John Brisker
John Brisker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | May 29, 1985 (aged 37) |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player |
| Years active | 1968–1975 |
| Known for | ABA All-Star, Seattle SuperSonics player, mysterious disappearance |
John Brisker (born June 15, 1947 – officially declared deceased May 29, 1985) was an American professional basketball athlete who vanished on April 11, 1978, following an alleged trip to Uganda. He competed at the collegiate level for the Toledo Rockets before departing during his final year in 1968. Brisker launched his pro career with the Pittsburgh Pipers / Condors of the American Basketball Association (ABA), where he earned two ABA All-Star honors and built a reputation as one of the league’s most formidable players. Subsequently, he joined the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1972 through 1975.
In 1978, Brisker is reported to have traveled to Uganda, after which he disappeared following his last known communication with his girlfriend on April 11. He was legally declared dead in 1985 to resolve estate matters; however, his exact fate remains a mystery, and the State Department has expressed skepticism regarding his presumed death.
Career
Standing 6′5″ and playing forward/guard, Brisker represented the University of Toledo basketball squad before being chosen in the supplemental round of the 1969 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Although not selected in the ABA draft, he signed with Pennsylvania’s Pittsburgh Condors, spending six seasons between the ABA and NBA with Pittsburgh (1969–1972) and Seattle (1972–1975). His career scoring average was 20.7 points per game overall—26.1 in ABA contests and 11.9 in NBA play.
Brisker was notorious for his aggressive temperament, frequently being removed from games due to altercations, earning him the moniker "the heavyweight champion of the ABA." The Condors capitalized on this tough image in their promotions, notably depicting him wielding six-shooters in their media guide. Stories from coaches and teammates emphasize his formidable demeanor both on and off the court.
A memorable event occurred in 1971 during a matchup against the Denver Rockets, where Brisker was expelled early for an elbowing foul and repeatedly attempted to re-enter the game until law enforcement intervened.
In February 1974, Seattle assigned him temporarily to the Cherry Hill Rookies of the Eastern Basketball Association. There, he scored an impressive 51 points followed by 58 points in consecutive games before suffering a back injury that sidelined him. He returned promptly to Seattle for medical care and was recalled by the SuperSonics on February 14.
Disappearance
Brisker traveled to Uganda in March 1978 intending to start an "import-export business." The last verified contact was a phone call made on April 11, 1978, to his girlfriend residing in Seattle. His subsequent whereabouts are unknown. Former teammates from Seattle speculate that he may have died either while working as a mercenary or due to conflicts with Ugandan authorities. Officially declared deceased in absentia by King County's medical examiner on May 29, 1985, for estate closure purposes, the United States Department of State has been unable to confirm his presence in Africa and does not formally recognize him as deceased.
Personal life
Brisker fathered a daughter.
ABA/NBA
Source
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh (ABA) | 77 | 28.2 | .461 | .293 | .827 | 5.7 | 1.7 | 21.0 | |||
| Pittsburgh (ABA) | 79 | 39.1 | .455 | .337 | .829 | 9.7 | 2.9 | 29.3 | |||
| Pittsburgh (ABA) | 49 | 42.1 | .458 | .314 | .867 | 9.1 | 4.1 | 28.9 | |||
| Seattle (NBA) | 70 | 23.3 | .435 | .822 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 12.8 | ||||
| Seattle (NBA) | 35 | 20.5 | .449 | .820 | 4.2 | 1.6 | .8 | .2 | 12.5 | ||
| Seattle (NBA) | 21 | 13.1 | .426 | .857 | 1.6 | .9 | .3 | .1 | 7.7 | ||
| Career (ABA) | 205 | 35.7 | .458 | .321 | .837 | 8.1 | 2.7 | 26.1 | |||
| Career (NBA) | 126 | 20.8 | .438 | .826 | 4.0 | 1.8 | .6 | .2 | 11.9 | ||
| Career (overall) | 331 | 30.1 | .453 | .321 | .834 | 6.5 | 2.4 | .6 | .2 | 20.7 | |
| All–Star (ABA) | 2 | 24.0 | .276 | .000 | .700 | 11.0 | 2.0 | |11.5
See alsoExternal links |
|||
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1947 births
- 1970s missing person cases
- 1978 deaths
- 20th-century African-American sportsmen
- 20th-century American sportsmen
- ABA All-Stars
- American expatriates in Uganda
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball players from Detroit
- Basketball players from Wayne County, Michigan
- Missing American people
- Missing person cases in Uganda
- People declared dead in absentia
- Philadelphia 76ers draft picks
- Pittsburgh Condors players
- Pittsburgh Pipers players
- Seattle SuperSonics players
- Shooting guards
- Small forwards
- Sportspeople from Hamtramck, Michigan
- Toledo Rockets men's basketball players
- Undrafted ABA players