Eddie Johnson
TV Analyst & Former NBA Player
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix, AZ USA
“What is your name going to leave behind for other people to continue to hold on to and help the world?”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationEddie Johnson
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
I grew up in Chicago and was raised with six siblings by my single mother in one of the worst housing projects at the time.
I loved sports, and played baseball and basketball in school—I played well and studied hard, so I ended up becoming the best basketball player in Illinois and received scholarships to many colleges.
I decided to go to the University of Illinois, where I played basketball for four years while earning a bachelor’s degree in history.
In 1981, I was drafted into the NBA by the Kansas City Kings—I played professionally for 18 years with seven different teams!
While in the NBA, I got married and raised a family.
After a successful career as a professional athlete, I could have gone into coaching, but I didn’t want to leave my kids or uproot my family, so I transitioned into broadcasting.
A year after I retired from the NBA, I was hired by the Phoenix Suns as a broadcast analyst and have been calling the team’s games ever since.
In addition to providing commentary for the Phoenix Suns, I’m a co-host of “NBA Today” on Sirius XM NBA Radio.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
TV Analyst & Former NBA Player
I call the games for the Phoenix Suns basketball team.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Sports
Television
Communicating / Sharing Stories
Day to Day
I provide play-by-play commentary for television broadcasts during live games for the Phoenix Suns. That means I also travel around the country with the team throughout the season.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
If you want to become a professional athlete, you really need to put in the work. It's going to be long hours and hard work. It needs to be your main focus and passion. It's a tough road but hard work, passion, and determination can help get you there.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"You can't make mistakes."
Challenges I Overcame
Raised By Single Parent
Work Stress
Interviewed By
A Single Mom's Story
Single moms pursuing higher education
