Jim Ard facts for kids
Ard, c. 1970
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 19, 1948 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| High school | Thornton Township (Harvey, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Cincinnati (1967–1970) |
| NBA Draft | 1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall |
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | |
| Pro career | 1970–1978 |
| Career history | |
| 1970–1973 | New York Nets |
| 1973–1974 | Memphis Tams |
| 1974–1977 | Boston Celtics |
| 1977–1978 | Chicago Bulls |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 1,909 (4.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,832 (4.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 278 (0.6 apg) |
Jimmie Lee Ard (born September 19, 1948) is an American former professional basketball player. He played as a power forward and center. Ard is best known for winning an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 1976.
Contents
Early Life and High School Success
Jim Ard was born in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in Harvey, Illinois. Jim went to Thornton Township High School.
In his final year of high school (1965–66), Jim was a star player. He was named all-state and all-tournament. He helped lead his high school team to win the state championship.
After high school, over 100 colleges wanted Jim to play for them. He chose the University of Cincinnati. This university had won national championships in basketball before.
College Basketball Career
Jim Ard was 6 feet 8 inches tall. He played as a forward and center for the University of Cincinnati. He was a starting player for three years.
He was named to the First-team All-Missouri Valley Conference in all three of his college seasons. In his senior year (1969–70), Jim was named the MVC Player of the Year. That season, he averaged 19.2 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. He was also recognized as an Honorable Mention All-America player.
Jim tied a school record by blocking 10 shots in one game. He is still ranked seventh all-time in career rebounds for the university. In 1996, Jim Ard was honored by being added to the University of Cincinnati Athletics Hall of Fame.
Professional Basketball Journey
Jim Ard was a top pick in the 1970 basketball drafts. The Seattle SuperSonics of the NBA picked him sixth overall. The New York Nets of the ABA also drafted him. Jim decided to sign with the New York Nets.
Playing for the New York Nets
For three seasons (1970–1973) with the Nets, Jim was a backup player. He played about 14 minutes per game. In his first year (1970–71), he averaged 5.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. His numbers were similar in his second year.
Time with the Memphis Tams
In the 1973–74 season, Jim played for the Memphis Tams in the ABA. He had a strong season there. He averaged a career-high 6.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
Winning a Championship with the Boston Celtics
In 1974, Jim Ard joined the Boston Celtics in the NBA. He played three important years (1974–77) with the Celtics. He was known for his strong rebounding and hard work. He often backed up star player Dave Cowens.
A famous moment in Jim's career happened in Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals. This game went into triple-overtime between the Celtics and the Phoenix Suns. Jim Ard made the two free throws that put the Celtics ahead. These shots helped the Celtics win that game. The Celtics then won the series, making Jim Ard an NBA champion. He earned an NBA championship ring.
Final Seasons
In the 1977–78 season, Jim played one game for the Celtics. He then joined the Chicago Bulls. After 14 games with the Bulls, his eight-year professional career ended. In total, he scored 1,909 points and grabbed 1,832 rebounds in his career.
Life After Basketball
After his basketball career, Jim Ard worked in sales. He was a technical sales representative for several big companies. These included Honeywell Corporation, Amdahl, and Sun Microsystems. He worked in different parts of the United States.
Today, Jim Ard lives in the Eugene, Oregon area.
Images for kids
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Ard, c. 1970
See also
In Spanish: Jim Ard para niños
