John Williamson (basketball, born 1951) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 10, 1951 New Haven, Connecticut |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | November 30, 1996 (aged 45) New Haven, Connecticut |
| High school | Wilbur Cross (New Haven, Connecticut) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | New Mexico State (1971–1973) |
| NBA Draft | 1973 / Round: 6 / Pick: 96th overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Pro career | 1973–1982 |
| Career history | |
| 1973–1977 | New York Nets |
| 1977–1978 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1978–1980 | New Jersey Nets |
| 1980 | Washington Bullets |
| 1982 | Las Vegas Silvers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 9,017 (17.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,274 (2.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,441 (2.8 apg) |
John Lee Williamson (born November 10, 1951 – died November 30, 1996) was an American basketball player. He was known for his amazing jump shots and was even nicknamed "Super John"! He helped the New York Nets win two championships in the American Basketball Association (ABA) during the 1970s.
John Williamson played high school basketball in his hometown of New Haven, Connecticut. Later, he played college basketball at New Mexico State University. He was a talented guard, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall.
Contents
High School Basketball Star
John Williamson was a big deal in high school basketball. He played for Wilbur Cross High School in Connecticut.
- In 1966–67 and 1967–68, his team won the state championships!
- In the 1968 championship game, his team won by a huge score of 123 to 82. John scored 17 points in that game.
- In 1969, his team almost won again but lost in the final game.
- During his senior year (1969–70), John was the best scorer in the whole country! He averaged an amazing 38.7 points per game.
College Basketball Journey
After high school, John Williamson went to New Mexico State University. He joined his former high school teammates, Alex Scott and Clint Davis, there. In just two years, he showed off his scoring skills, averaging 27 points per game.
Professional Basketball Career
John Williamson became a professional basketball player in 1973.
Joining the New York Nets
Even though the Atlanta Hawks picked him in the NBA draft, John decided to join the New York Nets in the ABA. He quickly became a starter for the team. He played alongside famous players like Julius Erving and Larry Kenon. With John's help, the Nets had a fantastic season and won the ABA Championship in 1974! John was even named to the ABA All-Rookie team that year.
Winning More Championships
John continued to be a key player for the Nets. In 1976, he helped them win another ABA championship. In Game 6 of the finals, John scored 28 points. He scored 16 of those points in the final quarter! He and Julius Erving worked together to lead the Nets to an amazing comeback win. They were 22 points behind but still won the game and the championship.
Moving Teams and Later Career
After winning two championships, John Williamson moved to different teams.
- In the 1976–77 season, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers.
- The next season, he was traded back to the Nets.
- In 1979, the Nets made the playoffs, and John scored 38 points in his first NBA playoff game!
- He later played for the Washington Bullets.
- His NBA career ended in 1981.
- In 1982, he played for the Las Vegas Silvers in a smaller league, hoping to return to the NBA.
Throughout his career in the ABA and NBA, John Williamson scored a total of 9,017 points! He was a consistent scorer, usually averaging between 11.5 and 29.5 points per game.
John Williamson still holds some records for the Nets team. For example, he holds the record for the most free throw attempts in a single game (24).
A Retired Jersey Number
On December 7, 1990, the New York/New Jersey Nets team honored John Williamson by retiring his jersey number, 23. This means no other player on the Nets can wear that number. He is one of only three players from the Nets' ABA days to have their number retired. The other two are Bill Melchionni and Julius Erving.
Personal Life
After his basketball career, John Williamson worked at a center for young people in his hometown of New Haven, Connecticut.
Sadly, John Williamson passed away on November 30, 1996, at the age of 45. He died from kidney problems related to diabetes. He was survived by his wife, Bertha, and their four children.
See also
In Spanish: John Williamson para niños
