PAUL CALVISI

EJ scores with book

Jun 25, 2013, 7:45 PM | Updated: 8:15 pm

Eddie Johnson scored more than 19,000 points in his 17-year NBA career, including an extended stint with the Phoenix Suns. (Or, as EJ noted immediately: “hey, Calvisi, don’t forget the 202…it’s 19,202 career points).

Which illustrates our next point: exactly how many assists did EJ dish out? Look, we’re not exactly sure. And, truth be told, neither is Eddie. That’s mainly because nobody can recall many dimes as EJ was known as a pure shooter and scoring machine.

But in his post-playing career, the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award winner is currently dishing out his biggest assist yet. EJ has turned author so he can distribute advice. Life lessons.

The title of his book amounts to a facial of sorts: “You Big Dummy! An Athlete’s ‘Simple’ Guide to a Successful Career!”

A dozen chapters spanning 166 pages and covering many lessons learned that, as the Suns broadcaster says, are applicable to “anyone from middle school on up.” And that includes more than just athletes.

“It’s all the things that I did in my life as a basketball player. I got tired of people writing clinical books that didn’t play the game,” Johnson told me over a sit down interview. “Why not have an athlete write it because I traveled that path.”

When I asked EJ what he hoped to accomplish with the book that’s currently available on Amazon.com? Well, he talked about the value of personality traits like leadership.

“I want to improve the thought process of our young men,” said Johnson. “I have a lot of stories and analogies that involve Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.”

Sometimes in life, it’s not just what you do, but what you decide to avoid. On occasion, everyone can encounter a “fireball of confusion,” as Johnson terms it.

“We’ve seen so many athletes get into trouble for silly and dumb stuff,” Johnson bottom-lined.

Hence, a book that Johnson says he intends for the masses. In other words, anyone who hopes to avoid telling themselves — “you big dummy!”

By the way, did EJ suggest that I read his book immediately? Yes. I just wish that my wife wouldn’t have so readily agreed.

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