Seattle Visit Blissful For Ex-Sonic Johnson

It was fitting that Ervin Johnson’s first game back in Seattle was Tuesday night on what was also his second wedding anniversary.

Johnson met his wife, Renee, in Seattle when she was visiting from Delaware. The two returned to what was their first home together Monday after spending the All-Star break celebrating their anniversary in Cancun.

“I have nothing but good memories of this place,” said Johnson, who played for the Sonics for three years before signing with Denver as a free agent when Seattle decided to pursue Jim McIlvaine instead.

Johnson is happy in Denver, however, where he is getting the chance to play almost 31 minutes a game, something he likely never would have done in Seattle for Sonics coach George Karl. Johnson is averaging 10.4 rebounds, 2.71 blocks and seven points a game.

Karl reiterated this week that he didn’t feel he could give Johnson the minutes that Johnson wanted.

“We always felt he was a very good player, but he wanted to play starter’s minutes and I couldn’t promise him that,” Karl said. “He’s putting up great numbers, but the team is struggling. He has established himself at a higher level than he was playing at here.”

Johnson spent much of the pre-game renewing acquaintances with old Seattle friends, and ate dinner Monday night with Hersey Hawkins and his wife.