Murray State University Athletics
MSU Set to Retire Stewart Johnson’s Jersey No. 40
11/26/2023 8:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
A Murray State legend, Johnson played for men’s basketball from 1963-66
One of legends of Murray State men's basketball, Stewart Johnson, is coming back home to be honored with the retirement of his No. 40 jersey. The ceremony happens Wednesday (Nov. 29) at
halftime of the Racers' game with the Bradley Braves at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.
Johnson, came out of Clairton, Pa. to play for Coach Cal Luther from 1963-66 and remains as one of the top players in Murray State history and was inducted into the Murray State Hall of Fame in 1979.
The first African American scholarship basketball player at Murray State, Johnson was a two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference selection and left MSU ninth on the Racers' all-time scoring list with 1,257 points over three seasons for a career 16.5 point per game average. He grabbed 981 career rebounds to rank second all-time when he finished at MSU and he still ranks fourth today, behind only Popeye Jones (1988-92), Dick Cunningham (1965-68) and Jim Jennings (1961-64), Johnson's teammate for one season in 1963-64.
The Racers' team captain as a senior, Johnson also helped MSU win the OVC regular season championship with an 11-3 record in the 1963-64 season. During this season, he had a 34-point game against Arizona State and had 24 rebounds in a game against Austin Peay. Johnson scored 18 points when the Racers made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1964, meeting Loyola in the first round at Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena in Chicago. The Racer led by as many as 20 points in the first half before dropping a 101-91 game.
Coach Luther, who passed away in May 2021, said this about Johnson.
"Stewart was a good student and he worked at his class work and basketball very hard and I'd say that he, Jimmy Young and Claude Virden, were probably the best natural shooters that I ever had," Luther stated.
Stewart Johnson had an outstanding professional career playing for nine American Basketball Association franchises from 1967-76, including the 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).
Johnson went to the ABA All-Star game three times in 1973, 1974 and 1975, twice as a member of the San Diego Conquistadors and once as a member of the Memphis Sounds.
He had dream game on March 6, 1971 when he set the ABA single-game scoring record with 62 points against The Floridians.
Johnson's 10,538 points was 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 when Johnson retired in 1976.
In 1978, Johnson joined the Icelandic Division-I club Ármann as player-coach. He also played for a time in Argentina before retiring for good in 1983 and coached the Iceland women's team in the 1980's.
Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@RacersHoops).
halftime of the Racers' game with the Bradley Braves at the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky.Johnson, came out of Clairton, Pa. to play for Coach Cal Luther from 1963-66 and remains as one of the top players in Murray State history and was inducted into the Murray State Hall of Fame in 1979.
The first African American scholarship basketball player at Murray State, Johnson was a two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference selection and left MSU ninth on the Racers' all-time scoring list with 1,257 points over three seasons for a career 16.5 point per game average. He grabbed 981 career rebounds to rank second all-time when he finished at MSU and he still ranks fourth today, behind only Popeye Jones (1988-92), Dick Cunningham (1965-68) and Jim Jennings (1961-64), Johnson's teammate for one season in 1963-64.
The Racers' team captain as a senior, Johnson also helped MSU win the OVC regular season championship with an 11-3 record in the 1963-64 season. During this season, he had a 34-point game against Arizona State and had 24 rebounds in a game against Austin Peay. Johnson scored 18 points when the Racers made their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1964, meeting Loyola in the first round at Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena in Chicago. The Racer led by as many as 20 points in the first half before dropping a 101-91 game.
Coach Luther, who passed away in May 2021, said this about Johnson.
"Stewart was a good student and he worked at his class work and basketball very hard and I'd say that he, Jimmy Young and Claude Virden, were probably the best natural shooters that I ever had," Luther stated.
Stewart Johnson had an outstanding professional career playing for nine American Basketball Association franchises from 1967-76, including the 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).
Johnson went to the ABA All-Star game three times in 1973, 1974 and 1975, twice as a member of the San Diego Conquistadors and once as a member of the Memphis Sounds.
He had dream game on March 6, 1971 when he set the ABA single-game scoring record with 62 points against The Floridians.
Johnson's 10,538 points was 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 when Johnson retired in 1976.
In 1978, Johnson joined the Icelandic Division-I club Ármann as player-coach. He also played for a time in Argentina before retiring for good in 1983 and coached the Iceland women's team in the 1980's.
Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@RacersHoops).
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