Johnny Green was an American professional basketball player who played in the NBA from 1959 to 1973.
He was a four-time NBA All-Star and a second-team All-American at Michigan State University. He was known for his rebounding and leaping ability.
He played for the New York Knicks, Baltimore Bullets, San Diego Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
Johnny Green Biography
Early life and college:
John Michael Green was born in Dayton, Ohio on December 8, 1933. He attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.
Green was under six feet tall in high school and didn’t play basketball.
He worked part-time at a Dayton bowling alley and, after graduation, for a construction company and at a junkyard for six months before joining the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.
It was while in the military that, at age 20, he sprouted to 6-foot-5 and played on the base’s basketball team.
The Marine base football coach, Dick Evans, a Michigan State University (then College) alumnus, recognized Green’s athletic ability and wrote a letter of recommendation to MSU basketball coach Forddy Anderson.
Green, by then age 21, visited MSU while on leave in October 1955.
He enrolled at Michigan State University in 1955 and became a star power forward, leading the Spartans to the NCAA Final Four in 1957 and earning All-American honors in 1958 and 19591.
NBA career:
He was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1959 and played for them until 1965, making four All-Star appearances.
He was known for his rebounding and jumping ability, setting a Knicks rookie record with 25 rebounds in a game.
He also played for the Baltimore Bullets, San Diego Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City-Omaha Kings, retiring in 1973 at age 39. He scored 12,281 points and grabbed 9,083 rebounds in his 14-year NBA career.
Honors and legacy:
He was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 20214.
He was also the first African American to earn a degree from Michigan State’s College of Business, and had his jersey number 24 retired by the Spartans.
He died on November 16, 2023, at age 89.
Johnny Green Wife
Green had three wives in his life. His first wife was Carol Faulk, whom he married in 1930 and divorced in 1942.
They had two children, John Jr. and Betty. His second wife was Betty Furness, a former actress and consumer advocate, whom he married in 1943 and divorced in 1950.
They had one daughter, Barbara. His third wife was Bonnie Waters, a singer and actress, whom he married in 1951 and remained with until his death in 1989. They had one son, Christopher.
Johnny Green Children
John Joseph Fine (1936-1961): He was the son of Johnny Green and his first wife, Carol Faulk.
He was named after his father’s friend, Johnny Green, an orchestra leader and composer. He died in a car accident at the age of 25.
Barbara Green (born 1944): She is the daughter of Johnny Green and his second wife, Betty Furness, a former actress and consumer advocate.
She is a singer and songwriter who has performed with her father and other artists.
Kathe Green (born 1944): She is the daughter of Johnny Green and his third wife, Bonnie Waters, a singer and actress.
She is also a singer and songwriter who has recorded several albums and appeared in films and TV shows.
Christopher Green (born 1952): He is the son of Johnny Green and Bonnie Waters. He is a musician and composer who has worked with his father and other artists.
Johnny Green Parents
Catherine Perry is his mother who later remarried, while his father’s name remains undisclosed.
Johnny Green Siblings
He also had a brother named Thomas.
Johnny Green Family
Johnny Green’s family consists of the following members:
Mother: Catherine Perry.
Father: Name remains undisclosed.
Brother: Thomas.
First wife: Carol Faulk.
Second wife: Betty Furness.
Third wife:Bonnie Waters
Children: John Joseph Fine (1936-1961), Barbara Green (born 1944), Kathe Green (born 1944), and Christopher Green (born 1952)2.
Johnny Green Net worth
Johnny Green’s net worth is not very clear. There are different sources that give different estimates, ranging from $1 million to $17 million.
Johnny Green Cause of death
Johnny Green died on November 16, 2023, at age 89. The cause of his death was a heart attack.
He passed away in Huntington, New York, where he lived with his wife Bonnie Waters.
Source: www.www.atinkanews.net
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