Ervin Johnson

Eric Spyropoulos

Few players have made as much of an impact in the Denver community as Ervin Johnson has over the years.

Although Johnson only played for the Nuggets for one season during his 13-year career in the NBA, he currently serves as a community ambassador for the team and can regularly be found hosting youth basketball clinics across the city and state of Colorado.

Johnson uses his platform as a community ambassador to spread the game of basketball to local communities, using clinics to help teach children the fundamentals of the sport, all while providing life advice for developing minds.

“I have known Ervin Johnson since he and his dear family moved to Denver,” said Lisa Johnson, the Nuggets’ VP of Basketball Administration. “He is one of the best human beings I know and one of my favorite people. He has taken his experiences of the NBA and his personal ones to share in the community on a regular basis. His impact is felt continuously throughout all of this city.”

Helping the community has long been a passion of Johnson, a graduate of the University of New Orleans.

Throughout his career, Johnson was involved with several NBA community initiatives. Most notably, he participated in a USO tour to Kuwait with fellow NBA players Troy Hudson and Mark Madsen in the summer of 2003. His commitment to the community also earned Johnson the NBA Community Assist Award in 2003.

Following the completion of his general studies degrees during the 1996-97 season, Johnson served as the school’s commencement speaker and later donated $100,000 to the school during that year toward the building of the Ervin Johnson Fitness Center.

“When Ervin speaks I am always moved by his motivation and his stories,” Johnson said. “It is a privilege to call him my friend.”

nuggets-honor-black-history-month-recognizing-ambassador-ervin-johnsons-impact

Nuggets honor Black History Month: Recognizing Ambassador Ervin Johnson's impact

admin

photos-nuggets-celebrate-december-most-valuable-teacher

Photos: Nuggets celebrate December Most Valuable Teacher

In the midst of the grind of the regular season, the Denver Nuggets and their players took time to give back to the community and support youth sports initiatives.

On World Kindness Day, Torrey Craig began the events by hosting eighth graders from Strive Prep at the Pepsi Center. Nuggets’ Strength and Conditioning coach Felipe Eichenberger helped lead the students through warm-up stretches, defensive stance exercises and other aerobic movements such as high-knees, squats and more.

Before the students began their exercises, Craig made sure that each one had a replica headband to wear, just like the veteran forward does each and every game.

“I think it’s extremely important to interact with the kids and teach them how important fitness is,” Craig told Nuggets.com. “For them to be able to interact with an NBA player that is involved with a lot of fitness is great for them.”

The students were also able to ask Craig questions and received pictures and autographs from the Nuggets’ defensive stopper.

Later in the day, Monte Morris and Nuggets Ambassador Ervin Johnson participated in a Jr. Nuggets clinic at Eisenhower Park Rec Center. Morris and Johnson helped students of various ages go through shooting drills, pick-and-roll practice and dynamic stretches.

The children put their new skills and knowledge to good use by playing in some five-on-five games towards the end of the clinic, with Morris and Johnson on hand to provide advice and feedback.

Before receiving pictures and autographs from the two Nuggets, the students were able to ask questions relating to both on-court performance and off-the-court character development.

“It’s important (for kids to ask questions) because you never know, what you say could fix habits in their lives and make them a better person,” Morris said following the event.

The pressure was put on Morris to knock down a free throw with the students creating a loud environment, and once he did, each student received two tickets to a future Nuggets game.

The day was full of events to keep kids active, teach them basketball skills and perhaps most importantly, provide them with the knowledge to live a balanced life on-and-off the court.

“It’s big time for me. I look forward to it every time I come to events like this one,” Morris added. “I know how much it is for an NBA player to come and have an impact on these kids, which is amazing.”

denver-nuggets-promote-fitness-and-exercise-in-teamfit-and-jr-nuggets-clinics

Denver Nuggets promote fitness and exercise in TeamFIT and Jr. Nuggets Clinics

special-olympics-law-enforcement-torch-run-bbq

Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run BBQ

This September, NBA Cares and MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership are partnering to help spread the word about the positive effects of mentoring and the importance of recruiting new mentors. Former Nuggets player and current community ambassador Ervin Johnson has been traveling through the greater Denver area over the course of the past week to speak to elementary and middle school students. This morning, Johnson spoke to students at Excel Academy in Arvada, CO.

Johnson’s core message revolves around believing in yourself, working hard, making mindful decisions, having a positive attitude, setting goals for yourself, respecting yourself and others, and not letting yourself get down.

81% of youth with a mentor are more likely to participate in sports and Johnson looks to drive this message home. “Don’t think you’re too small. Fight back if you blow out a knee. You know Michael Jordan? He was cut from his high school basketball team. Those kind of kids that work, overcome and become something great.”

1 in 3 American youth are without a mentor. Like Ervin Johnson, be the change one of them needs. Visit connect.mentoring.org/

Interested in having Ervin Johnson speak at your school? Click here.

ervin-johnson-looks-to-give-back-to-denver-as-a-mentor

Ervin Johnson Looks to Give Back to Denver as a Mentor

nuggets-photos-a-z-ervin-johnson

Nuggets Photos A-Z: Ervin Johnson

Ervin Johnson spent one season with the Denver Nuggets.

As part of a month-long tribute to some of the most memorable players in franchise history, we are taking a look at the Nuggets from A to Z.

J is for Johnson, a 6-foot-11 center who led Denver in rebounding (11.1 rpg) and blocked shots (2.77 bpg) during the 1996-97 season but was traded to Milwaukee as part of roster overhaul the following summer.

Although he was no longer with the Nuggets, Johnson made his offseason home in Denver while playing for the Bucks and Minnesota Timberwolves over the next nine years.

“I loved the weather, and I loved the people,” Johnson said in an interview with Nuggets.com in 2011.

When Johnson retired in 2006, he became community ambassador for the Nuggets, a role he still has eight years later. And what a story Johnson has to tell.

Raised by a single mom in a low-income neighborhood in New Orleans, Johnson was bagging groceries at a Baton Rouge supermarket when University of New Orleans basketball coach Tim Floyd offered him a scholarship.

As a 22-year-old freshman, Johnson averaged a modest 6.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.94 blocks. Three years later, he averaged 18.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.66 blocks and was named the 1992-93 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.

Johnson was drafted 23rd overall by Seattle in 1993 and spent three seasons with the SuperSonics before signing with the Nuggets as a free agent in 1996.

His days in a Nuggets uniform were limited. His days in Denver are still going strong.

In the final game of the season, Johnson grabbed a career-high 26 rebounds and scored 21points as the Nuggets snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 100-95 road victory against the Dallas Mavericks. The 26 boards were the second-most in franchise history at the time; Timofey Mozgov eclipsed it with 29 rebounds for Denver on April 10, 2014.

denver-nuggets-a-to-z-ervin-johnson

Denver Nuggets A to Z: Ervin Johnson

none

Presented by

ibotta

Come out to the Denver Nuggets 2022-23 Draft Party Thursday, June 23rd @ 6:00 p.m. at Tom's Watch Bar, presented by Miller Lite! 

Watch your Denver Nuggets make their pick, win team signed gear, and meet Super Mascot Rocky! For more information <a href="https://www.nba.com/nuggets/watch-parties">Click Here</a>