Avery Johnson, 5-11, Sonics’ New Weapon

The Seattle SuperSonics think they have a weapon they lacked a year ago: a “200 mile per hour” car in 5-foot-11 Avery Johnson.

“He’s a legitimate point guard,” Sonics coach Bernie Bickerstaff said of the free agent rookie from Southern University.

“My half-court game has really improved,” said Johnson. “When I first came to the Sonics, that’s all I was, a car going 200 miles per hour. I couldn’t change gears. So now I’m learning to change gears.”

The Sonics made room on their roster for Johnson this week when they put four-year veteran Danny Young, starting point guard Nate McMillan’s backup last season, on waivers.

The Sonics felt they needed a Johnson-type player on their roster because Michael Adams, a speedy point guard, helped Denver eliminate Seattle in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season. The Sonics didn’t have any player to match up with Adams.

Although Seattle didn’t draft Johnson, Sonics president Bob Whitsitt and Bickerstaff told him they liked him a lot and wanted to sign him as a free agent if he went undrafted. Johnson led the NCAA in assists in his junior and senior years at Southern University.

The Sonics used their only draft choice, in the third round, to pick point guard Corey Gaines, a point guard from Loyola-Marymount. They cut Gaines along with Young this week.

Johnson will be the Sonics third point guard--behind McMillan and 13-year veteran John Lucas.

When Bickerstaff wants to speed up the tempo or slow down a player such as Adams, he will go to Johnson.

“It doesn’t take a degree to see what my role is going to be on this team,” Johnson said.

In practice, Johnson draws admiring looks from his new teammates. They know he can help them win.

Johnson says he wasn’t sure if he had the ability to play in the NBA before he signed with the Sonics and played with the team in the Los Angeles summer league.

“After that, I knew I had a really good chance to make the team,” he said.

Before Young was cut, Johnson says he struck up a friendship with Young. He says he was sorry to see Young go, but that’s pro basketball.

“It’s competition, it’s a business,” he said. “Some day, somebody else is going to come in and take my job. That’s just the way it is.”

Johnson, 23, said he grew up in a poor section of New Orleans.

“I could have gone the wrong way, but I went the right way,” he said. “I’m proud of my background.”