalists in basketball]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]