The legacy of Johnny “Red” Kerr is one of the most interesting in NBA history. He was a few different things to several generations of basketball fans throughout his storied professional basketball career. Kerr was a local college basketball hero and a prominent scorer in the early days of the NBA. At one point, Kerr played in a then NBA record 8of 44 straight games.
He later became a coach for two of the league’s newest franchises in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Johnny Kerr also spent time as an executive in the ABA briefly, before engraining himself on Chicago Bulls telecasts as a passionate color commentator. His story begins during the inception of the NBA and intersperses with one of the greatest dynasties the league has ever seen.
Johnny Kerr – Growing Up
Johnny Kerr was born in the south side of Chicago on July 17, 1932, to parents Matthew and Florence. His trademark red hair would be the driving force behind a nickname that would stick with him for his entire life. It may be surprising for many to learn that the sport Kerr initially fell in love with was soccer. This was an unlikely development considering how the rest of his life played out, and that Chicago is one of the coldest weather cities in the United States.
He would play the game competitively until his senior year of high school when a growth spurt made it difficult for him to remain effective on the pitch. It was at that point that the lanky athlete transitioned to playing basketball at Tilden Tech High School.
Although he hadn’t been playing the game long, his 6’9” frame and footwork powered the team to the Public League title in 1950. The future was very bright for the young center.
Johnny Kerr – College
In the early days of basketball, the majority of high school prospects would end up going to college locally. This was the case for Johnny Kerr as well, who elected to attend the University of Illinois, which was just over 2 hours from Chicago.
Kerr’s college career started off magnificently. He averaged over 13 points per game, and the Illini were one of the best teams in the country. They won the Big Ten Conference championship and had even bigger dreams of winning a national championship. Illinois defeated Dayton and Duquesne before falling to St. John’s in the East National Semifinal. They were able to claim third place overall though by edging Santa Clara.
While the team did not perform as well in each of Johnny Kerr’s final two college campaigns, his individual play flourished. As the offensive focal point of the team, he averaged over 17 points per game in 1952-1953 and an amazing 25 points per game in his final campaign. He concluded his college career in brilliant fashion and was well positioned to come off the board early in the 1954 NBA Draft.
Johnny Kerr – Syracuse Nationals
With the sixth overall pick in the 1954 Draft, the Syracuse Nationals took Johnny Kerr off the board. Coached by Al Cervi, Syracuse had come very close to winning a title in previous years but would end up falling just short. With George Mikan away from the league due to a short-lived retirement, Cervi and executive Danny Biasone knew 1954-1955 would be a golden opportunity to win the NBA championship.
Syracuse’s rotation was mostly comprised of players in their mid-twenties or early thirties, so it was going to be interesting to see how Kerr meshed with the veteran players. As it turned out, he turned out to be one of the missing pieces for a team on the cusp. He averaged 10.5 points per game in a well-balanced Syracuse attack, in just 21 minutes per game. In the NBA Finals, Kerr did not play like a rookie, scoring 20 points and 13 points in Game 6 and Game 7 respective victories that would secure the title for Syracuse.
The team would not get back to the NBA Finals, but Kerr established himself as one of the game’s great players. He made three All-Star teams with Syracuse, cementing himself as a scoring and rebounding force.
Johnny Kerr – Philadelphia 76ers
Ahead of the 1963-1964 season, the Syracuse Nationals relocated to Philadelphia and became the 76ers. Johnny Kerr remained on the roster, which was now led by player-coach Dolph Schayes. His first year in Philadelphia was a success, but it would be his final standout season in the league. That’s because the following season, Philadelphia acquired one of the greatest centers of all time in Wilt Chamberlain. Red Kerr’s minutes were reduced significantly that year, and it seemed like he was all of a sudden in the twilight of his career.
Johnny Kerr – Baltimore Bullets
Without much of a role to play after Chamberlain’s arrival, the 76ers traded Johnny Kerr to the Baltimore Bullets. He served as a 33-year-old veteran on a team that had a lot of younger players. The center put up respectable numbers in what would be his final NBA season. The Bullets would be swept in the first round of the playoffs by the St. Louis Hawks.
Johnny Kerr – NBA Coach With The Chicago Bulls
Kerr had a great run as a player, but his value as a contributor to a contender on the floor had come to an end. However, his playing career came to an end at the perfect time for him to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The city of Chicago was getting an expansion team, and the kid from Chicago knew he wanted to be involved in some capacity. His friends openly campaigned for him to be named the team’s first head coach, and Johnny Kerr was eventually hired for the role ahead of the team’s inaugural season in 1966-1967.
While the team’s win-loss record doesn’t exactly jump off of the page, Kerr led the team to back-to-back playoff appearances in the Chicago Bulls’ first two years of existence. He was named NBA Coach Of The Year in the expansion campaign, as well. Even though they weren’t serious contenders, this team is beloved amongst original Bulls fans, since this laid the groundwork for their more successful teams later on.
Johnny Kerr – Phoenix Suns
Somewhat surprisingly, Red Kerr resigned as head coach of the Bulls only two years after taking the job. Interestingly enough, he left to become the head coach of another expansion franchise ahead of the 1968 season. The Phoenix Suns hired him as their first-ever head coach, but this stint did not go as well for Kerr. The Suns only won 31 games over two years with him at the helm and fired him midway through the second campaign.
Johnny Kerr – NBA Commentator
After his tumultuous stint with the Suns ended, Johnny Kerr ended up being an executive for the ABA’s Virginia Squires. The most notable move he made in that span was signing an unheralded Julius “Dr.J.” Erving. A complicated contractual dispute delayed Erving’s career with the Squires, but it was one of the most shrewd signings in ABA history.
But perhaps Johnny Kerr’s most appreciated work came as a television commentator for his hometown team. He was hired as a broadcaster in 1975 and continued to be a part of local telecasts until 2008.
This means that he had a front-row seat for a historic run by the 1990’s Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. Some might joke that it was too good of a seat, as Jordan would playfully direct a cloud of resin powder in Kerr’s direction before every game. It became a funny ritual, as Kerr would do his best to avoid the oncoming cloud headed his way. Jordan absolutely respected Kerr’s dedication and relationship with the team, once acknowledging that while players can change every year, the beloved broadcaster would remain a part of Chicagoans’ lives for a long time.
It’s a special development when a fan base can trust that their local commentators are rooting for the team as passionately as they are. Kerr was known for his direct, honest opinions, and was not afraid to provide an objective view of the events taking place on the floor.
Johnny Kerr received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, for his exemplary career and contribution to the game of basketball. He was presented with this honor at halftime of a Bulls game, as well as a permanent bust of Kerr that will remain in the United Center forever.
Johnny Kerr – Net Worth
Johnny Kerr is an NBA Hall of Famer who has an estimated net worth between $35-50 million. He earned most of his wealth through a successful career in coaching and broadcasting, as well as his lucrative investments. Today, he remains a respected figure in the basketball community and is renowned for his philanthropic work.
Is Johnny Kerr in the Hall of Fame?
Despite having a successful NBA career, winning five titles on the court, Kerr was not inducted into the Hall of Fame. However, as a coach, Kerr has won four titles and been voted one of the 15 best NBA coaches of all time.
