Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933) facts for kids
Jones playing for the Boston Celtics in 1969
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 24, 1933 Wilmington, North Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | December 30, 2021 (aged 88) Boca Raton, Florida |
| High school | Laurinburg Institute (Laurinburg, North Carolina) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 198 lb (90 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | North Carolina Central (1951–1954, 1956–1957) |
| NBA Draft | 1957 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Pro career | 1957–1969 |
| Coaching career | 1974–1975 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1957–1969 | Boston Celtics |
| As coach: | |
| 1974–1975 | New Orleans Jazz (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 15,411 (17.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 4,305 (4.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,209 (2.5 apg) |
Samuel Jones (born June 24, 1933 – died December 30, 2021) was an amazing American professional basketball player. He played as a shooting guard for the famous Boston Celtics team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Sam Jones was known for being super fast and for making important shots that won games, especially during the NBA playoffs. He won 10 NBA championships, which is the second most by any player in history, right after his teammate Bill Russell who won 11. Sam was also one of only three Celtics players to be part of all eight championships in a row from 1959 to 1966. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and College
Sam Jones was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on June 24, 1933. He went to Laurinburg Institute for high school. Later, he studied at North Carolina Central University. There, he played basketball for four years under coaches John McLendon and Floyd Brown. Jones scored 1,745 points in college. His jersey number 41 was later retired by the Eagles team, meaning no other player can wear it. Before becoming a professional player, he also served in the United States Army for two years. He had planned to become a teacher after finishing college.
Playing Career with the Celtics
Sam Jones was first chosen by the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1956 NBA draft. But he decided to go back to college to finish his degree after his time in the army. This meant the Lakers lost their chance to sign him.
Then, Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach went to scout players from North Carolina. A coach named Bones McKinney told Auerbach that the best player in the state was Sam Jones. So, in the 1957 NBA draft, Boston picked Jones even though Auerbach had never seen him play. This turned out to be a great decision!
Jones played his first NBA game on October 22, 1957. He was a reserve player for a few seasons. Later, he became a starter, taking the place of Bill Sharman.
Sam Jones was one of only six Boston Celtics players to ever score 50 points in an NBA game. He scored 51 points against the Detroit Pistons in 1965. He also helped the Celtics win their eighth straight NBA Finals in 1966. Jones played for the Celtics for twelve seasons. He scored 15,411 points, had 2,209 assists, and grabbed 4,305 rebounds. When he retired in 1969, he was the Celtics' all-time leading scorer.
Sam Jones: The Shooter
Sam Jones was known as a "clutch scorer." This means he was great at making important shots when the game was on the line. He played in five All-Star Games. Many people think he was one of the best shooting guards of his time. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team three years in a row (1965–1967). He played on 10 championship teams, which is an amazing achievement!
Because of his perfect way of shooting a jump shot and his ability to make big shots, opponents called him "The Shooter." He was especially good at the bank shot. This is when a player shoots the ball off the backboard before it goes into the basket. Many coaches believed that the bank shot was the best shot to take from certain angles close to the basket.
At 6 feet 4 inches tall, Jones was a tall guard who could run fast and get rebounds. He had many ways to score, which made it hard for other teams to guard him. Sam Jones and his teammate K. C. Jones were known as the "Jones Boys" in Boston. They worked together to cause problems for other teams on the court.
Jones was the top scorer for the Boston Celtics five times. He averaged 20 points or more per game for four seasons in a row (1965–1968). He scored 2,909 points in 154 playoff games, showing how important he was in big games.
Coaching Career
After his amazing playing career, Sam Jones became a coach. He coached at Federal City College from 1969 to 1973. He also coached at his old college, North Carolina Central University, in 1973–74. Later, he was an assistant coach for the New Orleans Jazz team in 1974–75.
Honors and Legacy
Sam Jones received many honors for his basketball achievements:
- He was inducted into the NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame in 1962.
- In 1969, he was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He was the first African-American person to receive this honor.
- Jones was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.
- He was also chosen for special NBA anniversary teams: the NBA 25th Anniversary Team (1971), one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996), and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021).
- In 2019, he was part of the first group of people inducted into the American Basketball Hall of Fame.
- During the 2021-2022 NBA season, the Boston Celtics wore a black band with the number 24 on their jerseys. This was to honor Sam Jones after he passed away that year.
Personal Life
Sam Jones was married to Gladys Chavis until she passed away in 2018. They had five children together. For many years, he lived in Silver Spring, Maryland. During that time, he often worked as a substitute teacher in public schools. In his retirement, he lived in St. Augustine, Florida.
Sam Jones passed away on December 30, 2021, in Boca Raton, Florida. He was 88 years old.
