Catching Up With Ex-NBAer And Mayoral Hopeful Kevin Johnson

Former NBAer & Sacramento Mayoral Hopeful Kevin Johnson

Favorite NBA City: Big cities like N.Y., Chicago and L.A. are everyone's favorite, but I always enjoyed Atlanta.
Toughest Player You Ever Defended: Besides MICHAEL JORDAN? Either ISIAH THOMAS or MAGIC JOHNSON.
NBA Title Prediction: The final four will be the Suns, Lakers, Celtics and Pistons.

Q: How long have you had an interest in getting involved with politics?

Johnson: I’ve always been interested in politics. My grandparents were very involved in neighborhood and PTA associations when I was growing up, and I used to go to the ballot box when they used to vote. Then I went on to UC Berkeley and got a degree in political science. So I’ve always been interested in politics, but never saw myself necessarily running for an elected office.

Q: What from your NBA career can help you in a future political career, aside from name recognition and popularity?

Johnson: I think being a public figure and dealing with the media on a regular basis will be very helpful. Playing basketball is really a team sport, and you realize how important it is to work with many different people for a common goal. Being a point guard, you want to create a vision and be very goal-oriented and driven. I think all of those are very instrumental on the basketball court, and that is the same in politics -- you have to work with many different constituents, you have to lay out a clear, compelling vision and everyone has to be marching toward that goal.

Q: Have you had the opportunity to chat with any other athletes that have made the jump, perhaps someone like BILL BRADLEY?

Johnson: Yeah, I talked with Bill before, but I have not talked with him since I announced my candidacy for Mayor.

Q: What is your stance on the Sacramento Kings arena situation?

Johnson: I believe very strongly that the Kings are a tremendous asset to our city and to our region, and that we need to do everything we can to make sure we keep them here. On the flip side, I think it’s important for the Kings and the owners to really let the community know how much they appreciate being here. I think once we establish that trust and commitment on both sides, I think an arena is going to happen. Right now, the arena issue for Sacramento folks is that they don’t want public financing involved. They spoke very clearly on that. But there are still ways to get an arena -- not just a basketball venue but an entertainment complex -- and to talk about all the other benefits it brings to the city.

Johnson Calls Jordan Toughest To Defend

Johnson: I think any time you put something to the voters, ultimately the voters decide. In Sacramento, it was very clear, overwhelmingly, the community here did not want to publicly finance an arena. Some other cities do it in different ways, and sometimes it's apples and oranges. In Phoenix, there was public financing for an arena so people got taxed, but it was a tourist tax, whether it be hotels or rental cars. So the burden wasn’t borne by the people of Phoenix.

Q: How do you think NBA Commissioner DAVID STERN has handled the Sonics situation in Seattle?

Johnson: I haven’t followed it very closely. David is masterful in what he does, and his number one objective is to protect the sport and make sure it’s in the best possible hands. Certainly his due diligence and how he goes about things is usually something I’m very, very in favor of.

Q: So do you think Stern would make a good politician?

Johnson: I think being an NBA Commissioner, you have to be a politician. He certainly has political skills.

Q: What is the worst part of running for public office?

Johnson: It’s actually pretty easy to identify what the worst part is: I announced my candidacy 26 days ago and I’ve been late for every single meeting I’ve had in 26 days. And that drives me crazy, because I’m fanatical about being on time. I haven’t quite figured out how you campaign and fit 4,000 things in and still figure out a way to be on time.

Q: What’s the best part?

Johnson: The best part is me getting out, talking to people, to regular, everyday people, about issues and ideas they have for their city. My objective is to create a collective vision that we’re all very excited about, and it’s been really invigorating for me to get out and talk to people, going door-to-door or just in the streets, wherever our paths may cross.

Q: Would you get involved with politics outside of Sacramento, or is your interest specific to your hometown?

Johnson: Sacramento is specific for me -- I’m a three-generation Sacramentan. I believe in the city, I love it and I want to see it serve every resident in this community in a way I think it can. I felt Sacramento needs a different type of leadership -- someone who can articulate a vision, be very goal-oriented and go on out there and go to bat for Sacramento in a way I don’t think has happened in the past. I’m looking forward to being able to do that.

Johnson Believes Market Exists For Stern's International Plans

Johnson: I’m not super familiar, but I know it’s something for years people have been considering, taking our market worldwide. Certainly David has inched up in doing it by doing exhibition games and a couple official games in different cities around the world. And that’s been huge. The NFL did it this year, so there’s certainly a market out there, and David’s number one objective always is to protect the game.

Q: With the influx of NBAers coming from high school that have done so well in the league, do you think the NBA’s current minimum age requirement is appropriate?

Johnson: Originally, I was not in favor of the age requirement. I liked the fact people had the freedom that, if you had a skill and you could market it and get paid for it, I liked that. On the other hand, I always would root for kids to stay in school three, four years, just to enjoy the college experience and not try to grow up too quickly. That’s kind of my personal choice, but I didn’t feel like I could impose that on anyone else, so the minimum age requirement was kind of a compromise for everyone. Certainly, what [Lakers G] KOBE BRYANT, [Cavaliers F] LEBRON JAMES, [Celtics F] KEVIN GARNETT and some other guys have done, in terms of their maturity level off the court and not just their ability on the court, has been really remarkable. Certainly they get a lot of credit, but I think the NBA has done a very good job of creating support networks and orientations for young people coming in to make sure that they’re not going down roads without a lot of consultation from folks who have been down that way before.

Q: Who are you supporting in the upcoming Presidential election?

Johnson: I came out very early in support of BARACK OBAMA.

Q: Do you think he will win the nomination?

Johnson: I am hopeful, but we have two very good candidates on the Democratic side. I think he has an excellent opportunity of doing it. I don’t think it’s over yet, and I think there are still some key states that need to weigh in. But he has electrified this country in a way that has gotten people to participate and care about politics and not be apathetic in ways we have not seen maybe at any time in history.

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