Arnie Johnson

Arnitz L. Johnson (May 16, 1920 – June 6, 2000) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Rochester Royals of the National Basketball League (NBL) and National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1946 to 1953. Johnson is the only basketball player from Bemidji State to play in the NBA.

Early life and college career Johnson was born on May 16, 1920, in Gonvick, Minnesota. His father was an immigrant from Sweden. Johnson attended Gonvick High School, where he served as a captain on the basketball team and was a four-time letterwinner. and National Basketball Association as a member of the Rochester Royals. He averaged 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in his career and won a league championship in 1951.

In 2003, Monroe Community College in New York established the Arnold L. Johnson Endowed Memorial Scholarship for student athletes.

BAA/NBA career statistics

Regular season Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG 1948–49 Rochester 60 – .416 .701 – 1.3 8.5 Rochester 68 – .396 .680 – 2.1 7.3 † Rochester 68 – .459 .725 6.6 2.6 9.4 Rochester 66 32.7 .433 .778 6.1 2.8 10.0 Rochester 70 28.3 .379 .748 6.0 2.2 8.3Career 332 30.5 .418 .731 6.2 2.2 8.7 Playoffs Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG 1949 Rochester 4 – .268 .727 – 1.8 9.5 1950 Rochester 2 – .500 .667 – 2.5 10.0 1951† Rochester 14 – .449 .782 9.0 2.9 11.2 1952 Rochester 6 27.7 .296 .719 5.2 4.0 6.5 1953 Rochester 3 29.0 .286 .762 6.0 2.0 8.0Career 29 28.1 .383 .752 7.6 2.8 9.6