Interview with Sam Jones, NBA Legend

"Coach" Chuck Hatcher will interview Sam Jones, one of the 50 greatest players in basketball history. Born June 24, 1933, Wilmington, NC. At 6-foot-4, Sam Jones was the prototype of the tall guard. One of the NBA's first "big" guards, the 6'4" Jones moved easily, gliding to openings on the court for his signature shot or for long two-handed set shots. He also liked to take smaller players inside and shoot hook shots over them. He wasn't flashy, but he was coldly efficient and one of the best clutch players in NBA history. He could run the floor, bang the boards and his rangy offensive game caused fits in his opponents. As a collegian, Jones was an offensive firehouse scoring 1,770 points while playing for Hall of Fame coach John McLendon at all-black North Carolina Central College. His scoring aptitude continued and as a pro he averaged over seventeen points a game. One of the "Jones Boys" of Boston, Sam teamed with K.C. in the Celtics backcourt to create havoc in NBA arenas around the country. Jones favored an unorthodox but highly effective bank shot that became the muscle behind his and Boston's ten NBA championships, including eight in a row from 1959 to 1966. Career Highlights: Enshrined: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Hall 1984; NBA championship with Boston Celtics, 1959-66, 68-69; NBA All-Star, 1962, 1964-66, 1968; All-NBA Second-Team, 1965-67; NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, 1996.