Former Flyer retires after long pro basketball career

Apr. 17—Fourteen years after his college career with the Dayton Flyers ended, Chris Johnson announced the end of his playing career Thursday, April 16, on Instagram.

"Dear Basketball, thank you for an incredible 13 years of allowing me to live out a dream I couldn't have imagined in all of my days," Johnson, 35, wrote. "Because of you, the game has shaped who I am between the lines and allowed me to play in the NBA and overseas. You taught me discipline, resilience, teamwork and what it means to pour everything into a passion. Some would say I had too much passion, but, hey, I guess that happens when you're striving to be great."

Johnson, a 6-foot-6 forward from Brookhaven High School in Columbus, scored 1,467 points from 2009-12 with Dayton. He ranks 23rd in school history in scoring. He played his first three seasons for coach Brian Gregory and his last season with Archie Miller.

Johnson shared the team MVP award with Kevin Dillard as a senior in the 2011-12 season.

Johnson reached the NBA in January 2013 with the Memphis Grizzlies. He played in 147 games in four seasons. He also had stints with the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks.

In April 2016, Johnson scored seven points for the Jazz against the Los Angeles Lakers in the final game of the regular season. It would be his last NBA appearance. It was also the final game of Lakers star Kobe Bryant's career.

After his NBA days ended, Johnson played in the G League and in France, but he has spent most of his career in Israel. He made the All-Israeli League first team in 2021 and 2022.

"I've experienced the roar of the crowd, the sting of defeat, the joy of victory and the unbreakable bonds formed with teammates and coaches, some who became family thanks to you," Johnson continued in his address to the game. "You gave me far more than I could ever give back. I'm deeply grateful to my family, fans, mentors, and everyone who supported me along the way. To all my former teammates — thank you for pushing me to be better every single day and allowing me to be myself. To the coaches who believed in me, your impact lasts a lifetime.