Larry Johnson lands a job with the New York Knicks – NBA Update
Former New York Knicks forward Larry Johnson has become the latest Knicks alumni to land a job with the franchise. The Knicks have hired Larry as basketball and business operations representative. The role will see Larry do a number of things, including player development, looking after community relations, marketing, fan development and some business initiatives.
Johnson was excited about the new opportunity;
“I consider coming back to work for a franchise that I had so much success with a great honour. As I move onto the next phase of my career, I have been given an opportunity to touch so many different areas of the organization. I couldn’t be more excited to get going and learn as much as I can.”
Larry was the 1st overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, in which he was drafted to the Charlotte Hornets. He averaged 19.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game with Charlotte before being traded to the New York Knicks in 1996.
Although his numbers fell after his move to the Knicks, where he was averaging 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, he is still remembered for being the one responsible for the four-point play with 5.7 seconds left in Game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks won the match 92-91 and went on to win the series to become the only 8th seeded team to reach the NBA finals in the history of the league.
Johnson had also been named the John R. Wooden and Naismith College player of the year in his college days.
He is the latest in a list of Knicks veterans who are now working for the team in one form or another. Coach Mike Woodson, assistant coaches Herb Williams and Darrell Walker, Assistant General Manager Allan Houston are all former players who are now employed by the Knicks.
It is worth mentioning that Larry Johnson did not have that long a career as he would have liked. He retired in 2001 as he was suffering from back problems, after 11 years in the NBA. Had he been in better shape, he could have gone on to play another few seasons.
Johnson then went back to his college, UNLV, to earn a bachelors degree, and was awarded one in December 2007. He also wanted to make a comeback into basketball with New York in the fall of 2007, but the whole idea did not go through.
Now, Larry is back in the basketball world, but in an all together different role. It will be interesting to see what changes he brings to this basketball club, given his experience and affiliation with the team.
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