Hall of Fame

James "Jimmy" Jones

  • Class
  • Induction
    2013
  • Sport(s)
    Men's Basketball
  • Grambling State
Early Life & College Career
  • Jimmy Jones was born on January 1, 1945, in Tallulah, Louisiana.
  • He attended McCall High School in Tallulah before playing college basketball at Grambling State from roughly 1963–1967.
  • At Grambling, he played guard/forward (listed at 6 ft 4 in height, ~188 lbs.).  
  • He distinguished himself enough at Grambling to become a top prospect.
Professional Career Highlights
  • Jones was selected in the 1967 NBA Draft by the Baltimore Bullets in Round 2, pick 13.
  • He opted instead to join the then-new American Basketball Association (ABA) with the New Orleans Buccaneers, where he made an immediate impact.
  • His ABA/NBA career spanned from 1967 to 1977.
  • Major accolades:
    • 6× ABA All-Star (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974).
    • 3× All-ABA First Team (1969, 1973, 1974).
    • ABA All-Rookie First Team (1968).
    • Named to the ABA All-Time Team.
  • Career statistics (ABA + NBA combined):
    • Points: 11,366 (˜16.3 ppg)
    • Rebounds: ~2,930 (˜4.6 rpg)
    • Assists: ~3,069 (˜4.5 apg)