Class Acts
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This year’s class of basketball Hall of Famers is one of the greatest ever. In addition to Laker owner Jerry Buss, former Boston guard Dennis Johnson, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen and the Dream Team, one of the best players to grace the game finally got his due. Gus Johnson, who was one of the greatest players to suit up for the old Baltimore Bullets, will be inducted though Johnson unfortunatey isn’t with us anymore. He was only 48 when he passed in 1987 from brain cancer.
Johnson was one of the early skywalkers in the game. His former teammate, the awesome Earl Monroe, once said Johnson was well ahead of his time. Many considered Johnson, Connie Hawkins and Elgin Baylor the most impressive high-flying acts during the early ’60s and ’70s.
Johnson played college basketball at the University of Idaho, where he averaged 19 points and 20 rebounds per game during the 1962-63 season, finishing second in the country in rebounding to Paul Silas. It was also at Idaho that Johnson picked up the name “Honeycomb” because of his sweet play.
Johnson, who was selected to five NBA All-Star teams, averaged 17.4 points and 12.7 rebounds per game during his pro career.
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