Larry Johnson (basketball) - Definition and Overview

Larry Johnson (born March 14, 1969 in Dallas, Texas) is a former NBA player who spent his career with the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks. He was a 6'9" forward who went by the nicknames "LJ" and "Grandmama" (because of a commercial in which he dressed up like an old lady).

Johnson played his collegiate ball at UNLV, and was selected first overall in the 1991 NBA Draft by the Hornets.

Along with Alonzo Mourning and Muggsy Bogues, Johnson played with the Hornets at the height of their popularity in the early and mid-1990s. Unfortunately, friction between Johnson and Mourning forced the organization to make a change, so the Hornets traded Mourning to the Miami Heat.

Johnson was a key member of the Knicks' 1999 Eastern Conference championship team, and was the player who hit what some refer to as "the phantom four-point play" that cost the Indiana Pacers a victory in Game 5 of the East Finals and, ultimately, the series. Standing outside the 3-point line with 11.9 seconds left, Johnson held the ball, then began to dribble. He leaned into defender Antonio Davis before jumping up. The referee called the foul about a half-second before Johnson released the ball, but it was counted as a continuation shooting foul. The 3-point basket and the ensuing free throw gave the Knicks a 92-91 victory.