Vinnie Johnson was best known for his role as a sixth man for the Detroit Pistons, who won two championships in 1989 and 1990 under the banner “Bad Boys.”
The squat, strong-muscled Johnson was nicknamed “the Microwave” for his ability to score quickly and heat up the offense. He was also famous for his game-winning shot with 0.7 seconds left in Game 5 of the 1990 NBA Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers, which earned him another nickname: 007.
Johnson was a versatile and reliable guard who could play both the point and the shooting guard positions. As the third man in Chuck Daly’s guard rotation behind Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars, Johnson may have been less familiar to NBA fans, but he was not overlooked by Detroit basketball lovers. His energy, and constant “shoot from the hip” mentality was appreciated by fans of the Pistons. Sometimes, it seemed as if Johnson could shoot the rock while he was sideways or upside down in the air. All that mattered to Johnson was aiming his line-drives at the hoop.
In the 1989 NBA Playoffs, as Detroit battled the Bulls, Johnson put on one of his most famous displays of “microwave heat” from the floor of The Palace at Auburn Hills. In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 31, 1989, Johnson came off the bench and scored 16 points in the fourth quarter.
Johnson’s barrage of points in that playoff game spared no one: he shot over Scottie Pippen and even over Michael Jordan. The Bulls were helpless to stop NO. 15 as he carried Detroit to a 94-85 victory. Watch the amazing highlights below to see Vinnie in his prime as one of the best streak shooters in NBA history.
Vinnie averaged 12.0 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in his career, and he had his number 15 jersey retired by the Pistons. Johnson is one of the most beloved and respected players in Pistons history, and he is considered one of the greatest sixth men of all time.