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Rich Jones (basketball) facts for kids

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Rich Jones
Personal information
Born (1946-12-27) December 27, 1946 (age 78)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
High school Lester (Memphis, Tennessee)
Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College
  • Illinois (1965–1967)
  • Memphis (1968–1969)
NBA Draft 1969 / Round: 5 / Pick: 58th overall
Selected by the Phoenix Suns
Pro career 1969–1977
Career history
1969–1970 Pallacanestro Varese
1970–1973 Dallas / Texas Chaparrals
1973–1975 San Antonio Spurs
1975–1977 New York Nets
Career highlights and awards
  • European Champions Cup winner (1969-1970)
  • ABA champion (1976)
  • 2× ABA All-Star (1973, 1974)
  • Second-team Parade All-American (1964)
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points 7,922 (15.6 ppg)
Rebounds 3,759 (7.4 rpg)
Assists 1,394 (2.7 apg)

Richard Wesley "House" Jones (born December 27, 1946) is a retired American professional basketball player. He was known as a strong forward who could score and grab rebounds. Rich Jones played for several teams in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and also in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He won a championship and was chosen for the ABA All-Star team twice.

Who is Rich Jones?

Rich Jones was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1946. He grew to be 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 220 pounds. These measurements made him a powerful player on the basketball court. He played as a power forward or a center. These positions are usually for taller players who play close to the basket.

Early Basketball Career

Before becoming a professional, Rich Jones played college basketball. He first played for the University of Illinois from 1965 to 1967. Later, he transferred to the University of Memphis, where he played from 1968 to 1969. In 1964, he was recognized as a Parade All-American, which meant he was one of the best high school players in the country.

In 1969, the Phoenix Suns picked him in the NBA draft. However, he started his professional career playing overseas.

Playing in Europe

Rich Jones began his professional journey in Europe. He played for Pallacanestro Varese, a team in Italy, during the 1969–1970 season. With this team, he helped them win the European Champions Cup. This was a major basketball championship for teams across Europe.

Playing in the ABA

After his time in Europe, Rich Jones returned to the United States. He joined the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1970. The ABA was a professional basketball league that existed alongside the NBA. He played for the Dallas/Texas Chaparrals from 1970 to 1973.

He then moved to the San Antonio Spurs, playing there from 1973 to 1975. During his time in the ABA, Jones was a very good player. He was chosen to play in the ABA All-Star Game twice, in 1973 and 1974. This showed that other players and coaches thought he was one of the best in the league.

Winning the ABA Championship

In 1975, Rich Jones joined the New York Nets. This was a very successful team. In 1976, the Nets made it to the ABA Finals. They played against the Denver Nuggets. The Nets won the championship, beating the Nuggets 4 games to 2. The final game was played in New York at the Nassau Coliseum.

Rich Jones played a special part in the history of the ABA. In the final game of the 1976 ABA Finals, with only 4 seconds left, he scored the very last basket. This made him the last player ever to score points in the ABA. The ABA league later merged with the NBA.

Playing in the NBA

After the ABA and NBA merged in 1976, Rich Jones continued his career. He played one season for the New York Nets in the National Basketball Association. This was his only season in the NBA.

Throughout his career in both the ABA and NBA, Rich Jones scored a lot of points. He averaged 15.6 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per game. These numbers show he was a consistent scorer and a strong rebounder. He retired from professional basketball in 1977.

External links

  • Career statistics

See also

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