Who is Kevin Johnson: Former NBA All-Star who became Sacramento's first African-American Mayor

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Taking a deeper look at Kevin Johnson's life.

Kevin Johnson has had a very interesting life. As a young man, Johnson was one of the best point guards in the NBA. However, he decided to become a politician after his retirement from basketball.

Johnson, 56, has also been involved in several controversies. Considering that he was a high-profile player and the mayor of one of the biggest cities in the U.S., this comes as no surprise.

This article will take a deeper look at the life of the three-time NBA All-Star. We'll reveal some of the most interesting parts of his career, both as a mayor and basketball player.


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Taking a look at Johnson's amazing career

During his basketball career, Johnson was one of the shortest players in the league. Despite standing at 6-foot-1, the point guard dominated his competition.

He was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the seventh overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft. Unfortunately, the rookie point guard did not get enough minutes in his first season in the league, which is why the Cavs traded him to the Phoenix Suns.

The trade turned out to be fantastic for both teams. In his sophomore season, the young guard increased his averages to 20.4 points and 12.2 assists, becoming one of the best playmakers in the league.

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Thanks to his impressive basketball skills, Johnson was named an All-Star three times. He was also named to the All-NBA team five times, and the leap he took in the second year of his career earned him the Most Improved Player of the Year award.

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Johnson played in the 1993 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls. Unfortunately, his team couldn't beat Michael Jordan and his squad. Despite never winning a ring with the Suns, the guard's number was retired in 2001, shortly after he exited the game.

Kevin Johnson has a bachelor's degree in political science, which is why he decided to run for mayor of Sacramento, the city he was born in. Johnson won the election in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012.


What does Kevin Johnson do now

After a very successful basketball career and two terms in the mayor's office, Kevin Johnson has mostly focused on his business. In March 2022, the former All-Star raised $4.3 million in venture capital to invest in various businesses.

You may be interested in reading: Reports: Former US President Barack Obama could be involved with group seeking to buy Phoenix Suns, Charles Barkley could join him

He's been a Managing Partner of Black Capital since its founding in April 2020. The focus of Kevin Johnson's company is to invest in Black and underrepresented company founders.

With an average check size of $200,000, Black Capital has helped many other businesses get a head start. Starting the company was a great move for both Johnson and others who needed help.

His current net worth is estimated at $10 million.

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Edited by Rajdeep Barman
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