Gus Johnson (basketball)

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Gus "Honeycomb" Johnson (December 13, 1938–April 29, 1987) was a professional basketball player who played nine seasons with the NBA's Baltimore Bullets, and part of one season with the Phoenix Suns and the ABA's Indiana Pacers. He was known for his strength and powerful dunks, breaking three backboards during his career [1].

As a Bullet, Johnson was named to 1964 All-Rookie Team, played in five NBA All-Star Games, was named to four All-NBA Second Teams, and was twice named to the All-NBA Defense First Team. His # 25 jersey was retired by the Bullets organization. As a Pacer, he was a member of the franchise's 1972-73 ABA championship team.

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[edit] Early Years

Johnson starred at Akron Central Hower in high school as an All-Ohio star. One of his teammates was future Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond. Despite his obvious talent and athletic ability, Johnson was offered few college scholarship opportunities, which was unfortunately common for African Americans in this era. Johnson ended up playing college ball in the Northwest, first for a year at Boise Junior College, then for his final college season at the University of Idaho, where he developed into a 6'6" 235 lb. force with considerable skills and athletic ability. The Idaho Vandals were 20-6 during the 1962-63 season, the last of three seasons under coach Joe Cipriano, who moved on to coach at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

[edit] NBA

Gus Johnson was drafted in the second round of the 1963 NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets as a 24 year-old rookie. Johnson was an immediate success, averaging 17.3 points per game and 13.6 rebounds per game, and was runner-up Rookie Of The Year to Ohio prep rival Jerry Lucas. Johnson joined Lucas and former prep teammate Thurmond on the NBA All-Rookie Team.

The Bullets played in the NBA West Division for the first three years of Johnsons's career before being shifted to the more competitive East due to expansion. Very good teams in Boston, Philadelphia and Cincinnati would have to decline before the building Bullets could move up.

Gus Johnson was both a remarkable power player and an exciting open court player. During his career in the NBA in the 1960s, Johnson was among the most respected rebounders in the league, using his combination of strength and leaping ability. His drives to the basket were comparable to Elgin Baylor and Connie Hawkins, and he was one of the league's first famous dunkers. A star who sold tickets during the days of a ten and twelve-team league, Johnson was also injury prone and battled constant knee problems. Despite those injury issues, he was a perennial All-Star.

His best years with the Bullets were 1968-71. As the team was more successful, Johnson received more recognition for his play. The 1968-69 team had the NBA's best regular season record, but faded in the playoffs when Johnson was out with injuries. After a third-place finish in 1970 to eventual champion New York, Johnson and the Bullets upset New York and made the NBA Finals in 1971, losing to the Milwaukee Bucks, led by Lew Alcindor. Johnson reached All-Pro status during this period.

Injuries dropped Johnson to the Bullets' bench in 1972, his last with the team, and limited Johnson to 10 pro seasons, NBA and ABA combined. His career average of 16 points and 12 rebounds per game included seasons as a reserve, which lowered his numbers. Those injuries have also likely prevented post-career honors, such as Hall of Fame induction or placement on the NBA 50 Greatest Ever group.

Shortly before his death, Johnson was honored by both Boise State and the University of Idaho during a basketball game between the two schools.

Gus Johnson died of inoperable brain cancer in April 1987.

[edit] The Nail

When Gus Johnson was playing at Idaho in 1963, he already had a reputation as a fantastic leaper. One evening at the Corner Club, a local tavern on Main Street in Moscow, Johnson was requested by owner Herm Goetz to display his extraordinary jumping ability for the patrons. The CC was a very modest establishment, converted from a white-stuccoed small chapel in the 1940s, with hardwood floors and a beamed ceiling. From a standing start near the bar, Johnson touched a spot on a beam 11'6" (3.505 m) above the floor. This spot was ceremoniously marked with a nail by Goetz, who then proudly proclaimed that anyone who could duplicate the feat could drink for free. A 40-inch (1.016 m) diameter circle was painted on the floor, and both feet had to start inside the circle to ensure a standing start. A full 23 years went by with many attempts at Gus Johnson's Nail, including Bill Walton in the summer of 1984, but with no successes.

That was until 1986, when the College of Southern Idaho basketball team from Twin Falls stopped in town in January on their way to a game against NIC in Coeur d'Alene. Joey Johnson, a younger brother of then NBA star Dennis Johnson, was brought into the Corner Club for a try. The 6'3" (1.905 m) guard had a 48" (1.219 m) vertical leap and could put his chin on a basketball rim (10 feet (3.048 m)), with a running start.

"J.J." laced up his shoes and touched the nail on his first try, but was disqualified because he did not start with both feet inside the 40-inch circle. The next attempt came from a "legal" static start, but was just a little short. On the third try, Joey grabbed and bent the legendary nail, a landmark event in Palouse sports history. Herm Goetz pulled the nail out of the beam and pounded it back in, half-an-inch (13 mm) higher. (CSI posted a 35-3 record that season and finished fourth in the national junior college tournament. They would go 38-1 and win the national JC title the following season, and are currently the winningest JC program in the nation.)

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

  • "S.Idaho's Little JJ almost brings down the house," The Seattle Times, 04-May-1986, p.C-10
  • "A Case of Vandalism in Big Sky Country," Sports Illustrated, 25-Jan-1982, p.20-21


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