Joe Johnson: He wasn’t a superstar, but he made a difference
Aug. 19, 2005: The Hawks celebrate their rousing victory over Steve Belkin. (AJC file photo)
For the first five years, the Hawks got what they paid for. Over those five seasons, Joe Johnson was their leading scorer and their best player. If not for him, this team’s 0-for-the-21st-century playoff drought might have continued to this day. That said …
If not for Joe Johnson, the Hawks’ owners wouldn’t have been suing one another. In the summer of 2005 Steve Belkin balked at the price of a sign-and-trade — general manager Billy Knight wanted to ship Boris Diaw and two No. 1 draft picks to Phoenix; Belkin believed one pick should suffice — and the whole thing wound up in a Boston courtroom, where Knight famously declined to shake Belkin’s hand, and the veil of contentment among ownership was put asunder.
No, that wasn’t Johnson’s fault. He had no control over these owners, and he delivered on the promise Knight had seen in him. From being the Suns’ fourth-best player, Johnson developed into “the best Hawk since Dominique Wilkins.” That was the description offered by Michael Gearon Jr., another of the owners, and it was and remains the gospel truth.
There were nights, many of them, over those first few seasons when Johnson was the only reason to watch the Hawks, and as the team began to improve he remained the best reason. He scored 35 points, 20 in a frenzied fourth quarter, against the Celtics in Game 4 of the 2008 playoff series, and that performance is among the finest by any Atlanta Hawk ever. Afterward Boston’s Sam Cassell said of Johnson: “He’s their franchise ballplayer.”
But Johnson was a strange sort of franchise player, not least because the Hawks — stop the presses — are a strange franchise. His arrival was overshadowed by the management kerfuffle. His best years here were the ones when nobody was watching because the team was losing. Even that Game 4 against Boston is more widely recalled as the night Zaza Pachulia went forehead-to-forehead with Kevin Garnett.
About that Game 4 windfall: It would take Johnson 31 games over more than three calendar years to break 30 in the postseason again. That became the biggest knock: Come the playoffs, the franchise ballplayer wasn’t often a franchise ballplayer. Johnson averaged 20.8 points over his seven regular seasons as a Hawk; over 47 playoff games, he averaged 18 points.
It was after one of his worst showings — eight points on 15 shots in a 30-point Game 3 blowout by Orlando here in 2010 — that Johnson said he didn’t care if fans showed up. That summer he became a free agent, and the Hawks, who’d just promoted Larry Drew to head coach in large measure because Drew promised to back away from Mike Woodson’s Iso-Joes, spent $120 million over six seasons to keep Johnson from leaving.
In sum, they lavished superstar’s wages — Johnson was making more than LeBron James, who also was a free agent that summer — on a player who had demonstrated he wasn’t quite a superstar, and now that player was closing in on 30 and his team didn’t want him to play in the same way that had made him an All-Star, and he’d just angered the paying customers to boot. With the new contract, the Hawks were no longer getting what they paid for. Within two years, Johnson wasn’t even their second-best player.
For all the good work he did here, Johnson was never the people’s choice. He’s not a smiler, and the bulk of his public comments tended to the negative. (Even after victories, Johnson could be heard to say his team needed to do something better.) He was never an unwilling passer — he and Mike Bibby worked beautifully together — but the Iso-Joes could leave that impression.
When the Hawks reached an agreement to trade Johnson to the Nets, local reaction was euphoric. No more albatross contract! No more sour Joe faces! Lost in the latest bit of giddiness was the memory of a similar giddy day in the summer of 2005, when the other Hawks owners had deposed Belkin as their NBA governor, and the sign-and-trade for Johnson had finally gone through and a celebration was staged on the floor of Philips Arena.
A free agent of substance had committed himself to a team coming off a 13-69 season, and for a downtrodden franchise that marked a new beginning. Seven years later, nobody was sorry to see him leave, but if not for Joe Johnson, this city might never have realized the Hawks were still in business.
By Mark Bradley
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182 comments Add your comment
donte080
July 6th, 2012
6:15 pm
Steve Smith was not near the player for Hawks that Joe Johnson was.
moorman
July 6th, 2012
6:21 pm
excellent article mark. the problem REALLY wasnt joe, it was the fact the hawks couldnt bring in another big time superstar to help joe because of his contract…………..
Native Son
July 6th, 2012
6:56 pm
I believe some people see Steve Smith on NBA TV amd think he must have been a great player. He is way more suited as an analyst.
tjhook
July 6th, 2012
7:45 pm
The argument of Steve Smith vs. Joe Johnson:
Steve Smith played more like the person we wanted to see lead our team. Joe Johnson had the skill and strength needed to be a star for us. I don’t know what player fans were watching, but Joe was a clutch player- made a number of shots during the closing parts of games. If anything, Joe was a victim of a persona that was created during his early years here. Woodson asked Joe to carry the team home when it came to the secxond half and Joe got used to it. Remember how he would lead the league in minutes played as well as shot attempts. That wasnt selfishness, that was by coaching design. Point the finger at Woodson and especially Larry Drew. Drew claimed he could get better team play out of the Hawks and unfortunately, he couldn’t quite bend Johnson’s mind to a new approach on offense AKA more motion throughout the contest. And Joe was too established on the team to be crossed by anybody else.
Joe was the most overall entertaining and successful ballplayer the Hawks have had since Domonique. I’m proud to say i was a proud jersey-wearing supporter (never brought anybody else’s) and thankful for his contributions. If he is guilty of anything, it is of foolish pride. He never realized that the team would improve if he put the team’s interests in front of his own, financially and on the court. He will be tough to replace.
Now Marvin Williams: he was a mess. Should be ashamed of himself. Could have been a much better player.
tjhook
July 6th, 2012
7:47 pm
Good article and appropriate, Mark Bradley. I wish you would have gotten more fact based in your assessment about Joe. Particularly, open up how Joe handled the ball so much for the team during most of his time with the team. And how that affected the lineup positively and negatively.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 6th, 2012
7:56 pm
He deserves a standing O when he returns as a Net. With that said, Danny Ferry absolutely made the right move in trading him. Not his fault that he was overpaid and his contract crippled this team’s ability to improve.
john
July 6th, 2012
8:40 pm
i usually dont like your writing. but you summed up joe’s time here perfectly. thank you for everything jj. goodluck.
tyger
July 6th, 2012
8:50 pm
Good Luck to Mighty Joe…
JJ brought respectability back to ATL…
JJ defended the NBAs best night in-night out…
JJ anchored a young, fragile, mentally weak team…
JJ took ATL to playoffs every season…
JJ easy target, double JJ, Hawks choke – simple…
JJ closer to NBA championship now…
Hawks will miss JJ…
He was not a vocal leader…
His play did his talking…
How many game winners did he hit?…
Who’s going to take that shot now?
Most neophytes too focused on offense…
Not realizing the defender JJ is…
JJ checked Kobe, LBJ, Melo, Vinsanity…etc…
Hawks are going to sorely miss that…
KakNiqueTree
July 6th, 2012
9:23 pm
Yeah suppose he wasn’t the happy go lucky sunny type but i liked that. The man seems not to have an ounce of BS in his body. As for the comment about the fans, you wouldn’t be happy when you get booed. That’s what sparked his comments in the first place. Wish him the best in the BK.
max j
July 6th, 2012
9:48 pm
jj–maybe the biggest waste of money in atlanta pro sports history. more dumb moves by the moron atl owners. it never changes in loserville.
Christian L.
July 6th, 2012
9:54 pm
By the time the Hawks see any benefits of blowing up this team Danny Ferry will be long gone. If I recall he has a six year contract. I predict after four or five years of being in the lottery he’ll be sent packing. Maybe Billy King will give him a job. Joe Johnson will be just fine, he’s in a better place now. He never fit into this town because wasn’t “tatted” up and had a normal haircut. He showed up and played and for the most part kept his mouth shut. Josh Smith couldn’t carry his jock strap. If Ferry gives this bum a big contract you idiots will cheer, but in a couple of years you’ll turn on Ferry for signing him because he’s a piece of sh$% as a player and a human being. I’ve lived here long enough to know exactly how you people operate.
BTR
July 6th, 2012
9:58 pm
Yeah, That BITCH johnson is the reason the Thrashers were sold, after asg LIES !!!
I want this team to move so bad. When my brother and I assume full control of our family Argia Business 1/1/2014, we will bring the NHL back and buy this team and sell and move them, Take that nba fans, We cannot wait !
StephenHarris
July 7th, 2012
12:37 am
Incredible article, keep the Atlanta sports dream alive Mark. Atlanta hoops forever.
Joe's #1 Fan
July 7th, 2012
1:39 am
I think the Hawks fans have been very unappreciative of “Joe da Basketball Player”. Joe put Atlanta basketball back on the map, made it fun to watch Hawks basketball. Yes, I believe he was overpaid. I’d rather had seen him take a bit less money so the team could add another star caliber player to the roster. That, and his lack of athleticism would be his only faults. I think Joe was/is and underrated superstar. Some bad coaching on the offensive side could easily been said to be the reason for his offensive decline. His teammates didn’t do much but watch most of the time. Joe is the only star that I see get beat up without getting any calls from the refs. He had to work for his baskets, and never got the calls that his peers as superstars received because of his quiet demeanor, and the head coaches’ not being outspoken. In this era of touch fouls, Joe rarely shot free throws otherwise he could’ve easily averaged 26 ppg. He’s the only player of his caliber that I see guarding other stars at his position while being the main scorer on the team. Most teams protect their stars until the 4th quarter atleast, by assigning defensive specialists to guard other stars so their star player could have the energy to perform on the offensive side. Joe guard other teams’ best perimeter players whether pg, sg, or sf. Takes a lot out of you. And also, people fail to realize that Josh, Al, Teague, etc would never have reached their potential if Joe was putting up shots like the other “superstars”. He was the team’s best fascilitator, best perimeter defender, best scorer. Even Kobe couldn’t do all that. Joe just didn’t get his share of respect from the league. I shall miss him, and will the unappreciating Atlanta fans!!!!!!!!
BravesFan79
July 7th, 2012
3:38 am
As someone who swore off the Hawks after they traded Nique, first the Mutombo years brought me back, and then it was along time again before the josh smith/ horford years came. Im glad the Hawks are where there at now, because a 2nd round playoff level team is alot more fun 2 root for than a 20 win team! The Hawks need to target a top level Center, Hibbert or Kayman, and build on what we have currently. Morrow is a top shooter and i think Hawks fans will be happy with the ex GT hooper.
SWAT Native
July 7th, 2012
4:11 am
@ MB – to me the memorable moment from that game 4 was Joe putting. Leon Powe on his BACK with a crossover and then stepping back to drop a three point dagger. After that series, teams realized that the key to beating the Hawks was to stop Joe and they game planned accordingly. Plus the Hawks wore Joe out in the regular season (he was always top 3 or 4 in minutes in the league). That’s why the playoff performances dropped off. Watch how he does in Brooklyn with D-Will.
I understand the trade, but remember Joe’s the only big time free agent that has wanted to come here since Dikembe. He gave the Hawks some good years and fans shouldn’t forget that.
BosnianBaller
July 7th, 2012
5:20 am
I am sad to see Joe leave.I remember all the crappy seasons before his arrival and what he meant for the team was huge.Who knows what the Hawks will be now it could be another 9 years before we make the playoffs again.We want Ferry to bring us a superstar yet he couldnt even bring a second player to play alongside LeBron James in Clevleand.
kelly
July 7th, 2012
8:04 am
Glad he’s gone, superstar or not. The best thing the Hawks have done in years is get Ferry.
Vchandler
July 7th, 2012
8:04 am
Newsflash; The NBA is not the NFL, you cannot “restructure” contracts.
haha
July 7th, 2012
8:43 am
Deron williams signed with the nets because of the joe johnson trade. Joe Johnson is a damn good 2 guard.
Avery Johnson is a great coach.
Jimmyraybillybob
July 7th, 2012
8:56 am
Well said MB. Joe did give the Hawks some much needed credibilty at a time when they were a forgotten franchise. For several years he was the one guy that kept us in games or won games for us. When he was on he could be rediculously good. But at times it was like he was didn’t really care. It looks like a win win deal to me. Gott a hand it to DF, he did something noone thought he could do. Lot of fans are excited to see what’s next.
ChipperBones
July 7th, 2012
9:09 am
Dear AJC, please give Mark Bradley the pink slip. His articles are pointless and every once in awhile I make the mistake of reading them. I know, that’s my fault, but still, he really sucks. Seriously, just fire him. Now. Please.
dre
July 7th, 2012
10:17 am
Joe didn’t hold a gun to anyone’s head to get the money he was paid, so lay off, you idiot critics. Thank goodness for the few quiet NBA stars like Joe…unpretentious, “unTatooed,” not a thug wannabee. Too few like him.
shake&break
July 7th, 2012
11:04 am
Way to build a guy up and then reduce him to a scrub.
First, to even say JJ was not even the second best player on this team is absurd. I don’t know what the love fest is with Big Al, but Horford is/was not a better player than JJ. Josh has more talent than JJ, but I am not certain he is a better basketball player at this point than JJ. When speaking of a basketball player you have to look at the whole package. JJ could play the point, was a matchup nightmare, he could play the 2 or three, he was a good assist man, he had a very high clutch rating this season, a high free throw percentage, lead or was a very close 2nd in scoring, had a calm demeanor and above that he played great defense. JJ is not a great athlete, but he is a good one. He does not have good explosiveness, but he does have athletic ability. Al shoots a great mid range jumper and is a solid rebounder, but is not the most athletic big man. He is somewhat mechanical and not a good defender, nor does he have a good to great post game or go to move. Josh has enormous talent that blocks shots, dunks well and has a streaky jump shot, but is turnover prone, takes bad shots and let’s his temper impact his game. Therefore, to say JJ was not even the 2nd best player makes no sense when the other teams (coaches devising strategies) placed double teams on JJ consistently.
Second, just because someone pays you the most doesn’t mean you are a leader. There have been may teams where the best player or the most highly paid player was not the leader. for examples see Doc rivers, Rondo, etc. On the other hand there have been may cases where the best player and most paid player was the leader and it still did not work. See Barkley, Malone, Ewing, Reggie Miller. Point being it is all about having the right mix of personalities on the roster and the Hawks were close. Al Horford was the Hawks leader, but not their 1st or 2nd best player. They struggled in the playoffs without him. Zaza was their physical presence leader and they struggled without him late in the season and in the playoff. But make no mistake JJ was a straight up baller, bona-fide NBA allstar and a clutch player this season.
Just remember it was still JJ who had the Hawks very close to beating the Celtics this year in the playoffs without Josh or Al available. I think people gave up too quickly and forgot Al (third best player on team and definite role player) along with Zaza (4th – 6th best player on team) and only true NBA center on the roster was out and that Josh (arguably 1st or 2nd) best player was hurt during the Celtics series. I also think you need to remember the Celtics had the Heat on the ropes. It is amazing how people so quickly forget and support their teams demise. The problem was not so much Joe, it was that the core did not get a chance to play together as their talent level improved. Josh was getting better, Teague was getting better, Zaza was playing better and Al was likely going to have a better season if he had not been hurt. Nonethless, Hawks fan’s could not wait and wanted quicker improvement from their core which was showing improvement before Horford went down. Now you are staring at a 8th place playoff spot (maybe) and the possibility that you will be bad for a long time again. The funny thing is you are cheering about this and excited. If you don’t understand what I am saying just look to the Nets, who have a billionaire owner (who could acquired any contract) and the fans are happy as they can be to get JJ (bad contract and all) and Deron just to be relevant again. Also, it was interesting to hear Deron say he’s excited to play with a player like JJ and that it swayed his decision to stay with Nets) Way to Go Hawks fans!!
Daniel
July 7th, 2012
11:55 am
Therein lies the Big problem. Anytime you pay Superstar Wages to a Non Superstar, you will be stuck into a team that MAYBE makes it to the 2nd Round of the playoffs.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
12:17 pm
I hope that in the future that our players do care whether the fans show up or not.
I will never forgive Sour Joe for that comment and he will always be the most unlikable Atlanta athlete of all time.
Good riddance and thanks for nothing. A symbol of why our hockey team is no longer here.
Good riddance, good riddance, good riddance.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
12:22 pm
It does not matter who comes here, the Winnipeg Jets will win a championship before the Hawks could ever hope to get as far as the confrenct finals.
Ferry has the right idea, but there is no hope, even a Young Red Auerbach could not turn this mess around.
I will never go to another event at the arena again as long as Geraon/.Levinson are around. I do not really wish this team to win because of the owners.
Timbo
July 7th, 2012
12:45 pm
No heart.
Timbo
July 7th, 2012
12:47 pm
Steve Belkin had it right all along.
Timbo
July 7th, 2012
12:48 pm
@dre
You also forgot “not a winner”
J. Shuttlesworth
July 7th, 2012
12:53 pm
Mark/editors –
You refer to Joe Johnson as ATL’s only all-star. Al Horford was an all-star in 2010 and 2011. Bring back Sekou Smith.
Regards.
DawgNole
July 7th, 2012
12:58 pm
mike
July 6th, 2012
12:12 pm
Big fan of Joe, hope he does well in NJ. If he was not around the past 7 years we would be nowhere. I’m not a big believer that every athlete has to be charming, smile a lot, etc. Just get wins.
________________________
Problem is, he didn’t “just get wins” either.
Go Jackets
July 7th, 2012
1:28 pm
Good ball player, model citizen, but NOT worth the money. Cant blame Johnson, who among us wouldnt have taken that money. I blame Knight and ownership.
Go Jackets
July 7th, 2012
1:29 pm
Good, not great player, Not worht the money imho. but who among us would have not taken the money? Blame Knight and ownership.
falCANS
July 7th, 2012
2:48 pm
Really it was mode than just his outlandish contract it was the fact he had the talent to be a HOF but he lacked the clutch gene and the undeniable will to win… also see VinceCarter
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:02 pm
Had Joe been more likable and not made snide comments like “We don’t care if the fans show up” he would have been more accepted in the sportsscape of Atlanta athletes.
Yes, a good player and at times a great player, but not a guy you really like as your own.
Once again, GOOD RIDDANCE.
Same with Marvin though that was more Billy Knight’s doing. What as idiot Billy Knight was. The Williams brothers of suck, that sums up the failed stewardship of Billy Knight.
He too was also an arrongant schmuck.
Danny Ferry has given the Hawks more PR than at any time since the ill advised trade of Dominique for that hamburger Danny “I cannot hustle my fanny” Manning. Man, I hated Danny Manning and Kenny the Snake Norman remember those BUMBS?
The Lenny Wilkins era was fairly effective but boring.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:06 pm
No main player on a team should make offensive comments like “We do not care if the fans show up for the games”.
Very good player yes, but very unlikable.
Ferry has given this team more good PR since the ill advised Dominique trade. He got rid of two unlikeable guys, Joe and Marvin.
And we got a good basketball return for Marvin. Also, Morrow is not a bad plaeyr.
superiorblogman
July 7th, 2012
3:32 pm
A couple of clowns can try to clog up the board with foolishness all you want, but you only show your ignorance by jumping on the Ferry train. The guy just put the garbage in the bag, he did not even take it out. Forget the dream about Dwight and Paul coming here and get back to reality and you will realize that people don’t come to the arena to watch cap space.
D man
July 7th, 2012
3:33 pm
Joes contract kept the Hawks from being good enough to get past the second round because we didn’t have enough money left to get a superstar player or at least someone who could,start.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:57 pm
superiorblogman–
I do not have illusions about Dwight & CP3 comming here, but I know one thing that I did not like this team as it was and a good share of the ATL fan base did not like a team where its main player did not care if the fans showed up.
This team was never going to get better as it was and we got rid of the most unlikable athlete in ATL history in Joe Johnson. He did not have any redeeming qualities as a personality or focal point of the team.
Once again, GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:59 pm
Good article Mark, too bad you are now always appreciated by some of the bloggers.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:59 pm
I meant NOT always appreciated by the bloggers.
KellieJenee
July 7th, 2012
5:38 pm
I HATE TO SEE JOE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He came here when no one else would and made the Hawks contenders. It’s too bad he wasn’t appreciated more!! I’LL MISS JOE BEING A HAWK, BUT I’LL FOREVER BE A JOE JOHNSON FAN! GOOD LUCK IN NEW JERSEY, THE NETS JUST PICKED UP A NEW FAN!!!!!!!
As for Hawks management, they better find a way to make these changes work. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 7 years now, and I’m not going through another drought with the Hawks. I started taking my son to games back when they were HORRIBLE, a few years before Joe came. And over the years we’ve enjoyed seeing them grow. And that’s what I want to continue seeing…growth!! You sent away a 6-time all star you would think it would be an improvement. I’m assuming your not done making changes because right now it looks like an EPIC FAIL!!
nash
July 7th, 2012
6:03 pm
well said Mark but I still think the biggest difference for this team was Bibby’s second year and, Horford’s first. That combination changed the fortune of this team more than anything. There is another player similar to this Joe and, that guy is J.R. Smith who I don’t think the Hawks need to take a look at
Mark
July 7th, 2012
7:48 pm
My God…Look at the ownership…It’s f’ n ownership….worst owners in the history of sports…in the a) dictionary, b) american history or c) whatever chapter of the bible is written on this age, the current Hawks ownership should be an example of a) don’t do this or you’re team will lose, b) don’t do this, it’s the worst sports story of american history or c) do this and you will see the red guy with the pointy tail!!
Andy
July 7th, 2012
8:01 pm
Loved him, he will be missed but the move is the best for the franchise moving forward! Excited!
DawgNole
July 7th, 2012
9:03 pm
KellieJenee
July 7th, 2012
5:38 pm
I’ve been a season ticket holder for 7 years now, and I’m not going through another drought with the Hawks. I started taking my son to games back when they were HORRIBLE, a few years before Joe came. And over the years we’ve enjoyed seeing them grow. And that’s what I want to continue seeing…growth!!
_____________________
You’ve been a season ticket holder for 7 years and you’re whining about a drought?! How bout those of us who’ve been Hawks fans for their entire 44-year history in ATL–and who’ve never once seen them make it past Round 2 of the playoffs? Now, that’s a drought!
Tigermike
July 7th, 2012
9:26 pm
Steve Belkin gets the last laugh.
HawksKingBibby
July 7th, 2012
11:24 pm
Enter your comments here
HawksKingBibby
July 7th, 2012
11:30 pm
Touching piece M.B I remember being on vaca in Williamsburg and following the JJ saga, wondering why this trade that was supposedly done wasnt going through. I still think Belkin was wrong. Im glad Joe chose us twice actually. However he was slowing down and wasnt the player he once was. It really is a perfect time to let him go because that contract will hurt every more every year till the last one when he is a huge expireing deal.