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 Jones (born February 27, 1947) is an American former professional basketball player. He was known for playing as a forward. Wil Jones played college basketball for the Albany State Golden Rams.
Contents
Wil Jones: A Basketball Journey
Wil Jones was born in McGehee, Arkansas. He grew to be 6 feet 8 inches tall. This height was a great advantage in basketball.
College Basketball Star
Wil Jones played college basketball at Albany State University. He was a standout player there. In the 1968–69 season, he was named a "Little All-American" by UPI. This was a big honor for a college player. His team, the Albany State Golden Rams, won their conference title three years in a row.
Joining the Pros
After college, Wil Jones was chosen by two different professional basketball leagues. The Los Angeles Lakers picked him in the 1969 NBA Draft. At the same time, the Miami Floridians picked him in the 1969 ABA Draft. He decided to start his professional career in the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Playing in the ABA
Wil Jones played for seven seasons in the ABA. From 1969 to 1976, he was a key player for several teams. He played for the Miami Floridians, the Memphis Pros/Tams, and the Kentucky Colonels.
His time with the Kentucky Colonels was very successful. In 1975, he helped the Colonels win the ABA Championship. This was a major achievement for him and his team. He was also named to the 1975 ABA All-Defense Team. This showed he was one of the best defensive players in the league.
Moving to the NBA
In 1976, the ABA and NBA joined together. This was called the ABA–NBA merger. After the merger, Wil Jones was chosen by the Indiana Pacers in a special draft for ABA players. He then played two seasons in the NBA. He played for the Indiana Pacers and the Buffalo Braves from 1976 to 1978.
Career Highlights and Stats
Throughout his professional career in both the ABA and NBA, Wil Jones achieved impressive stats. He scored a total of 8,482 points. He also grabbed 5,560 rebounds. Plus, he made 1,446 assists for his teammates. These numbers show he was a well-rounded player.
A Family of Basketball Players
Wil Jones comes from a family of talented basketball players. His brothers, Caldwell Jones, Charles Jones, and Major Jones, all played in the NBA too. It's rare to have so many brothers play professional basketball!
See also
In Spanish: Wil Jones para niños
