Stew Johnson
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 19, 1944 New York City, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Clairton (Clairton, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Murray State (1963–1966) |
| NBA draft | 1966 / Round: 3 / Pick: 21st overall |
| Selected by the New York Knicks | |
| Playing career | 1967–1976 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Number | 24, 41, 10, 20, 13, 7, 11, 2, 23 |
| Career history | |
| 1967 | Kentucky Colonels |
| 1967–1968 | New Jersey Americans / New York Nets |
| 1968–1969 | Houston Mavericks |
| 1969–1971 | Pittsburgh Pipers / Pittsburgh Condors |
| 1971–1972 | Carolina Cougars |
| 1972–1974 | San Diego Conquistadors |
| 1974–1975 | Memphis Sounds |
| 1975 | San Diego Sails |
| 1975–1976 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1981-1983 | KR Reykjavik |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 10,538 (16.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 4,263 (6.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 984 (1.5 apg) |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Stewart "Stew" Johnson (born August 19, 1944) is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'8" forward/center from Murray State University born in New York City, New York, 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), New Jersey Americans / New York Nets (1967–69), Houston Mavericks (1968–69), Pittsburgh Pipers / Pittsburgh Condors (1969–1971), Carolina Cougars (1971–72), San Diego Conquistadors (1972–1974), Memphis Sounds (1974–75), Baltimore Claws (1975–76, who played only 3 preseason games), San Diego Sails (1975) and San Antonio Spurs (1975–76)
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 the Seattle SuperSonics. 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.
Johnson made the playoffs in three straight years from 1973 to 1975, scoring 238 points in 15 games.
His 10,538 points are 9th all time in ABA history, behind only Louie Dampier, Dan Issel, Ron Boone, Mel Daniels, Julius Erving, Freddie Lewis, Donnie Freeman, and Mack Calvin, with four of them being in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Johnson finished 2nd all time in field goal attempts (10,854), 5th in field goals made (4,586), 7th in games played (647), 1st in turnover percentage (8.68%) 12th in minutes played (19,201), but also 2nd in field goals missed (6,268).