My two favorite NBA teams were the Sonics & Celtics, and between them they won three titles from '79-'86 with Dennis Johnson at starting guard.
Years later when I was at UCSB I had a chance to meet him & chat a bit, as he was working for the Celtics as a scout & had come to see our power forward Eric MacArthur (who later got a free-agent tryout with the Celtics) in a game against Pepperdine (DJ's alma mater) featuring Doug Christie, who went on to have a long NBA career. Seemed like a real nice guy in person, and what a great defensinve player on the court.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2007-02-22-dennis-johnson-obit_x.htm?csp=34