Joe Marcus Johnson (born June 29, 1981 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is a National Basketball Association player, currently a member of the Atlanta Hawks and the United States national basketball team.

After playing two seasons at the University of Arkansas, Johnson was selected 10th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2001 NBA Draft. While playing for the Razorbacks, Johnson led the team in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per game, and rebounding, averaging 5.7 rebounds per game, becoming the first freshman in the school's history to lead the team in both. He was the first Arkansas player since NBA player Corliss Williamson (1994-1995) to lead the team in scoring and rebounding.

Johnson started 33 of Boston's first 38 games as a rookie, but his playing time dwindled as the Celtics made a push for the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 1995. Midway through his rookie season, Johnson was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with guards Randy Brown, Milt Palacio and a first round pick for veteran forward Rodney Rogers and guard Tony Delk on February 20, 2002. Johnson became a force with Phoenix as he averaged 16 and 17 points per game in his two seasons with the Suns. He also developed into one of the most lethal three-point shooters in the NBA. He is highly touted for his great ball-handling ability considering his size and for his jump shot on and off the dribble.

In the 2004-2005 season playoffs, Joe Johnson required surgery on his face; after dunking the basketball he swung off the rim and landed horribly on his face. Because of the injury, Johnson wore a face mask for the rest of the playoffs. The Suns lost to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs, 4 games to 1.

In the summer of 2005 Johnson became a highly touted restricted free agent and expressed a desire to leave the Suns to assume a larger role on the perennial lottery-bound Atlanta Hawks. On August 19, 2005 a deal was finalized and Johnson was involved in a sign-and-trade deal with the Hawks for Boris Diaw and two future first-round draft picks.

In his first season as a Hawk, Johnson led the Atlanta Hawks in several categories: points (20.2 per game), assists (6.5), and steals (1.26), three-point field goals made (128), and minutes(40.7). He was only one of five players in the league to average at least 20 points and six assists in the 2005-06 season. Johnson was the only Hawk to play in all 82 games and extended his current league-leading consecutive games played streak to 346 as of November 25th, 2006.

On March 5, 2006 he was one of 23 NBA players named to the 2006-08 USA Men's Senior National Team.

Johnson scored a career high 42 points on March 7, 2006 against the Golden State Warriors and recorded a career high 17 assists on March 13, 2006 against the Milwaukee Bucks. He recorded his first career triple-double on February 1, 2006 with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Johnson has been named by Commissioner David Stern to the 2007 Eastern Conference All-Stars, replacing the injured Jason Kidd (back).
Source : Wikipedia