Dennis Johnson dies; was star NBA guard

AUSTIN, Texas - Dennis Johnson, 52, the star guard who was part of three NBA championships and teamed with Larry Bird on one of the great postseason plays, died yesterday, collapsing after his developmental team's practice.

Mr. Johnson, coach of the Austin Toros, was unconscious and in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived at the Austin Convention Center, said Warren Hassinger, spokesman for Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

Paramedics tried to resuscitate him for 23 minutes before he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, Hassinger added. Mayra Freeman, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said there would be an autopsy.

The Toros postponed home games tonight and tomorrow, the NBA Development League said.

"He was one of the most underrated players in the history of the game, in my opinion, and one of the greatest Celtic acquisitions of all time," said former Boston teammate Danny Ainge, now the Celtics' executive director of basketball operations.

Toros spokeswoman Perri Travillion said she was talking with Mr. Johnson on the sidewalk outside the building when he collapsed. Mr. Johnson was joking about getting a parking ticket.

Travillion said Mr. Johnson did not appear to have overexerted himself at practice and didn't complain of any discomfort before he collapsed.

Mr. Johnson, a five-time all-star and top defensive guard, was part of the last Boston dynasty. He spent 14 seasons in the league and retired after the 1989-90 season.

He played on title teams with the Celtics in 1984 and 1986 and with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979, when he was named most valuable player of the NBA Finals.

Mr. Johnson and Bird were part of one of the most memorable plays in Celtics history.

In the fifth game of the 1987 Eastern Conference finals, against Detroit, Bird stole Isiah Thomas' inbounds pass under Boston's basket and fed Mr. Johnson, who drove for the winning layup.