Net Worth Ranker
What Is Avery Johnson Net Worth?
Avery Johnson, a retired American professional basketball player and coach, has an estimated net worth of $20 million. This wealth has been accumulated through a successful career in the NBA, both as a player and a head coach, and supplemented by ventures in broadcasting, motivational speaking, and real estate.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Avery Johnson was born on March 25, 1965, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in New Orleans where he attended St. Augustine High School. During his senior year, he led the team to a 35-0 record and a Class 4A Louisiana state championship. Despite his high school achievements, Johnson was not drafted by an NBA franchise after setting an NCAA Division I record by averaging 13.3 assists per game during his senior year at Southern University in 1988. Johnson began his professional career with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1988, marking the start of a 16-season NBA journey.
NBA Playing Career: From Supersonics to Championship Glory
Johnson’s NBA career spanned 16 seasons, during which he played for several teams, including the Seattle SuperSonics, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and most notably, the San Antonio Spurs. His time with the Spurs was particularly successful, earning him the nickname “The Little General” for his on-court leadership. In 1999, he led the Spurs to an NBA Championship victory against the New York Knicks, cementing his legacy in San Antonio. One of his most memorable moments was a game-clinching shot in Game 5 of the 1999 NBA Finals. Throughout his NBA career, Avery Johnson earned approximately $36,300,400 ($66,445,769 when adjusted for inflation). His highest annual salary as a player was $8,000,000 with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2000-2001 season.
Transition to Coaching: Dallas Mavericks and Beyond
In 2004, Avery Johnson retired from playing and quickly transitioned into coaching, becoming an assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks. Within five months, he was promoted to head coach, showcasing his leadership and basketball acumen. In April 2005, only weeks after stepping in as coach of the Dallas Mavericks, Avery Johnson agreed to a four-year contract extension. It was expected that Johnson would receive an average coaching salary of roughly $2.5 million a season. Under his leadership, the Mavericks achieved significant success, including victories over the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns. Johnson’s impact was immediately recognized, earning him the Coach of the Month award twice, a unique achievement for a first-time head coach. In 2005-06, Johnson led the Mavericks to their first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals en route to earning NBA Coach of the Year honors. Johnson led the Mavericks to a record of 194-70 (.735) and set the record for reaching the 50-win plateau (62 games) and the 150-win milestone (191 games) the fastest. However, he was dismissed from the Mavericks in 2008. In 2010, Johnson became the head coach of the New Jersey Nets and doubled the Nets’ win total in his first season as head coach. His coaching career includes a stint with the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, where he coached until 2012. In 2015, Johnson was hired as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide Men’s Basketball Team with an annual salary of $2.8 million.
Broadcasting, Speaking Engagements, and Business Ventures
Following his departure from coaching, Avery Johnson transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a studio analyst for ESPN/ABC. This role allowed him to leverage his basketball knowledge and personality to reach a wider audience. During this time, Avery also worked as a broadcast analyst for ESPN & CBS Sports Network/HQ, where he continues to be featured to this day. Johnson also serves as an advisor for a Dallas-based multifamily real estate firm. In 2008, Avery Johnson published his second book, Aspire Higher: Winning On and Off the Court with Determination, Discipline and Decisions. Beyond basketball, Johnson has engaged in various business ventures. In early 2020, Avery Johnson and John Bailey formed Allan Bailey Johnson Group, LLC, a national minority owned and operated commercial real estate advisory firm. He is a co-founder and partner of Avery Capital, a commercial real estate private equity fund founded in 2020. Avery Capital focuses on providing investors with stable cash flows through low risk and high yield acquisitions and dispositions. Since he founded the firm alongside COO John Allan Bailey in late 2020, Avery Capital’s 5-person team has raised more than $30 million and acquired two properties in South Texas and Florida with big plans to “buy $300 million worth of assets, with leverage, over the next 18 months.” He has also advised on business dealings in sectors like oil and gas and multi-family and commercial real estate. He is also a sought-after motivational speaker, known for his fireside chats with Fortune 500 CEOs, as well as his motivational speeches and management training sessions.
Real Estate and Other Assets
Avery Johnson’s real estate ventures through Avery Capital and Allan Bailey Johnson Group, LLC, contribute to his overall net worth. Avery Capital, which he co-founded, is a $100 million GSA anchored real estate fund. While specific details about his personal residences and other assets are not publicly available, it is likely that he owns significant property holdings and other investments that add to his financial portfolio.
Philanthropy and Personal Life
Avery Johnson is actively involved in the community, serving on the board of Behind Every Door, a nonprofit that operates a network of community centers helping to alleviate poverty in Dallas. He also supports Shoreline City Church and Hunger Busters, a food pantry in Dallas. Avery Johnson received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern University, where he met his wife Cassandra. The two married in 1991 in New Orleans and have two children, Christianne and Avery Jr. Avery Johnson Jr. is involved in the sports business, working with NBA and NFL players such as Book and Kyler Murray.
