Ed Johnson (basketball)

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Ed Johnson

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 205

| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|6|17}}

| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia

| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|04|05|1944|6|17}}

| death_place =

| nationality = American

| high_school = David T. Howard
(Atlanta, Georgia)

| college = Tennessee State (1964–1967)

| draft_year = 1968

| draft_round = 3

| draft_pick = 34

| draft_team = Seattle SuperSonics

| career_start = 1968

| career_end = 1980

| career_number = 50, 20, 32

| career_position = Center

| coach_start = 1984

| coach_end = 2000

| years1 = 1968–1969

| team1 = Los Angeles Stars

| years2 = 1969–1971

| team2 = New York Nets

| years3 = 1971

| team3 = Texas Chaparrals

| years4 = 1972–1973

| team4 = Hartford Capitols

| years5 = 1973–1974

| team5 = Manresa

| years6 = 1974–1975

| team6 = Bagnolet

| years7 = 1975–1977

| team7 = Manresa

| years8 = 1977–1978

| team8 = Joventut Badalona

| years9 = 1978–1979

| team9 = Mollet

| years10 = 1979–1980

| team10 = Joventut Badalona

| cyears1 = 1984–1985
1988–1989
1991

| cteam1 = Gijón Baloncesto

| cyears2 = 1998–2000

| cteam2 = Gijón Baloncesto (assistant)

| bbr = johnsed01

| highlights =

EBA Most Valuable Player (1973)
All-EBA First Team (1973)

}}

Ed Lee Johnson (June 17, 1944 – April 5, 2016) was an American professional basketball player.{{cite web | url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsed01.html | title=Ed Johnson NBA & ABA stats| publisher=Sports Reference LLC | work=basketball-reference.com | accessdate=September 8, 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.elcomercio.es/deportes/baloncesto/201604/05/muere-anos-exjugador-baloncesto-20160405203716.html | title=Muere a los 71 años el exjugador de baloncesto Ed Johnson | publisher=El Comercio | date=5 April 2016 | accessdate=5 April 2016 | language=es}} After a collegiate career at Tennessee State University, Johnson was selected in both the 1968 ABA draft and 1968 NBA draft.{{cite web | url=http://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2603:1968-aba-draft&catid=108:aba-drafts | title=1968 ABA Draft| date=6 June 2007| publisher=The Draft Review | accessdate=September 8, 2014}}

In a career that spanned 12 seasons, Johnson played in the original American Basketball Association, Continental Basketball Association, and some of the top leagues in Spain and France. He was named the most valuable player of the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) and a member of the All-EBA First Team in 1973.{{cite web |title=Ed Johnson minor league basketball statistics |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbasketball/stats/p-johnsed001 |website=Stats Crew |access-date=February 17, 2025}}

Reactions to his death

On 2 May 2016, the Town Hall of Gijón, where he lived during 27 years, renamed in his honour the central court of the Municipal Palacio de Deportes.{{cite web|url=http://www.elcomercio.es/deportes/baloncesto/201605/02/johnson-dara-nombre-pista-20160502005612-v.html|title=Ed Johnson dará nombre a la pista central del Palacio de Deportes|date=2 May 2016|language=es|accessdate=2 May 2016}}

Personal life

Johnson was married to Isabel Argüelles and had two daughters with her. One of their daughters, Allison Audrey, played college basketball at Georgia State University, where she was named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year as well as being named to the Third Team All-Sun Belt. Allison Audrey is also in a relationship with NBA player Jaden McDaniels, and the couple had their first child, a son named Mekhi, in June 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/nba-active-basketball-news-is-twenty-three-year-old-jaden-mcdaniels-expecting-a-child-with-allison-audrey-inside-timberwolves-star-s-relationship-with-georgia-state-alum/|title=Is 23YO Jaden McDaniels Expecting a Child With Allison Audrey? Inside Timberwolves Star's Relationship With Georgia State Alum|last=Pulimoottil Don|first=Geisha|publisher=EssentiallySports|date=September 26, 2024|accessdate=May 28, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-jaden-mcdaniels-girlfriend-allison-audrey-shows-love-fan-declares-wolves-loyalty-forever-new-tattoo|title=Jaden McDaniels' girlfriend Allison Audrey shows love as fan declares Wolves loyalty forever with new tattoo|last=Howell|first=Zachary|publisher=Sportskeeda|date=April 26, 2025|accessdate=May 28, 2025}}