John Brisker

John Brisker
Personal information
Born (1947-06-15)June 15, 1947
Detroit, Michigan
Died Disappeared c. April 1978 (aged 30); Declared legally dead in 1985
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight 210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school Hamtramck (Hamtramck, Michigan)
College Toledo (1966–1968)
Playing career 1969–1975
Position Forward / Guard
Number 23, 45, 40, 42
Career history
1969–1972 Pittsburgh Pipers/Condors
1972–1975 Seattle SuperSonics
1975 Cherry Hill Rookies
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 1,498 (11.9 ppg)
Rebounds 498 (4.0 rpg)
Assists 225 (1.8 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

John Brisker (born June 15, 1947) was an American professional basketball player from Detroit, Michigan who disappeared in Uganda in April 1978. He was declared legally dead in 1985.

Sports career

A 6'5" forward/guard who played for the Toledo Rockets basketball team of the University of Toledo, Brisker played six seasons in the ABA and NBA as a member of the Pittsburgh Pipers (1969–1970), Pittsburgh Condors (1970–1972) and Seattle SuperSonics (1972–1975). He averaged 20.7 points per game over the course of his career (26.1 points per game in the ABA, and 11.9 points per game in the NBA).

Brisker received a reputation as one of the most volatile players in basketball. According to his Condors teammate Charlie Williams, "He was an excellent player, but say something wrong to the guy and you had this feeling he would reach into his bag, take out a gun and shoot you."[1] He was ejected so often for fighting that he was nicknamed "the heavyweight champion of the ABA." The Condors made much of Brisker's reputation as an enforcer; their media guide portrayed him wearing a pair of six-shooters.

Brisker's most infamous moment came against the Denver Rockets. He was ejected only two minutes into the game for a vicious elbow on the Rockets' Art Becker. For unknown reasons, he charged after Becker back onto the court three times before police finally ushered him to the locker room.

Disappearance in Uganda

In 1978, Brisker went missing after he traveled to Uganda. Some rumors claim he went to Uganda as a mercenary; others say he was invited as a guest by Idi Amin.[1] The last confirmed communication from Brisker was in April 1978, after which it has been speculated that he was executed by a firing squad when Amin was removed from power in 1979. He was declared legally dead in 1985 by the King County, Washington, medical examiner.[2]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Stories from the ABA
  2. ↑ Jamieson, Robert L. (2004-07-01). "Former Sonic forever shrouded in mystery". Seattlepi.com. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
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