K. C. Jones

American basketball player and coach

K. C. Jones (May 25, 1932 – December 25, 2020) was an American basketball player and coach. He is best known for his career with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[1]

K. C. Jones
Jones, circa 1964
Personal information
Born(1932-05-25)May 25, 1932
Taylor, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 25, 2020(2020-12-25) (aged 88)
Connecticut, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolCommerce (San Francisco, California)
CollegeSan Francisco (1952–1956)
NBA draft1956 / Round: 2 / Pick: 13th overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Playing career1958–1967
PositionPoint guard
Number27, 25
Coaching career1967–1998
Career history
As player:
19581967Boston Celtics
As coach:
1967–1970Brandeis University
1970–1971Harvard (assistant)
1971–1972Los Angeles Lakers (assistant)
1972–1973San Diego Conquistadors
19731976Capital / Washington Bullets
1976–1977Milwaukee Bucks (assistant)
19781983Boston Celtics (assistant)
19831988Boston Celtics
1989–1990Seattle SuperSonics (assistant)
19901992Seattle SuperSonics
1994–1995Detroit Pistons (assistant)
1996–1997Boston Celtics (assistant)
1997–1998New England Blizzard
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As assistant coach:

As coach:

Career statistics
Points5,011 (7.4 ppg)
Rebounds2,399 (3.5 rpg)
Assists2,908 (4.3 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the United States United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1956 Melbourne Team competition

He is the only African-American non-player head coach to win multiple NBA championships.[2] Jones was added into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989.

Jones died on December 25, 2020 at an assisted living center from Alzheimer's disease-related problems in Connecticut, aged 88.[3]

References

change
  1. NBA Legends profile: K.C. Jones
  2. "Throwback Thursday: K.C. Jones". The Starting Five. 2008-02-14. Archived from the original on 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
  3. Goldstein, Richard (December 25, 2020), "K.C. Jones, Celtics Standout as Player and Coach, Dies at 88", The New York Times