The former American basketball player dedicated his entire life to sports. His successful forward career began with the Charlotte Hornets and continued with the New York Knicks. The athlete, known by the nickname “Grandmama” after becoming the face of the Converse brand, was a true pop culture icon of the 1990s. He was invited to appear in movies and television shows. The basketball player almost never declined to collaborate with well-known companies. Find out more at i-dallas.
Biography of Larry Johnson
The future athlete was born on March 14, 1969, in Tyler, Texas. However, Dallas was the city that had the greatest influence on his professional development. The man began collecting his first awards while attending Skyline High School, and he was later inducted into the Dallas Hall of Fame. In 1987, Larry joined the McDonald’s All-American Team.
Despite his commitment to get into Southern Methodist University, Johnson chose to study at Odessa College in Texas. Larry established himself as a promising basketball player during his first year, averaging 29 points per game. He was the first and remains the only athlete to win at the National Youth Athletic Association two years in a row.
Larry transferred to another school after receiving an offer of assistance from Jerry Tarkanian, head coach at the University of Nevada. His first competitions against serious opponents occurred immediately after that. Alongside Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony, the basketball player played against the Duke Blue Devils. It was the first game of the first men’s basketball tournament in 1990.
Successful Charlotte Hornets player (1991 – 1996)
In 1991, Larry Johnson was chosen to play for the Charlotte Hornets in the National Basketball Association. In his first season, he was named Rookie of the Year. In addition, Johnson competed in the Slam Dunk Contest and took second place. Cedric Ceballos of the Phoenix Suns won the first.
1993 was a no less successful year for the basketball player. Larry Johnson was selected to take part in the All-Star Game. At the time, he was the first from the Charlotte Hornet to be assigned such an important task. He played alongside Dell Curry, Alonzo Mourning and Muggsy Bogues. For all of them, the 1990s marked the height of their popularity and success. Later, Larry Johnson became known as “Grandmama” after appearing in a series of commercials for the “Converse” brand.
In October 1993, Larry Johnson signed the most lucrative 84-million-dollar contract in NBA history. In the agreement, he extended his cooperation with the Charlotte Hornets for another 12 years. The basketball player entered the league as a very strong forward. However, due to an injury, in particular a sprained back, he was forced to develop an outside shot. In addition to health issues, Larry Johnson’s career was affected by conflicts with his colleague Alonzo Mourning. As a result, the Charlotte Hornets management had to separate them and assign them to different teams.
End of sports career and time with the New York Knicks
From 1996 until 2001, Larry Johnson was a member of the New York Knicks basketball team. During this time, the athlete achieved some success, but his career was already doomed to end. Chronic back problems affected Johnson’s performance and restricted him from progressing fully.
During his tenure with the New York Knicks, the basketball player averaged 12.8 points per game. It was the worst result in his whole career. Nonetheless, he remained one of the greatest players in the new team. In 1999, Larry Johnson was a key player for the Eastern Conference championship.
On October 10, 2001, Johnson announced his early retirement from sports. However, he did not leave the New York Knicks permanently. In 2007, the former player returned to the team after earning a bachelor of arts degree in social science studies from the University of Nevada. However, he came back not as a basketball player, but as a basketball and business operations representative. Larry Johnson began to travel extensively and participate in social activities while residing in Las Vegas’s suburbs. In his spare time, he paid attention to the affairs of the New York Knicks.
Larry Johnson, the face of commercials and movies
As previously stated, Johnson’s nickname “Grandmama” originated from an advertisement for the American shoe brand “Converse”. In 1991, the basketball player appeared on television screens dressed as an elderly woman. The commercial existed till 1996 and was regarded as one of the best marketing campaigns. The humorous and unusual advertisement has earned multiple industry awards, as well as a number of reviews about the Converse Grandmama.
In 1993, Larry Johnson once again had to become a “grandmother” for the filming of an episode of the TV series “Family Matters”, where he played the teammate in a basketball tournament of the fictional character Steve Urkel.
Furthermore, in 1997, the athlete played himself in the films “Eddie” and “Space Jam”. He also appeared as a guest on David Letterman’s Late Show.