Stewart Johnson (1979) - Hall of Fame - Murray State University Athletics

Stewart Johnson

Induction:
1979

Stewart Johnson – Basketball, 1963-1966
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery No. 40 Retired

On Dec. 1, 2023, Stewart Johnson and Racer Nation enjoyed an amazing night when his No. 40 was retired.
Johnson was back at Murray State nearly 58 years following his final game.
Out of Clairton, Pa., Johnson ranks as one of the best scoring and rebounding performers in Murray State basketball history.
He was the first African American scholarship basketball player at Murray State under Coach Cal Luther.
Johnson became a two-time All-OVC selection.
Was ninth on the all-time scoring list when he finished his Racer career with 1,257 points over three seasons for a career 16.5 average. Was 27th all-time as of 2021.
Grabbed 981 career rebounds to rank second all-time when he finished playing at MSU. Was ninth all-time in 2021.
Averaged 14.1 rebounds per game in the 964-65 season.
Was part of three consecutive winning Racer teams and helped MSU to the 1963-64 OVC regular season championship.
He was the team captain in the 1965-66 season as a senior.
Played nine professional basketball in the American Basketball Association from 1967-76.
Played for seven ABA franchises: Kentucky Colonels (1967), New Jersey Americans/New York Nets (1967–69), Houston Mavericks (1968–69), Pittsburgh Pipers/Pittsburgh Condors (1969–1971), Carolina Cougars (1971–72), San Diego Conquistadors (1972–1974), Memphis Sounds (1974–75), San Diego Sails (1975) and San Antonio Spurs (1975–76).
In his ABA career Johnson scored 10,538 career points.
Was a three-time ABA All-Star in 1973, 1974 and 1975, twice as a member of the San Diego Conquistadors and once as a member of the Memphis Sounds.
Set the ABA single-game scoring record when he erupted for 62 points against The Floridians on March 6, 1971; his record lasted almost a year until Zelmo Beaty scored 63 points against the Pittsburgh Condors on February 21, 1972.
Johnson's teams made the ABA playoffs in three straight years from 1973 to 1975 where he scored 238 points in 15 games.
His 10,538 points is ninth all-time in ABA history, behind only Louie Dampier, Dan Issel, Ron Boone, Mel Daniels, Julius Erving, Freddie Lewis, Donnie Freeman, and Mack Calvin.
Johnson finished second all time in field goal attempts (10,854), fifth in field goals made (4,586), seventh in games played (647), 12th in minutes played (19,201).
In 1978, Johnson joined the Icelandic Division I club Ármann as player-coach.
After spending the next two seasons (1979-80) with River Plate in Argentina, Johnson returned to Iceland.
His Icelandic career came to an end in 1983.
Johnson also coached Iceland women's team for two seasons and led them to both the national championship and Icelandic Basketball Cup in 1982 and 1983.