Larry Johnson (basketball, born 1954)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 28, 1954 Morganfield, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | April 29, 2025 (aged 70) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Union County (Morganfield, Kentucky) |
| College | Kentucky (1973–1977) |
| NBA draft | 1977: 2nd round, 24th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Buffalo Braves |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Number | 10 |
| Career history | |
| 1977 | Buffalo Braves |
| 1979–1989 | Matsushita Denki |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Larry O'Neal Johnson Sr. (November 28, 1954 – April 29, 2025) was an American basketball player who had a brief career with the Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.
Johnson was a 6'3" shooting guard and played competitively at Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky, before attending the University of Kentucky from 1973 to 1977. He was the first of three African-Americans from Union County recruited by UK. At Kentucky, he was selected as All-SEC Third Team his senior season. He helped the Wildcats finish as runners-up in the 1975 NCAA Tournament to UCLA in coach John Wooden's last game, as well as becoming NIT champions in 1976 with a victory over UNC-Charlotte, in which he scored 16 points.
Johnson was selected in the second round of the 1977 NBA draft by the Buffalo Braves. He only played four games for them during the 1977–78 season, averaging 1.5 points per game. Johnson would go on to play internationally for many years, including in Japan for Matsushita Denki, which later became known as the Panasonic Corporation, from 1979 to 1989. After he retired as a player, he also coached that team.
Johnson died April 29, 2025, at the age of 70.