During the 1982–83 NBA season, Johnson averaged 16.8 points, 10.5 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game and earned his first All-NBA First Team nomination.
Kljub temu je dosegel povprečno 18,6 točke, 9,6 skoka, 9,5 podaje in rekord lige 2,7 podaje na tekmo ter bil izbran v drugo postavo lige.