One of the great point guards of the 90's, Kevin Johnson could both score and distribute the ball.  A very good player at the University of California, Johnson was drafted 7th by the Cavs in the 1987 draft.  Stuck behind Mark Price, the Cavs unloaded Johnson to the Suns in a huge trade that also involved Larry Nance coming back to Cleveland.  It is with Phoenix where Johnson made his impact.  Johnson was one of the quickest guards in league history and could get to the hoop at any time getting a shot for himself or one of his teammates.  He averaged 20 points and 10 assists in his first 3 seasons in Phoenix; something only two others have done (the others being HOFers Oscar Robertson and Isaiah Thomas).  The Suns were serious title contenders throughout the mid 90's especially when they made the move to get Charles Barkley form Philly.  Johnson gladly accepted the role of second fiddle to Barkley's huge personality.  Close title runs marked this team, with the closest being a trip to the finals against eventual champion Chicago in 1993.  Ironically that looks like what his legacy will be as far as getting into the Hall. Close but no cigar.  Now the mayor of Sacramento , Johnson is the leading advocate for keeping the Kings in town.

Glen Rice just maybe the most effective outside shooter of the 90's. Reggie Miller got all the hype but Rice was actually a better scorer and was a 6 foot 7 shooting guard who was almost impossible to defend.  He was the star and leading reason the Michigan Wolverines that won the 1989 title and he set a record for scoring of 184 points in the tournament that still stands today.  Drafted number 4 overall by the Heat following the 89 season, Rice became the expansion team’s first bonafide star. 

Marques Johnson played college basketball at UCLA and was a member of the last championship team of the great Bruin dynasty under legendary coach John Wooden in 1975.  Johnson was a great college player winning the first ever John Wooden college basketball player of the year award in 1977 and gained consensus first team All-American honors.  Selected 3rd overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, Johnson quickly became a star under Coach Don Nelson.  In his second season he averaged 25.6 points a game which was good for third in the league and earned first team All NBA honors.  Johnson helped the Bucks win 5 straight division titles in the early 80's but they never could get over the hump of beating the dominant Philadelphia 76ers or Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference to make the Finals.