Avery Johnson biography, coach, married, wife, salary, net worth

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<h2>Early Life and Education</h2>
<p>Born on March 25, 1965, in Louisiana, United States, Avery Johnson spent his formative years growing up in New Orleans. He began playing basketball at a young age and quickly demonstrated considerable talent. While attending St. Augustine High School, Johnson led his basketball team to a flawless 35-0 season, culminating in a state championship victory.</p>
<p>Following high school, Johnson pursued collegiate basketball, beginning at New Mexico Junior College. He later transferred to Cameron University before completing his college career at Southern University. Despite an impressive college record—he led the NCAA in assists per game during the 1987–88 season—Johnson went undrafted in the 1988 NBA Draft. He started his professional basketball career with the Palm Beach Stingrays of the United States Basketball League (USBL).</p>

<h2>Professional Playing Career</h2>
<p>Avery Johnson had a journeyman start to his NBA career, playing for multiple teams including the Seattle SuperSonics, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors. However, it was with the San Antonio Spurs that Johnson found the most stability and success. Known for his leadership and court vision as a point guard, Johnson played a key role in guiding the Spurs to their first NBA Championship in 1999. He famously hit the game-winning shot in the decisive Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. On February 20, 2009, Johnson was honored with induction into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame.</p>
<p>He retired from professional basketball on October 20, 2004, concluding a successful 16-year NBA career.

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<h2>Transition to Coaching</h2>
<p>Shortly after retiring, Johnson began his coaching career with the Dallas Mavericks as an assistant under <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Nelson">head coach</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Nelson">Don Nelson</a>. Within five months, he was promoted to head coach. Under his leadership, the Mavericks immediately began to thrive, earning a 16-2 record to close the 2004–05 season. Johnson was named NBA Coach of the Month in April 2005.</p>
<p>His success continued into the following year. In November 2005, he again received the NBA Coach of the Month honor. In 2006, he was named <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Coach_of_the_Year">NBA Coach of the Year</a> after leading the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance. Notably, he became the fastest coach in NBA history to reach 100 wins, accomplishing the feat on December 31, 2006, after a victory over the Denver Nuggets.</p>
<p>In 2008, Johnson transitioned to broadcasting, serving as a studio analyst for ESPN and ABC. He returned to coaching on June 10, 2010, when he was appointed head coach of the New Jersey Nets. He served in this role until December 27, 2012, when his tenure concluded after two seasons with the team.</p>

<h2>Personal Life and Philanthropy</h2>
<p>On July 6, 1991, Avery Johnson married his college sweetheart, Cassandra Merricks. The couple has two children: Avery Jr. and Christianne. Johnson is known for maintaining a relatively private family life to provide his children with a sense of normalcy away from public attention.</p>
<p>In addition to his professional endeavors, Johnson is actively involved in charitable and volunteer activities. He remains committed to giving back to the community through various initiatives.</p>

<h2>Recent Work and Net Worth</h2>
<p>Avery Johnson later served as the head coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team, a role he began in 2015. Though his tenure concluded in 2019, he was reportedly earning a salary of approximately $2.8 million during his time with the university. He has also derived income from business ventures and media appearances.</p>
<p>As of recent estimates, Johnson’s net worth stands around $30 million, a reflection of his long-standing career in basketball as both player and coach. For readers interested in his insights and philosophy, his story is shared in the book <em>Aspire Higher: Winning with Determination, Discipline, and Desire</em>.</p>

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