Johnny McCarthy facts for kids
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Personal information | |
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Born | Buffalo, New York |
April 25, 1934
Nationality | American |
Died | May 9, 2020 Buffalo, New York |
(aged 86)
High school | Timon (Buffalo, New York) |
Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
Career information | |
College | Canisius (1953–1956) |
NBA Draft | 1956 / Round: 4 / Pick: 24th overall |
Selected by the Rochester Royals | |
Pro career | 1956–1964 |
Career history | |
As player: | |
1956–1958 | Rochester / Cincinnati Royals |
1958–1962 | St. Louis Hawks |
1962–1963 | Pittsburgh Rens |
1963–1964 | Boston Celtics |
As coach: | |
1971–1972 | Buffalo Braves |
1974–1977 | Canisius |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Career NBA statistics | |
Points | 2,450 (7.8 ppg) |
Rebounds | 1,145 (3.6 rpg) |
Assists | 1,184 (3.7 apg) |
John Joseph McCarthy (born April 25, 1934 – died May 9, 2020) was an American basketball player and coach. He was a point guard, standing 6 feet 1 inch tall. He played college basketball at Canisius College and was even named an All-American.
The Rochester Royals picked him in the 1956 NBA draft. He played six seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for the Royals, the St. Louis Hawks, and the Boston Celtics.
Contents
Johnny McCarthy: A Basketball Star
Johnny McCarthy was a talented basketball player. He was known for his skills as a point guard. A point guard is like the team's leader on the court. They bring the ball up, pass to teammates, and help set up plays.
Early Life and College Career
Johnny was born in Buffalo, New York. He went to Timon High School there. After high school, he played college basketball at Canisius College. He was very good in college, earning the title of All-American. This means he was one of the best college players in the country.
Playing in the NBA
McCarthy joined the NBA in 1956. He played for the Rochester Royals for two seasons. Then he moved to the St. Louis Hawks for three seasons. His final NBA season was with the Boston Celtics. He even won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 1964.
Making History with a Triple-Double
Johnny McCarthy made history in his very first playoff game. On March 16, 1960, he achieved a "triple-double." A triple-double means a player gets at least 10 in three different stats. Johnny had 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in that game. This was against the Minneapolis Lakers.
He was the first of only four players in NBA history to get a triple-double in their playoff debut. The other players who did this were Magic Johnson (in 1980), LeBron James (in 2006), and Nikola Jokic (in 2019). This shows how special Johnny's achievement was!
Coaching Career
After his playing days, McCarthy became a coach. He coached the Buffalo Braves, which was his hometown team. He also coached at his old college, Canisius.
Later Life
Johnny McCarthy passed away on May 9, 2020. He was 86 years old. He is remembered as a pioneering player in the NBA.
See also
In Spanish: Johnny McCarthy para niños