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Lot # 1196: Gus Johnson Retired Number Banner from Capital Centre

Category: Basketball

Starting Bid: $300.00

Bids: 9 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2023 Spring Classic",
which ran from 4/2/2023 7:00 PM to
4/22/2023 10:00 PM



"Gus Johnson was the Dr. J of his time," said former Washington Bullets owner Abe Pollen of Gus Johnson, Hall of Fame forward of the Washington Bullets. Offered is a Gus Johnson nylon banner, approx. 5'9"x 7'2", with his retired number 25, that hung above Washington's Capital Centre. Johnson was a 6'6" forward who played both small and power forward. He played ten seasons of pro basketball, nine of them for the NBA's Washington Bullets. He was a powerful rebounder who averaged 12.1 rebounds in the NBA. Johnson was a 4-time All NBA player and a 5-time NBA All-Star. He was also a 2-time member of the NBA All-Defense Team. Johnson played form 1963-64 through 1971-72 with the Bullets. In retirement, he contracted inoperable brain cancer, and on his 48th birthday, about four months before Johnson passed away, the Washington Bullets hung this offered banner from the rafters at Washington's home court, the Capital Center. The banner, in red, white and blue lettering and numbering, all sewn on a white background, reads, "Washington Bullets/Gus 25 Johnson." The banner has a few detached canvas-like ties and there are a number of spots where the banner is burned, some with obvious holes, possibly from being placed too close to the lights when hung from the rafters. The burned spots could possibly be repaired or restored. New York Knicks forward Dave DeBusschere, many times an on-court match-up with Johnson, said this about the rugged, high-flying Bullet: "Gus was probably the toughest player I have ever played against. he was not a dirty player. He was one of the most ferocious competitors to ever play the game." The banner makes a great Gus Johnson tribute.

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