Johnny Macknowski
John Andrew Macknowsky was a Russian-born American professional basketball player. He played in the National [Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League] and National Basketball Association for the Syracuse Nationals franchise as the team moved from the NBL into the NBA.
Macknowski played college basketball for the Seton Hall Pirates where he started as a freshman in the 1941–42 season and then served three years of military service during World War II. He returned to the Pirates and played from 1945 to 1948.
Personal life
After his playing career, Macknowski worked as an English, history and philosophy teacher.In 1952, Macknowski, his wife and his first daughter changed their surname from Macknowski to Mackin. He had three daughters with his wife, Olga, who predeceased him in December 2016, aged 90. As of September 2017, Macknowski resided at a retirement village in Morristown, Tennessee. He turned 100 in 2023, becoming only the second NBA player to turn 100, after Whitey Von Nieda.
Macknowski died on April 8, 2024, at the age of 101.