John Williamson (basketball)
Encyclopedia
John Lee Williamson was an American
basketball
player.
Williamson played high school basketball at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, Connecticut
and played college basketball at New Mexico State University
. He was a 6'2" guard. Williamson was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks
in the 6th round (10th pick) of the 1973 NBA Draft
but had other plans.
While at Wilbur Cross High School, Williamson played on the Connecticut state champion teams of 1966-67, 1967-68 and was runner up to crosstown rival Hillhouse in 1968-69, losing 76-71 in the final. For his senior (1969-70) year, Williamson led the nation in scoring with a gaudy 38.7 points per game average. His team was upset in a semi-final match that is still talked about, 105-103 to Bridgeport Central. Cross had destroyed Central in the 1968 title game by 40 points in a 123-82 pasting of a heralded Bridgeport, CT squad that boasted it would defeat the Governors.
Williamsons' teammates, Alex Scott 24 points, and Clint Davis 40 points, led the way in the romp for Cross' third consecutive title. Williamson chipped in 17, which was his average that year. He went on to team up with Scott and Davis at New Mexico State University where he averaged 27 points per game his sophomore and junior years. In the final regular season game of 69-70 Cross played St. Anthony's Catholic of Washington, DC. They were the no. 1 team in the DC metro area and one of the top five in the country. Coached by Georgetown legend John Thompson, Cross was a huge underdog. All-America player Williamson scored 36 points and fellow all-stater Danny Hardy had 22 to pace the Governors to a 74-66 win. The game was memorable in that John Thompson took his team off the floor and to the locker room with about two and a half minutes remaining in protest over officiating. They would not return. Anyone from New Haven who was at the game will tell you, the real reason was John "SuperJohn" Williamson! That was the way Thompson kept "SuperJohn" from scoring forty or more points. He was not the only coach was made that boast. For as long as basketball is played in New Haven,the John Williamson legend will live on. Of note is that Williamson had a string of nine straight games in which he scored 40 or more points.
As a rookie, Williamson landed with the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association
as a free agent for the 1973-74 season. Williamson quickly entered the New York starting lineup despite being a rookie. After Williamson became a starter, the team's fortunes quickly turned for the better and the team ended up winning the ABA Championship that season. Williamson was named to the 1974 ABA All-Rookie team.
Continuing with the Nets, Williamson had a remarkable performance in Game 6 of the 1976 ABA Finals. He scored 28 points, with 16 of them coming in the fourth quarter, leading the Nets to come back from 22 points behind to win the game, the series and the ABA championship.
Williamson's jersey number (23) was retired by the New York/New Jersey Nets franchise on December 7, 1990, only one of four players who were with the Nets during their ABA
days who had their numbers retired, including Wendell Ladner
, Bill Melchionni
, and Julius Erving
.
In 1977 Williamson was traded to the Indiana Pacers
in midseason; in the middle of the next season he went back to the Nets. In the 1980 season he went from the Nets to the Washington Bullets where he finished his eight year career during the 1981 season.
In his ABA/NBA career Williamson scored 9,017 points. He averaged between 11.5 and 29.5 points in every ABA/NBA season except for his last.
Williamson still holds Nets team records in various categories, including most free throw attempts with 24 (since tied by Vince Carter
and Devin Harris
).
At the age of 45, Williamson died of kidney failure
related to diabetes on November 30, 1996.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
Williamson played high school basketball at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
and played college basketball at New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
. He was a 6'2" guard. Williamson was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
in the 6th round (10th pick) of the 1973 NBA Draft
1973 NBA Draft
The 1973 NBA Draft was the 27th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 24, 1973 before the 1973–74 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
but had other plans.
While at Wilbur Cross High School, Williamson played on the Connecticut state champion teams of 1966-67, 1967-68 and was runner up to crosstown rival Hillhouse in 1968-69, losing 76-71 in the final. For his senior (1969-70) year, Williamson led the nation in scoring with a gaudy 38.7 points per game average. His team was upset in a semi-final match that is still talked about, 105-103 to Bridgeport Central. Cross had destroyed Central in the 1968 title game by 40 points in a 123-82 pasting of a heralded Bridgeport, CT squad that boasted it would defeat the Governors.
Williamsons' teammates, Alex Scott 24 points, and Clint Davis 40 points, led the way in the romp for Cross' third consecutive title. Williamson chipped in 17, which was his average that year. He went on to team up with Scott and Davis at New Mexico State University where he averaged 27 points per game his sophomore and junior years. In the final regular season game of 69-70 Cross played St. Anthony's Catholic of Washington, DC. They were the no. 1 team in the DC metro area and one of the top five in the country. Coached by Georgetown legend John Thompson, Cross was a huge underdog. All-America player Williamson scored 36 points and fellow all-stater Danny Hardy had 22 to pace the Governors to a 74-66 win. The game was memorable in that John Thompson took his team off the floor and to the locker room with about two and a half minutes remaining in protest over officiating. They would not return. Anyone from New Haven who was at the game will tell you, the real reason was John "SuperJohn" Williamson! That was the way Thompson kept "SuperJohn" from scoring forty or more points. He was not the only coach was made that boast. For as long as basketball is played in New Haven,the John Williamson legend will live on. Of note is that Williamson had a string of nine straight games in which he scored 40 or more points.
As a rookie, Williamson landed with the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
as a free agent for the 1973-74 season. Williamson quickly entered the New York starting lineup despite being a rookie. After Williamson became a starter, the team's fortunes quickly turned for the better and the team ended up winning the ABA Championship that season. Williamson was named to the 1974 ABA All-Rookie team.
Continuing with the Nets, Williamson had a remarkable performance in Game 6 of the 1976 ABA Finals. He scored 28 points, with 16 of them coming in the fourth quarter, leading the Nets to come back from 22 points behind to win the game, the series and the ABA championship.
Williamson's jersey number (23) was retired by the New York/New Jersey Nets franchise on December 7, 1990, only one of four players who were with the Nets during their ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
days who had their numbers retired, including Wendell Ladner
Wendell Ladner
Wendell Ladner was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at The University of Southern Mississippi where he became a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity....
, Bill Melchionni
Bill Melchionni
William P. "Bill" Melchionni is a former NBA and ABA player.Melchionni was a wispy guard from Bishop Eustace Prep who was a collegiate star in the mid-1960s at Villanova University and was the Most Valuable Player in the 1966 NIT...
, and Julius Erving
Julius Erving
Julius Winfield Erving II , commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim....
.
In 1977 Williamson was traded to the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in midseason; in the middle of the next season he went back to the Nets. In the 1980 season he went from the Nets to the Washington Bullets where he finished his eight year career during the 1981 season.
In his ABA/NBA career Williamson scored 9,017 points. He averaged between 11.5 and 29.5 points in every ABA/NBA season except for his last.
Williamson still holds Nets team records in various categories, including most free throw attempts with 24 (since tied by Vince Carter
Vince Carter
Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. He is a shooting guard who can also play small forward....
and Devin Harris
Devin Harris
Devin Lamar Harris is an American professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Harris attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison...
).
At the age of 45, Williamson died of kidney failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
related to diabetes on November 30, 1996.