Stew Johnson
Encyclopedia
Stewart "Stew" Johnson is a former professional basketball
player. A 6'8" forward/center from Murray State University
, Johnson was selected by the New York Knicks
in the third round of the 1966 NBA Draft
. However, Johnson never played in the NBA, joining the rival American Basketball Association
instead.
Johnson played nine seasons (1967–1976) in the ABA with seven different franchises: the Kentucky Colonels
(1967–68), New Jersey Americans (1967–68), New York Nets (1968–69), Houston Mavericks
(1968–69), Pittsburgh Pipers (1969–70), Pittsburgh Condors
(1971–72), Carolina Cougars
(1971–72), San Diego Conquistadors
(1972-73 to 1974-75), Memphis Sounds
(1974–75), Baltimore Claws
(1975–76), San Diego Sails
(1975–76) and San Antonio Spurs
(1975–76). Over his long career, Johnson wore many uniform numbers: 2, 7, 10, 11, 13, 20, 23, 24, and 41.
In his ABA career Johnson scored 10,538 career points. He was known for his sweet shooting stroke. He had the ability to drain long jumpers and had range out to the three point arc. He filled in admirably at center for the '71-'72 Cougar team after Jim McDaniels ignored his contract with the Cougars and jumped to Seattle of the NBA. He also made three ABA All-Star Game appearances (1973
, 1974
and 1975
), twice as a member of the San Diego Conquistadors
and once as a member of the Memphis Sounds
. He set the ABA single-game scoring record when he erupted for 62 points against The Floridians on March 6, 1971; his record lasted almost a year until Zelmo Beaty
scored 63 points against the Pittsburgh Condors
on February 21, 1972.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 6'8" forward/center from Murray State University
Murray State University
Murray State University, located in the city of Murray, Kentucky, is a four-year public university with approximately 10,400 students. The school is Kentucky’s only public university to be listed in the U.S.News & World Report regional university top tier for the past 20 consecutive years...
, Johnson was selected by the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the third round of the 1966 NBA Draft
1966 NBA Draft
The 1966 NBA Draft was the 20th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 11, 1966 before the 1966–67 season. In this draft, ten NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college eligibility...
. However, Johnson never played in the NBA, joining the rival American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
instead.
Johnson played nine seasons (1967–1976) in the ABA with seven different franchises: the Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
(1967–68), New Jersey Americans (1967–68), New York Nets (1968–69), Houston Mavericks
Houston Mavericks
The Houston Mavericks were a charter member of the American Basketball Association. They played in the upstart league's first two seasons, from 1967 to 1969. Their home arena was the Sam Houston Coliseum...
(1968–69), Pittsburgh Pipers (1969–70), Pittsburgh Condors
Pittsburgh Condors
The Pittsburgh Condors were a professional basketball team in the original American Basketball Association. Originally called the Pittsburgh Pipers, they were a charter franchise of the ABA...
(1971–72), Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars was a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association that existed from late 1969 through 1974. The Cougars were originally a charter member of the ABA as the Houston Mavericks in 1967. The Mavericks moved to North Carolina in late 1969 after two unsuccessful...
(1971–72), San Diego Conquistadors
San Diego Conquistadors
The San Diego Conquistadors, nicknamed the "Q's", were an American Basketball Association team based in San Diego, California. They were the only expansion team in the history of the ABA. The team played from 1972 to 1975. They were replaced in the ABA by the San Diego Sails.-San Diego...
(1972-73 to 1974-75), Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds was the final name of a franchise in the American Basketball Association. The team had begun as the New Orleans Buccaneers, and after three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it had occasionally played some home games in the past to reasonable crowds...
(1974–75), Baltimore Claws
Baltimore Claws
The Baltimore Claws was an American basketball team which was supposed to appear in the 1975-76 season in the American Basketball Association. The team collapsed before the season started, playing only three exhibition games in its brief history.-Background:...
(1975–76), San Diego Sails
San Diego Sails
The San Diego Sails were an American Basketball Association team based in San Diego, California; the team played an incomplete season only, beginning the 1975-1976 ABA season but folding before its completion.-San Diego Conquistadors:...
(1975–76) and San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
(1975–76). Over his long career, Johnson wore many uniform numbers: 2, 7, 10, 11, 13, 20, 23, 24, and 41.
In his ABA career Johnson scored 10,538 career points. He was known for his sweet shooting stroke. He had the ability to drain long jumpers and had range out to the three point arc. He filled in admirably at center for the '71-'72 Cougar team after Jim McDaniels ignored his contract with the Cougars and jumped to Seattle of the NBA. He also made three ABA All-Star Game appearances (1973
1973 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 6: at the Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah, February 6, 1973MVP: Warren Jabali, Denver RocketsCoaches: East:* Larry Brown, Carolina Cougars* West: LaDell Andersen, Utah Stars-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...
, 1974
1974 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 7: at Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, January 30, 1974MVP: Artis Gilmore, Kentucky ColonelsCoaches:* East: Babe McCarthy, Kentucky Colonels* West: Joe Mullaney, Utah Stars-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...
and 1975
1975 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 8: at HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas, January 28, 1975MVP: Freddie Lewis, Spirits of St. LouisCoaches:* East: Kevin Loughery, New York Nets* West: Larry Brown, Denver Nuggets-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...
), twice as a member of the San Diego Conquistadors
San Diego Conquistadors
The San Diego Conquistadors, nicknamed the "Q's", were an American Basketball Association team based in San Diego, California. They were the only expansion team in the history of the ABA. The team played from 1972 to 1975. They were replaced in the ABA by the San Diego Sails.-San Diego...
and once as a member of the Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds was the final name of a franchise in the American Basketball Association. The team had begun as the New Orleans Buccaneers, and after three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it had occasionally played some home games in the past to reasonable crowds...
. He set the ABA single-game scoring record when he erupted for 62 points against The Floridians on March 6, 1971; his record lasted almost a year until Zelmo Beaty
Zelmo Beaty
Zelmo "Big Z" Beaty is a former American basketball player.A 6'9" center from Prairie View A&M, Beaty was selected with the third pick of the 1962 National Basketball Association Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. Beaty was named to the inaugural NBA All-Rookie Team in 1963, and played a total of...
scored 63 points against the Pittsburgh Condors
Pittsburgh Condors
The Pittsburgh Condors were a professional basketball team in the original American Basketball Association. Originally called the Pittsburgh Pipers, they were a charter franchise of the ABA...
on February 21, 1972.