John Johnson (basketball, born 1947) facts for kids
Johnson with the Iowa Hawkeyes, c. 1970
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 18, 1947 Carthage, Mississippi |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | January 7, 2016 (aged 68) San Jose, California |
| High school | Messmer (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7th overall |
| Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Pro career | 1970–1982 |
| Career history | |
| 1970–1973 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1973–1975 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1975–1977 | Houston Rockets |
| 1977–1982 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 11,200 (12.9 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 4,778 (5.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,285 (3.8 apg) |
John Howard Getty "J. J." Johnson (October 18, 1947 – January 7, 2016) was a talented American professional basketball player. He was known for his skills as a small forward and played for several teams in the NBA.
Early Life and College Basketball
John Johnson grew up in Carthage, Mississippi. He played high school basketball at Messmer High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1966, during his senior year, he helped his team win the Wisconsin state championship.
After high school, Johnson played college basketball. He first played for Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming. Then, he moved on to the University of Iowa. At Iowa, he was an amazing scorer. In his senior year (1969–70), he set a school record by averaging 27.9 points per game. He also holds Iowa's top two single-game scoring records with 49 and 46 points. Johnson led the Iowa team in both scoring and rebounding for both seasons he played there. In 1970, he and future teammate Fred Brown helped Iowa achieve a perfect 14-0 record in the Big Ten conference. This success led them to the NCAA tournament.
Professional Basketball Career
In 1970, John Johnson was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the 7th player in the 1970 NBA Draft. He was also chosen by the Texas Chaparrals in the ABA Draft that same year. Johnson made history for the Cavaliers by becoming their first player ever to play in an NBA All-Star Game. He was selected for the All-Star Game twice, in 1971 and 1972.
In 1977, Johnson joined the Seattle SuperSonics. Here, he was reunited with his former Iowa teammate, Fred Brown. Johnson became a very important player for the SuperSonics. He helped them reach the NBA Finals in the 1977–78 season. The next year, in the 1978–79 season, he helped the team win an NBA championship. Johnson was unique because he often set up plays for his team, even more than the star guards Dennis Johnson and Gus Williams. This made him one of the first "point forwards" in basketball history. A point forward is a player who plays forward but also handles the ball and creates scoring chances like a point guard.
John Johnson had a successful 12-year career in the NBA. He played for four different teams. He scored a total of 11,200 points during his career. He finished his NBA career with the Seattle SuperSonics in the early 1980s.
Later Years
After his basketball career, John Johnson moved from Seattle to San Jose, California. He moved there because his son, Mitch, was recruited to play basketball for Stanford University. Mitch played on the Stanford basketball team from 2005 to 2008. John Johnson passed away on January 7, 2016, at the age of 68, in his home in San Jose.
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See also
In Spanish: John Johnson para niños Template:KIDDLE XL END
