Jim Loscutoff facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 4, 1930 San Francisco, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | December 1, 2015 (aged 85) Naples, Florida |
| High school | Palo Alto (Palo Alto, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
|
| NBA Draft | 1955 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Pro career | 1955–1964 |
| Career history | |
| 1955–1964 | Boston Celtics |
James Loscutoff Jr. (born February 4, 1930 – died December 1, 2015) was a famous professional basketball player. He played for the Boston Celtics in the NBA. Loscutoff was a forward and helped the Celtics win seven NBA championships between 1956 and 1964.
Contents
Jim Loscutoff's Basketball Journey
Jim Loscutoff was born in San Francisco, California. He was a star basketball player at Palo Alto High School. After high school, he went to Grant Technical College. Later, he attended the University of Oregon.
At the University of Oregon, Loscutoff was a top player. In his last year, he led his team in scoring and rebounding. He scored 19.6 points per game. He also grabbed 17.2 rebounds per game. He still holds the Oregon school record for most rebounds in a single game, with 32!
Joining the Boston Celtics
Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, Loscutoff was chosen in the 1955 NBA draft. The Boston Celtics picked him third overall. Coach Red Auerbach wanted Loscutoff to improve the Celtics' defense. At the time, the Celtics scored a lot of points but struggled to stop other teams.
Rookie Year and First Championship
During his first year, Loscutoff set a new Celtics record. He grabbed 26 rebounds in one game. In 1957, he helped the Celtics win their very first NBA championship. He made the final two free throws in a close game. This win against the St. Louis Hawks was 125-123 in double overtime.
Loscutoff played for nine seasons, from 1955 to 1964. He was a forward and won seven championships. These wins were part of the legendary Celtics teams of the 1960s. People called him the Celtics' "hatchet-man." His strong defense was key to the team's success. He played alongside Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell.
His Nicknames and Legacy
Loscutoff had a couple of cool nicknames. People called him Jungle Jim and Loscy. The Celtics wanted to honor him after he retired. They offered to retire his jersey number, 18. However, Loscutoff asked them not to. He wanted another player to be able to wear his number in the future.
Instead, the Celtics hung a banner with his nickname "Loscy" in their arena. This banner hangs alongside the retired jersey numbers of other great players. Later, the number 18 was retired to honor another Celtics star, Dave Cowens.
Later Life
After his basketball career, Jim Loscutoff lived in Florida and Andover, Massachusetts. His family owned a day camp for children. His wife, Lynn Loscutoff, was an artist. Jim Loscutoff passed away on December 1, 2015, in Naples, Florida. He died from problems related to Parkinson's disease and pneumonia.
See also
In Spanish: Jim Loscutoff para niños
