John Roche

John Michael Roche, born September 26, 1949, is an American former professional basketball player whose career in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) spanned 1971 to 1982. A guard, he stood 6 feet 3 inches and weighed 170 pounds.

Roche attended high school at La Salle Academy and received a B.S. in business administration from the University of South Carolina in 1971. At South Carolina he was twice named ACC Player of the Year and finished second in the voting in his other varsity season. He was a consensus All-American and an Academic All-American in 1970 and 1971. He was later named the 20th-best player in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference on its 50-year anniversary team.

After graduation, Roche was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round, 14th overall, of the 1971 NBA draft, and was also chosen by the Kentucky Colonels in the 1971 ABA Draft. He signed with the New York Nets of the ABA, who had acquired his rights from the Colonels. Roche was named to the 1972 ABA All-Rookie team and played with the Nets during his first three seasons.