Before Wilt Chamberlain started to dominate the league in the 1960s there was another
Philadelphia Warrior who did the same in the 1950s.
He wasn’t flashy, jaw-dropping.
He wasn’t towering over the league as well.
Instead, as the Philadelphia Inquirer described him, he was lantern-jawed and awkward-appearing.
The truth was, it was a forgettable time in the league.
And in a way, we have forgotten about this player.
Hey guys.
PRPLPRNCH here, and today, you’re back in the history class with me as we’re taking
a look at another hall of famer you might not know about - Neil Johnston.
Neil Johnston was born on February 4th, 1929 in Chillicothe, Ohio.
His high school days were spent in Chillicothe High School were he was an all-state performer
as a senior.
His dad however as Neil Johnston said himself “would rather see him play 1 major league
baseball game than 50 NBA Games”, so during his college days in Ohio State he was participating
in 2 sports - baseball and basketball.
Baseball was more important to him and that’s why his college stats in basketball for a
player who later turned out to be a hall of famer in basketball are quite miserable.
In his senior year, Neil Johnston played in 20 games made 3.4 of his 11 field goals and
averaged only 9 points.
Right out of college Johnston signed a professional baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
and for 2 and a half years pitched for the Terre Haute Phillie of the Three-I league.
He wasn’t good.
His fastball didn’t have curve and his baseball career wasn’t going anywhere, so he decided
to give pro basketball a try.
In 1951, Johnston arranged a meeting with Warriors owner/coach Eddie Gottlieb.
Gottlieb saw some promise in Johnston and after a tryout, he was given a contract.
He wasn’t drafted, he wasn’t really scouted, but here he was as a member of the Philadelphia
Warriors.
In his rookie season he didn’t play much, but in his time he was good.
For his rookie year, Neil Johnston averaged 6 points and 5.3 rebounds in only 15.5 minutes
per game and then the unimaginable happened.
You know how there is that Most Improved Player award in NBA now and the player who shows
the most improvement since last season wins it?
Well, if there was an award of the Most Improved Player ever in basketball in universe or galaxy,
Neil Johnston would win it hands down.
After the 1951-52 season Warriors star Paul Arizin - whom I also covered so check that
video as well - went off to the Marines.
Warriors were in a desperate need of a new scoring power, a new star, and it was Neil
Johnston.
He went from playing 15.5 minutes per game to playing 45.2 minutes per game which led
the league, and his stats improved dramatically.
He led the league in scoring with 22.3 points per game, shooting percentage with 45.2% , grabbed
13.9 rebounds per game and started to pass some ball as well.
He was a star now.
Johnston developed a hook shot that was his era’s sky hook - a nearly unstoppable offensive
weapon.
In one season he had become the most finest frontcourt scorer in the league.
Pretty much, the best offensive weapon in the league.
By that time Neil Johnston was sure he made the right choice by picking basketball as
his future.
He led the league in scoring for 2 more years claiming 3 scoring titles in a row.
On the way he grabbed one rebounding title and the highest field goal percentage as well.
The problem with all of this, despite great numbers from Johnston, the Warriors were BAD.
They were missing their other star - Paul Arizin.
Arizin finally returned for the 1954-55 season and right away the Warriors started to improve.
They finished 33-39 in Johnston’s and Arizin’s first season together, but the real dynamic
duo showed up in the 1955-56 season.
They had the best record in the league with 45 wins and 27 losses.
Johnston had great playoffs averaging 20.3 points and 14.3 rebounds and Arizin was there,
rookie Tom Gola vas versatile, and power forward Joe Graboski was good.
Everything just came together and the Warriors won the NBA championship.
Unfortunately for Johnston and the Warriors and pretty much for the rest of the league
, next season Bill Russell arrived and the Boston Celtics dynasty began.
And the Warriors started to slip.
Neil Johnston was still very good, but the revolution of NBA centers was in full effect.
His stats did not look as great anymore when you compare him to Bill Russell who for his
whole career averaged 22.5 rebounds per game.
The game started to change, and Philadelphia had to change as well.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t meant to be.
During a 1958 preseason game in St. Louis, Neil Johnston injured a knee when he ran into
a wall.
Doctors predicted that he would be out for most of the season and it came true.
Johnston played in only 28 games that year, but most importantly, he wasn’t the same.
He wasn’t effective anymore.
He played just 14 minutes per game and averaged 6.3 points and 5 rebounds on 32.9% shooting.
By season’s end, at age 30, he had to retire.
It was a bad timing, but it was a reality.
Warriors drafted Guy Rodgers, Wilt Chamberlain and the whole city of Philadelphia was left
with a thought - what if they all could’ve played together?
His playing career was over, but he was hired to coach the Warriors in what was Chamberlain’s
rookie season in 1958-59.
For an unknown reason, the duo just didn’t work.
Chamberlain didn’t have respect for Johnston as a coach and Johnston didn’t have patience
for his superstar.
Both separated in 1961 when Johnston quit the job.
Unfortunately, 17 years later, at a young age of 49, Johnston, who at the time was serving
as the athletic director at North Lake College in Irving, Texas collapsed and died while
playing basketball with his son Scott.
Twelve years later in 1990 - Johnston was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall
of Fame.
Neil Johnston is a forgotten legend.
It was a bad time to dominate the NBA.
George Mikan and Minneapolis Lakers were fading off as he started to dominate, and he started
to fade as Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain revolutionized the game.
We know about those moments, but we forget the man that was in the middle of all of this.
Neil Johnston.
The finest, most dependable offensive weapon in mid 1950s NBA who had an unfairly short
career and short life.
Neil Johnston finished his NBA career with 516 games played and averages of 35.5 minutes
per game, 19.4 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
A 3x scoring champion, an NBA champion, a 6x All-Star and a 5x All-NBA player.
A player who was just as dominant as Joel Embiid in his time, but unfortunately lost
somewhere amongst the dynasties and other big names in this game.
“Gabby” Neil Johnston.
Thanks for watching the video guys.
Can you tell me anything about Neil Johnston?
Maybe there are some Philadelphia fans here who remember him?
Do you think he deserves to be a hall of famer and do you think he is an underrated legend.
Whatever your thought is, please leave a comment bellow.
Don’t forget to like this video for Neil Johnston and SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel
for more videos.
Thanks for everything.
This was PRPLPRNCH, and I’m out!