A Summer-League, Cancer-Surviving Former Mav Tells His Inspirational Tale

Ray Johnston, left, is still good pals with Dallas Mavs general manager Donnie Nelson, center. There's no reason for you to know the name Ray Johnston; he was a former Dallas Maverick, yes, but only a summer-leaguer. He was, not so long ago, just a 25-year-old loan officer with season...

By Robert Wilonsky

June 14, 2007

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Ray Johnston, left, is still good pals with Dallas Mavs general manager Donnie Nelson, center.

There's no reason for you to know the name Ray Johnston; he was a former Dallas Maverick, yes, but only a summer-leaguer. He was, not so long ago, just a 25-year-old loan officer with season tickets, as the Associated Press describes him today. And, yeah, he had the use of Steve Nash's old locker, but it did not last long: "A bump in a pickup game led to surgery -- and a coma," reports the AP. "All because of the leukemia no one knew he had."

Johnston is still tight with all his Mavs buddies -- plays poker with Jason Terry, texts Dirk Nowitzki, hangs with Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson. And he's a motivational and inspirational speaker here in town. --Robert Wilonsky

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