IN THE FRONT ROW | Marques Johnson: From Crenshaw to UCLA, John Wooden & the NBA, and his Role in “White Men Can’t Jump”

Growing up in Crenshaw, Johnson eventually became one of the greatest basketball players to come out of Los Angeles. He takes us back to his decision to attend UCLA and what it was like playing for legendary coach John Wooden. Marques shares his memories of the first time he saw Bill Walton on the UCLA campus, what it was like learning from Wooden, and what it meant to become the first-ever recipient of the John R. Wooden Award. He also opens up about his personal relationship with Coach Wooden and the impact Wooden had on his life long after his playing days. Johnson then takes us through his NBA career, including being the No. 3 overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft, becoming a five-time NBA All-Star, and establishing himself as a Milwaukee Bucks legend. But that's only part of the story. Marques also discusses his book, The Crenshaw Chronicles, and the incredible people and stories connected to the Crenshaw community. He shares stories involving Ice-T and other celebrities who came out of Crenshaw, offering a unique look at the culture and people that shaped the area. And then there's Hollywood. Johnson talks about his role in the classic basketball movie White Men Can't Jump, including the real-life basketball figure behind the character he portrayed and the story of how that role came together. This is much more than an NBA interview. It's a conversation about basketball, mentorship, Crenshaw, UCLA, John Wooden, Bill Walton, Hollywood, friendship, culture and the people who shaped Marques Johnson's remarkable journey. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.