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Neil Johnston

Neil Johnston
Personal information
Born (1929-02-04)February 4, 1929
Chillicothe, Ohio
Died September 28, 1978(1978-09-28) (aged 49)
Irving, Texas
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school Chillicothe (Chillicothe, Ohio)
College Ohio State (1946–1948)
Playing career 1951–1959
Position Center
Number 6
Career history
As player:
19511959 Philadelphia Warriors
1961–1962 Pittsburgh Rens (ABL)
As coach:
19591961 Philadelphia Warriors
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points 10,023 (19.4 ppg)
Rebounds 5,856 (11.3 rpg)
Assists 1,269 (2.5 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006

Donald Neil Johnston (February 4, 1929 – September 28, 1978) was an American Hall of Fame basketball player at the center position who played eight years in the National Basketball Association (NBA), from 1951 to 1959.

Johnston was a 1946 graduate of Chillicothe High School in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he was an all-state selection in basketball.

Johnston attended Ohio State University, where he starred in baseball and basketball.

Johnston signed a professional baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies out of college and pitched two-and-a-half years for the Terre Haute Phillies of the Three-I League. With a 3–9 record halfway through his third losing season in 1951, Johnston decided to give pro basketball a try. With the assistance of his manager, Jim Ward, he tried out for the Philadelphia Warriors at the team camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Johnston led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons: 1952–53, 1953–54, and 1954–55. During the 1954–55 season, he also won the league's rebounding title. He led the league in minutes played in the 1952–53 season, 1953–54 season and in field goal percentage in the 1952–53 and 1955–56 season and 1956–57 season. He led the NBA in Win Shares for five consecutive seasons.

Johnston played his entire career with the Philadelphia Warriors, playing on their championship team in 1956. He played in six NBA All-Star Games, was an All-NBA First Team selection four times, and was an All-NBA Second Team selection once.


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Wikipedia

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