Wil Jones (basketball) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 27, 1947 McGehee, Arkansas, U.S. |
| High school | Desha Central (Rohwer, Arkansas) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Albany State (1966–1969) |
| NBA Draft | 1969 / Round: 5 / Pick: 69th overall |
| Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Pro career | 1969–1978 |
| Career history | |
| 1969–1970 | Miami Floridians |
| 1970–1974 | Memphis Pros / Tams |
| 1974–1976 | Kentucky Colonels |
| 1976–1977 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1977–1978 | Buffalo Braves |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 8,482 (11.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,560 (7.7 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,446 (2.0 apg) |
Wilbert "Wil" Jones (born February 27, 1947) is a former American professional basketball player. He was known for his strong defense and rebounding during his time in both the ABA and NBA.
Contents
Wil Jones: A Basketball Star
Wil Jones was born in McGehee, Arkansas. He grew up to be a tall and talented forward at 6 feet 8 inches. His basketball journey took him from college to a successful career in two major leagues.
College Basketball Days
Wil Jones played college basketball at Albany State University. He was a standout player for the Albany State Golden Rams. In the 1968–69 season, he was named an All-American. This was a big honor for him. His team, the Golden Rams, won their third straight conference title that year.
After college, Wil Jones was chosen by two different professional leagues. The Los Angeles Lakers picked him in the 1969 NBA Draft. At the same time, the Miami Floridians selected him in the 1969 ABA Draft.
Playing in the ABA
Wil Jones chose to start his professional career in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He played seven seasons there, from 1969 to 1976. He played for a few teams during this time.
- He started with the Miami Floridians.
- Then he moved to the Memphis Pros, which later became the Memphis Tams.
- His last ABA team was the Kentucky Colonels.
ABA Championship and Honors
Wil Jones had a fantastic season in 1975. He helped his team, the Kentucky Colonels, win the ABA Championship. This was a major achievement in his career.
That same year, he was also named to the ABA All-Defense Team. This showed how good he was at stopping opponents. In 1972, he was also chosen as an ABA All-Star.
Moving to the NBA
In 1976, the ABA and NBA leagues joined together. This was called the ABA–NBA merger. After the merger, Wil Jones was picked by the Indiana Pacers. He played two more seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
He played for the Indiana Pacers in 1976–1977. Then, he played for the Buffalo Braves in 1977–1978. He finished his professional basketball career in 1978.
Career Statistics
Throughout his career in both the ABA and NBA, Wil Jones achieved impressive stats:
- He scored a total of 8,482 points.
- He grabbed 5,560 rebounds.
- He made 1,446 assists.
A Family of Basketball Players
Wil Jones wasn't the only basketball player in his family. His three brothers also played in the NBA!
It's pretty cool that so many brothers from one family played professional basketball!
See also
In Spanish: Wil Jones para niños
