Any history of basketball in Milwaukee has to include John Johnson.
His contributions have been a little lost to history, but the 6-foot-7 Johnson was an NBA champion and a precursor to the do-it-all wing players who are so prevalent in the game these days.
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Johnson died at 68 in 2016. His influence lives on, however, with his son Mitch in his first full season as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
“I enjoy hearing the stories now and I enjoyed hearing the stories from him,” Mitch Johnson said before the Spurs faced the Bucks on March 28 at Fiserv Forum. “Because obviously this game is connected from its origin and the people that have been here before us that laid the foundation. Gave us direction to continue to grow this game.”
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) is double-teamed by Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) and guard Ryan Rollins (13) during the first half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) is double-teamed by Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) and guard Ryan Rollins (13) during the first half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) fouls Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) during the second half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The San Antonio Sours beat the Milwaukee Bucks 127-95.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) is double-teamed by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) and forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) guards San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) during the first half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) reacts after hitting a three-point basket during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) passes the ball around San Antonio Spurs forward Kelly Olynyk (8) during the second half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The San Antonio Sours beat the Milwaukee Bucks 127-95.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks forward Ousmane Dieng (21) shoots over San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) during the second half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The San Antonio Sours beat the Milwaukee Bucks 127-95.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) passes the ball during the second half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The San Antonio Sours beat the Milwaukee Bucks 127-95.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) looks for an open teammate during the second half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The San Antonio Sours beat the Milwaukee Bucks 127-95.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green (20) hits a three-point shot during the second half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The San Antonio Sours beat the Milwaukee Bucks 127-95.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks guard Cormac Ryan (30) passes the ball during the second half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The San Antonio Sours beat the Milwaukee Bucks 127-95.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) takes a shot as Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) looks on during the first half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) scores on Milwaukee Bucks forward Ousmane Dieng (21) during the first half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) steals the ball from Milwaukee Bucks forward Ousmane Dieng (21) during the first half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (12) guards San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks owner Wes Edens, left, shakes hands with Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham after their game Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The San Antonio Sours beat the Milwaukee Bucks 127-95.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers is shown during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, left, talks with team owner Wes Edens before their game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers is shown during the first half of their game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Bucks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 127-95
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson talks with guard Devin Vassell (24) during the first half of their game against the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
John Johnson and “Downtown” Freddie Brown had unique partnership
There has never been a Milwaukee hoops partnership like John Johnson and “Downtown” Freddie Brown.
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They grew up playing together at Lapham and Red Arrow parks, and partnered in summer leagues all over the area.
Johnson started high school at St. Benedict the Moor before it shuttered for financial reasons, then landed at Messmer in 1963. Brown played on Lincoln High School teams that are considered some of the best in state history. In 1966, Messmer won the private-league state title while Lincoln won the public-school championship.
In 2005, the Journal Sentinel put together a survey of the best boys basketball players in Wisconsin history. Brown made the first team and Johnson the second.
Ex-Milwaukee Messmer High School star John Johnson competed against the Milwaukee Bucks’ Marques Johnson in the NBA.
“He was tremendous,” former Milwaukee Don Bosco coach Tom Sager told the Journal Sentinel about Johnson for that story. “He was a big forward who could really handle the ball, shoot well, rebound, drive to the basket. Dominating rebounder. He was like a center who could play anywhere.”
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Johnson and Brown went to separate junior colleges, then reunited at the University of Iowa. The Milwaukee duo led the Hawkeyes to an undefeated Big Ten record in the 1969-70 season.
Johnson was the first-ever draft pick of the expansion Cleveland Cavaliers in 1970. He played in the NBA until 1982, also suiting up for the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets and Seattle SuperSonics.
The peak of Johnson’s fame came with the Sonics, when he played alongside old friend Brown again. They led Seattle to its lone NBA championship in 1978-79, with head coach Lenny Wilkens using the versatile Johnson as a ball-handling forward.
“He was very good at making the play and passing the ball and loved doing it,” Wilkens told the Journal Sentinel in 2024, a year before he died. “I just felt like, hey, this guy’s a natural at it and I’m going to utilize that ability of his to help us with our team. So, I think J.J. was one of the first really, point forwards.”
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Mitch Johnson forged his own career with San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson is the son of Milwaukee basketball legend John Johnson.
Mitch Johnson’s basketball story starts when he was born in Seattle in 1986. His dad made sure he was properly schooled.
“The thing that I remember – for as long as I have a memory, as I was six years old and watching him work out NBA players – is just the fundamentals,” Mitch said. “His ability to emphasize those fundamentals and teach those fundamentals.”
Mitch won multiple state championships at O’Dea High School in Seattle before getting recruited to Stanford. Johnson played alongside future Bucks star Brook Lopez, and Johnson had 16 assists against Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2008. Johnson and Murray State’s Ja Morant are tied for the most assists against MU in a single game.
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Johnson played in the G League and Europe before becoming a coach. He climbed the ranks in the Spurs organization, becoming the successor to legendary Gregg Popovich last season.
The Spurs are NBA title contenders with superstar Victor Wembanyama.
And they have a coach with Milwaukee roots.
When the Spurs make their annual visit to Fiserv Forum, Mitch likes to catch up with Bucks broadcaster Marques Johnson, who competed against John in the NBA.
“Very connected to this city,” Mitch said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Spurs coach Mitch Johnson is son of Milwaukee legend John Johnson