Avery Johnson is a former basketball coach and player. Johnson matriculated at New Mexico Junior College before moving on to Cameron University, and finally Southern University, at which in his senior season in 1988 he led NCAA Division I with 13.3 assists per game, an all-time record.

Johnson first went undrafted, but eventually was able to get into the league, bouncing around teams before finally finding a home with the San Antonio Spurs. Johnson is best known for his time with the Spurs from 1994 to 2001, and particularly his integral role on the 1998–99 Spurs team that won the NBA championship against the New York Knicks. Johnson spent 16 years in the NBA as a player, and subsequently went on to serve as head coach of two NBA teams: the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets. He led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance and to three consecutive 50+ win seasons.

The Spurs retired Johnson's number 6 in December 2007. He was also inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in February 2009. Most recently, Johnson served as head coach of the Alabama men's basketball team.