By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
NBA veteran and former Olympiacos star Eddie Johnson took a nostalgic turn when responding to feedback regarding his HoopsHype feature, which explored how a 2026 NBA championship might redefine the legacies of modern icons like LeBron James and Nikola Jokic.
At 66 years old, the Chicago native found himself looking back at his own storied past, specifically his iconic stint in European basketball. When a fan questioned how many NBA rings he possessed, Johnson playfully shifted the focus toward his international success.
“One in Europe for Olympiacos,” he replied in a post on X on Saturday. “I was living in a four-level house overlooking the Saronic Gulf, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea, having the time of my life!”
While Johnson is widely celebrated for a prolific 1,199-game NBA career, amassing 19,202 points, the second-most in league history for a non-All-Star, his 1994–95 season in Greece remains the stuff of basketball lore. Arriving in Piraeus after thirteen seasons in the NBA, Fast Eddie became an instant cult hero.
His legendary status was cemented during the 1995 FIBA European League Final Four in a semifinal against Panathinaikos. In a notoriously tense, low-scoring affair, Johnson erupted with four clinical three-pointers in the closing minutes to secure a 58–52 victory, recording one of many clutch displays opposite the archrivals of Olympiacos.
Though the Reds ultimately fell to Real Madrid Teka in the Final, Johnson’s European campaign was an unqualified individual and collective success. He averaged over 21 points and 5 rebounds per game across all competitions, proving to be a relentless scoring machine. His contributions were vital in clinching the Greek Basket League championship, where Olympiacos defeated Panathinaikos 3–2 in a thrilling Finals series.