Disgraced Hawks guard 'Fast Eddie' Johnson dies in prison at 65 while serving a life sentence for the 2003 sexual assault of an eight-year-old girl
- Eddie Johnson, the ex-Hawks All-Star who was serving life in prison for sexually assaulting a child in 2008, has died at age 65 from an undisclosed illness
- Johnson was 53 when he received a mandatory life sentence in 2008 after he was found guilty of sexual assault on an eight-year-old girl in his native Florida
- The Hawks chose Johnson in the third round of the 1977 NBA Draft out of Auburn, where Tigers coach Bob Davis had described him as having a 'bad attitude'
- Due to his explosive first step, Johnson earned the nickname 'Fast Eddie' and averaged 15.1 points in 10 seasons. He was an All-Star starter in 1980 and 1981
- He received a lifetime suspension from the NBA in 1987 for his cocaine use
- Johnson was diagnosed with depression during his NBA career, but he disagreed with the doctors and stopped taking his lithium, unbeknownst to the Hawks
- He was ultimately committed by Atlanta Hawks President Michael Gearon
- Johnson was also arrested for burglary, robbery, and assault on a police officer
Eddie Johnson, the Atlanta Hawks All-Star who was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a young child in 2008, has died at age 65 from an undisclosed illness.
The two-time NBA All-Star passed away on October 26. A cause of death was not disclosed, but his passing was confirmed Tuesday by Rocker-Cusack Mortuary in Leesburg, Florida.
Johnson was 53 when, according to the Florida Department of Corrections website, he received a mandatory life sentence in 2008 after he was found guilty of sexual assault on an eight-year-old girl.
Former NBA All-Star Edward 'Fast Eddie' Johnson (pictured here in the Marion County Jail in Florida) was convicted in 2008 of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl
Johnson was serving the life sentence at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton, Florida when an undisclosed illness led to his death.
The mortuary said Johnson will be buried at Weirsdale (Florida) Community Cemetery on Saturday.
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The Hawks chose Johnson in the third round of the 1977 NBA Draft out of Auburn, where Tigers coach Bob Davis had described him as having a 'bad attitude.'
Due to his explosive first step, Johnson earned the nickname 'Fast Eddie' and averaged 15.1 points in 10 NBA seasons. He set a career high by averaging 19.1 points for the Hawks in the 1980-81 season, most of which was played as a starter.
Johnson dribbles the ball against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1979 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland
He also started in the 1980 and 1981 All-Star Games over other major talents, such as Tiny Archibald and Michael Ray Richardson.
The Hawks traded Johnson to Cleveland for Johnny Davis on February 10, 1986. Johnson signed with Seattle in 1987.
He received a lifetime suspension from the NBA in 1987 for his cocaine use.
Johnson had three children. His brother Frank also played in the NBA before serving as a coach, and Johnson was distantly related to former Hawks center Tree Rollins.
He was diagnosed with depression during his NBA career, but Johnson disagreed with the doctors and stopped taking his lithium, unbeknownst to the Hawks, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Ultimately Atlanta Hawks President Michael Gearon and General Manager Stan Kasten had Johnson committed.
Johnson was also arrested for a number of other crimes, including burglary, robbery, assault on a police officer, and shoplifting.
In this April 17, 1984, file photo, Atlanta Hawks' Eddie Johnson looks for help as he tries to get around Milwaukee' Bucks' Bob Lanier during a playoff game
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