Here is a story for you. Kevin Johnson retired at the end of the 1997-98 season (officially on 1999.10.02). He comes back TWO years later after NOT playing basketball at all...unlike MJ who made hoops and had his own gym AT HOME while he was "retired".
So...KJ comes back to Phoenix because they had a decimated team by losing players (their start point guard Jason Kidd) to injuries and practically didn't have 12 healthy players to fill the roster. Next thing they do thank to their mentor KJ, Suns eliminates the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the Western Conference. Spurs are undoubtedly the best dynasty team after the 90s Chicago Bulls.
There are a few noticeable things about this 1999-2000 NBA season Phoenix team. Clifford Robinson led the team in scoring at 18.5 points per game. Hardaway, Jason Kidd, Rodney Rogers, Tom Gugliotta, and top draft pick Shawn Marion rounded out a list of six Suns players averaging double-digits in points.
Kidd led the NBA in assists per game and was tied for fifth in steals, while being selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game. Rogers finished the regular season fourth in three-point field goal percentage, and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Kidd would earn All-NBA First Team and NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors.
Now it would be too much to say Kevin Johnson singlehandedly beat San Antonio but him mentoring Phoenix surely got the job done. He came out of his retirement and played in six games and then would retire for the second time after the playoffs.
This was my comment to the following video PRAISING Michael Jordan on the day he retired for the second time in his career, in 1998:
"You media people suck but are lucky to have a job thanks to these great athletes! Yeah, KJ was a terrible human being but still a better person than the psycho MJ. The biased NBA still doesn't think KJ who had almost a double-double per game career is HOF worthy, FFS! NOW, use this story. It's a free gift from me so you can get the money to feed your family! ;)"
