Neil Johnston
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 4, 1929 Chillicothe, Ohio |
| Died | September 28, 1978 (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: | |
| 1951–1959 | Philadelphia Warriors |
| 1961–1962 | Pittsburgh Rens (ABL) |
| As coach: | |
| 1959–1961 | 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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