Kevin Johnson: podcast appearances and interviews

Kevin Maurice Johnson, born on March 4, 1966, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. He has served as the CEO of Leverage Consulting and is the creator of Leverage U. Johnson holds a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. He was a prominent basketball player, primarily with the Phoenix Suns, where he played for 12 seasons and earned numerous accolades, including being a three-time NBA All-Star and a four-time second team All-NBA selection. His jersey number 7 was retired by the Suns in 2001. Prior to his NBA career, Johnson played college basketball at UC Berkeley, where he was a two-time All-Pac-10 Conference player and received honorable mention as an All-American. Originally drafted seventh overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1987, he was traded to Phoenix during his first season. Johnson retired from the NBA after the 1997–98 season, briefly returned in 2000, and then retired permanently. Beyond his sports career, Johnson has been actively involved in education reform and community initiatives. He founded St. HOPE in 1989 and has participated in efforts to improve education and community development. He also played a role in preventing the Sacramento Kings basketball team from relocating during his time as mayor of Sacramento, California, where he served from 2008 to 2016. Johnson was the first African American to hold the office of mayor in Sacramento.