Jimmy Jones (basketball) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1, 1945 Tallulah, Louisiana, U.S. |
| High school | McCall (Tallulah, Louisiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 188 lb (85 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Grambling State (1963–1967) |
| NBA Draft | 1967 / Round: 2 / Pick: 13th overall |
| Selected by the Baltimore Bullets | |
| Pro career | 1967–1977 |
| Career history | |
| 1967–1971 | New Orleans Buccaneers / Memphis Pros |
| 1971–1974 | Utah Stars |
| 1974–1977 | Washington Bullets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 11,366 (16.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,930 (4.6 rpg) |
| Assists | 3,069 (4.5 apg) |
James "Jimmy" Jones (born January 1, 1945) is a former American professional basketball player. He was a six-time All-Star in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Only three other players achieved this honor in the league's nine-year history.
Jimmy Jones was a talented guard who stood 6 feet 4 inches tall. He was born in Tallulah, Louisiana, and later attended Grambling State University.
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Starting His Pro Basketball Career
In 1967, Jimmy Jones was drafted by two different basketball leagues. The National Basketball Association (NBA) team, the Baltimore Bullets, chose him. At the same time, the New Orleans Buccaneers from the rival ABA also drafted him.
Since he was a top pick in the ABA, Jones decided to start his professional career there. He signed a three-year contract worth $75,000, which was a lot of money back then! He played seven seasons in the ABA.
Playing in the ABA
Jimmy Jones played for the New Orleans Buccaneers (who later became the Memphis Pros) and the Utah Stars. He quickly became one of the ABA's best players. On average, he scored 19.2 points, made 5.1 assists, and grabbed 4.9 rebounds per game.
By 1974, many people thought Jones was one of the best guards in the entire league. He was known for his scoring and passing, even if he didn't think he was the best at defense.
Moving to the NBA
Jimmy Jones wanted a pay raise, but his ABA team was having money problems. So, in 1974, he finally joined the Washington Bullets in the NBA. He played three seasons with them before he retired from basketball in 1977.
Jimmy's Amazing Achievements
Jimmy Jones had a fantastic basketball career. He was chosen as an ABA All-Star six times, which shows how consistently good he was. He was also named to the All-ABA First Team three times, meaning he was considered one of the top players in the league.
In his first year, he was part of the ABA All-Rookie First Team. This means he was one of the best new players in the league. He was also named to the ABA All-Time Team, which honors the greatest players from the ABA.
Many experts believe Jimmy Jones is one of the most underrated players from his time. Even though he was a six-time ABA All-Star, he is the only one of those four players who is not yet in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. However, he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, recognizing his great achievements.
See also
In Spanish: Jimmy Jones (baloncestista) para niños
