NBA vetaran Avery Johnson retires
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-30 10:45

Dallas Mavericks guard Avery Johnson announced his retirement Thursday after a 16-year playing career.

Avery Johnson, seen here in 2002, retired from the players ranks of the Dallas Mavericks to focus on his duties as an assistant coach to Don Nelson. [AFP]

Johnson had signed a contract with the Mavericks on September 30 as a player/coach put decided this week to concentrate on his bench duties. The 39- year-old will serve as the top aide to Don Nelson and is slated to take over the team once the longtime successful coach retires.

"I am looking forward to working with a Hall of Fame coach in Don Nelson, who has been so good to me and supportive in helping me maximize my coaching abilities," Johnson said. "I am especially grateful to Mark Cuban for being a man of his word and a man of great integrity. I want to be a part of him and this organization winning their first championship."

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Johnson was not drafted out of college and began his NBA career with Seattle in 1988 after a stint in the United States Basketball League. One of only 75 players to play in over 1,000 career games, Johnson averaged 8.4 points and 5.5 assists with Seattle, Denver, San Antonio, Houston, Golden State and Dallas. He ranks 27th in NBA history with 5,846 assists.

The highlight of Johnson's career came in 1998-99, when he helped San Antonio to a world championship as the team's starting point guard.

Johnson, who spent parts of the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons with Dallas, played in 46 games with Golden State last year and averaged 4.6 points, 2.4 assists and 13.8 minutes per game.

Johnson will replace Donnie Nelson, the head coach's son, as the Mavericks top assistant. The younger Nelson is the club's president of basketball operations and will concentrate solely on that role.

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