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Johnny McCarthy
John McCarthy 1961.jpg
Personal information
Born (1934-04-25)April 25, 1934
Buffalo, New York
Nationality American
Died May 9, 2020(2020-05-09) (aged 86)
Buffalo, New York
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
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.

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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Johnny McCarthy para niños

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