Bill Jones (basketball, born 1958) facts for kids

William Lawrence Jones (born September 26, 1958) is an American former professional basketball player. He played most of his career in Australia's NBL from 1985 to 1992.

Bill Jones' Early Life

Bill Jones was born and grew up in Joliet, Illinois. He was a tall basketball player, standing about 6 feet 10 inches (209 cm) as a centre. He went to Joliet Central High School and was a top player there. After high school, he attended the University of Northern Iowa from 1977 to 1981. In 1981, he hoped to join the NBA, but he was not chosen in the draft.

Playing Professional Basketball

In 1985, Bill Jones moved to Australia to play for the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL. At that time, NBL teams could only have two non-Australian players. Bill quickly became the team's starting centre and its tallest player.

Joining the Adelaide 36ers

Bill Jones and Mark Davis formed a strong team. They played alongside other great players like Al Green and Darryl Pearce. Their coach, Ken Cole, led the team to the Grand Final in 1985. However, they lost to the Brisbane Bullets. In that first year, Bill averaged 13.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game.

Becoming a Champion in 1986

For the 1986 season, Coach Ken Cole made Bill Jones the captain of the 36ers. Bill had a fantastic season, averaging 19.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. The 36ers had an amazing year, winning 24 out of 26 games. They were unbeatable at their home court, the Apollo Stadium, earning them the nickname "The Invincibles."

The 36ers made it to the Grand Final series again, facing the Brisbane Bullets. In the first game, Bill Jones played a huge role, scoring 30 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. The 36ers won in overtime. Even though the Bullets won Game 2, Bill and his team came back strong. They won Game 3 at home, becoming the NBL champions for the first time! Bill averaged 19.6 points, 15.6 rebounds, and 3 blocks in the series.

Life Off the Court

During his time with the 36ers, Bill Jones and Mark Davis also worked as security guards at the Adelaide Casino. Mark Davis joked that their uniforms were too short, but they rarely had problems because they were so tall. Bill also became very close with the other African-American players on the team, calling themselves the "Brothers."

Later Years with the 36ers

After their championship win, the 36ers got a new coach, Gary Fox. The team continued to do well, finishing high on the ladder in 1987 and 1988. However, they were upset in the semi-finals both years and did not reach the Grand Final again. By the end of 1988, a new tall player named Mark Bradtke had joined the 36ers. Bill Jones, then 30 years old, was told he was no longer needed for the 1989 season.

Moving to Other Teams

In 1989, Bill Jones joined his former coach Ken Cole at the Newcastle Falcons. He played 24 games for them that year. After Cole left the Falcons, Bill played basketball in Central America and South America for two years.

He returned to Australia in 1992, playing two games for the Geelong Supercats in the NBL. He also played for the Bayside Blues in Melbourne and the Gippsland Lakers before he stopped playing basketball in 1994.

Bill Jones played a total of 139 NBL games. He averaged 16.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots per game. Even though he was not the tallest centre in the league, his amazing jumping ability and long arms (a 7-foot wingspan) made him a great shot blocker.

What Bill Jones is Doing Now

Today, Bill Jones lives in Melbourne, Australia. He works as a Project Manager for Australian Unity. Since he stopped playing basketball, Bill has also started playing Roller hockey. He says that winning the 1986 NBL Championship with the Adelaide 36ers is the best moment of his career.

Career Highlights

Bill Jones' NBL Statistics