Avery Johnson
Avery Johnson
Avery Johnsonis an American basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team. Johnson spent 16 years in the National Basketball Association as a player, and subsequently served as the head coach of two NBA teams: the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets. He led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance and to three consecutive 50+ win seasons. During his playing days, Johnson was known as the "Little General" for his...
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth25 March 1969
CityNew Orleans, LA
He was one of the first coaches that came in and started talking about winning a championship and winning it with defense and don't even make apologies about it. Don't blink. Don't even blink when you talk about it. That's the goal. Don't be ashamed about it, otherwise you're just selling tickets.
He helped carry this franchise for a lot of years and he didn't take many nights off. I think that's what I really respected about him.
He had a little swelling. It's nothing serious. It's called old age. But we got to make sure we get that swelling down.
He got some big stops and rebounds for us and stopped them from getting some rebounds and that is what he's here for.
There is going to come a time here - I don't know when - when we're going to start getting some guys back. And it's going to be very important that those guys get back on the practice court and things will get back to normal. But now isn't the time.
We're on the radar now. There is no hiding.
When he's on his game and he's playing tough, hard-nosed defense and getting rebounds, getting some assists, guarding one of the better perimeter players and scoring, I'm a much better coach.
But we are trying to figure out how to take the next step. We've got a system in place now, and we're trying to plug in the right pieces.
I'm at a loss for words on our defense. We've got to have significant improvement.
I love coming back here with all the great memories I have here and great friends. And everywhere you go, there's always somebody that talks about some of the teams I played on. And because of the hurricane, I got a lot of family that lives here.
If we get both of those guys back by the end of the week, great. If not, we'll have to wait until they're ready.
I have been waiting for 79 games to get some internal leadership, and I haven't gotten it yet. This is one of the most disappointing games that I've been a part of as Mavericks coach. At the same time, it's my fault.
I don't know what I am going to have to do to get this team charged up, but I am willing to do anything. ... I'll run around a track, bench press, whatever you want me to do. I am open for any ideas.
We thought we were pretty good defensively, for the most part, against one of the tougher teams in the Western Conference. We knew we had to be physical.