Veteran Rockets scout B.J. Johnson dies in bicycle accident

“B.J. was a standup and genuine human, and a basketball purist all over the world,” The Athletic’s Shams Charania wrote on Twitter.

Veteran Houston Rockets scout Brent ‘B.J.’ Johnson passed away Thursday night, as first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.

“B.J. was a standup and genuine human, and a basketball purist all over the world,” Charania wrote on Twitter.

“I’m stunned. Absolutely stunned,” added Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated. “B.J. was one of the most generous, caring, and humorous people I ever met with one of the greatest basketball IQs to boot. My prayers and condolences to his wife and his children.”

Rockets forward and native Houstonian Danuel House Jr. shared the news on Twitter with several sad emojis.

Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the 65-year-old Johnson died in a bicycle accident. An avid rider, he typically rode his bike for approximately 30 miles per day, according to Feigen.

“He was riding his bike and hit a culvert,” said Johnson’s wife, Claudette. “There was construction. They are thinking he fell forward and broke his neck, because there was no blood.”

Johnson had worked in Houston’s basketball operations department since the 1994-95 championship season, which was then run by head coach Rudy Tomjanovich and general manager Carroll Dawson. He remained with the department through numerous coaching and leadership changes, primarily working to scout college and NBA players.

Johnson leaves behind a son and two stepchildren.

See below for a sampling of the immediate social media reactions from many connected with the Rockets and the broader NBA community.