Neil Johnson (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Neil A. Johnson is a retired American basketball
player.
A 6'7" forward/center from Creighton University
, Johnson played four seasons in the National Basketball Association
as a member of the New York Knicks
(1966–1968) and Phoenix Suns
(1968–1970), then spent three seasons (1970–1973) in the American Basketball Association
with the Virginia Squires
. He averaged 6.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in his professional career and appeared in the 1971 ABA All-Star Game
.
Known as an "enforcer", Johnson is remembered in the ABA oral history
book Loose Balls for punching Warren Jabali
in a game between the Virginia Squires and Denver Rockets. Referee John Vanak
called the punch "the most devasating punch [he'd] ever seen on the court". According to Vanak, Jabali was one of the most physical players in the ABA, and had been shoving Johnson and his teammates throughout the game until Johnson retaliated. Dave Twardzik
of the Squires recalled, "It scared the hell out of me, but the guys on my team were loving it because the whole league hated Jabali."
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.
A 6'7" forward/center from Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
, Johnson played four seasons in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
as a member of the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(1966–1968) and Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
(1968–1970), then spent three seasons (1970–1973) in 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:...
with the Virginia Squires
Virginia Squires
The Virginia Squires were a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association from 1970 until just before the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.-In Oakland :...
. He averaged 6.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in his professional career and appeared in the 1971 ABA All-Star Game
1971 ABA All-Star Game
GAME 4: at Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, January 23, 1971MVP: Mel Daniels, Indiana PacersCoaches:* East: Al Bianchi, Virginia Squires* West: Bill Sharman, Utah Stars-Western Conference: -Eastern Conference: -Score by Periods:...
.
Known as an "enforcer", Johnson is remembered in the ABA oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
book Loose Balls for punching Warren Jabali
Warren Jabali
Warren Jabali is a retired American basketball player. He played professionally in the American Basketball Association from 1968 to 1975.-Early career:...
in a game between the Virginia Squires and Denver Rockets. Referee John Vanak
John Vanak
John Vanak was a referee in the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association.In 1969, when the upstart American Basketball Association was raiding the NBA for talent, Vanak, along with three other top NBA "lead" referees — Joe Gushue, Earl Strom and Norm Drucker - jumped...
called the punch "the most devasating punch [he'd] ever seen on the court". According to Vanak, Jabali was one of the most physical players in the ABA, and had been shoving Johnson and his teammates throughout the game until Johnson retaliated. Dave Twardzik
Dave Twardzik
David John Twardzik is a former professional basketball player, a player he was a point guard in both the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association . He is best known for being a starter on the Portland Trail Blazers team that won the 1977 NBA Finals...
of the Squires recalled, "It scared the hell out of me, but the guys on my team were loving it because the whole league hated Jabali."