Sports and Torts: Hall of Famer Sam Jones Part 1

Sports and Torts: Hall of Famer Sam Jones Part 2

Sam Jones

Jones was born on June 24, 1933 in Wilmington, NC. He played basketball in high school at Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. He starred for four seasons at North Carolina Central University. He posted his best stats as a sophomore and senior, averaging 18.9 points and 10.3 rebounds and 18.6 and 10.7, respectively. He finished with 1,770 points and was a three-time all-conference selection. His college career was spread over six seasons because of his military commitment. ones was drafted with the eighth overall pick of the 1957 draft by the Boston Celtics. He contemplated becoming a high school teacher, before deciding to join the Celtics as a reserve shooting guard.

As a little-used rookie, he averaged 4.6 points while playing behind Boston legends Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy. A season later, he increased his scoring average to 10.7 points per game.

Sharman got injured during the 1960-61 season, thrusting Jones into the starting lineup where he took advantage of the increase in playing time, averaging 14.8 points per game.

Called \"Mr. Clutch\", he began to cement his reputation during the 1961-62 season. He averaged 18.4 points, was selected to the All-Star Game and hit a clutch shot in the East finals over Philadelphia\'s Wilt Chamberlain with two seconds left that lifted Boston to the NBA Finals. In Game 7 of the Finals against the Lakers, he scored five of Boston\'s 10 points in overtime as the Celtics rolled to their fourth straight NBA title.

Relying on his bank shot, he averaged at least 19 points from 1962-68, including a career-high 25.9 during the 1964-65 season.

The Celtics won 10 NBA titles in Jones\' 12 seasons. Only Bill Russell (11) has more championship rings as a player.

He finished his career with 15,411 points (17.7 per game), 4,305 rebounds and 2,209 assists. After retiring, Jones stayed busy, serving as the athletic director and coach at Federal City College in Washington DC. He also coached at North Carolina Central University and as an assistant with the New Orleans Jazz.

He has done some scouting for the Celtics and television commentary for college basketball games.

Sam\'s Career Stats