It was tragic and yet somehow fitting that former NBA great Dennis Johnson's life ended while he was coaching on a basketball court. Johnson, 52, collapsed Thursday after running practice in his job as the coach of the NBA Developmental League's Austin Toros in Texas. Long after winning three NBA titles as a player, Johnson was still chasing a dream.

Johnson was sometimes easy to overlook when he played with the Boston Celtics. After all, his teammates included Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Even the classic 1987 play against Detroit is remembered for Johnny Most uttering "what a play by Bird!" Yes, Bird had made the steal against Isiah Thomas. But Johnson was the guy who made the basket.

I certainly didn't know Johnson beyond a conversation I had with him one day at the Bucks Training Center. At the time, Johnson was the head coach of the CBA's La Crosse Catbirds in 1999-2000. When I talked to him about paying his dues and eventually getting an NBA coaching opportunity, I could see from the sadness in his eyes that Johnson felt he somehow was left off the fast track. Others seemed to get golden opportunities in much easier fashion.

After toiling as an NBA assistant, Johnson eventually got a 24-game stint as coach of the Clippers in 2003, but he never got a full-time opportunity. At least two NBA people I respect deeply told me in recent years that Johnson was long overdue for an NBA head coaching position. It never happened. He literally died trying.