Jimmy Jones

James Jones (born January 1, 1945) is an American former professional basketball player who was a six-time All-Star in the American Basketball Association (ABA), one of only four players to be named an ABA All-Star six times in its nine-year history.

A 6'4" guard born in Tallulah, Louisiana, Jones attended Grambling State University.

He would play seven seasons for the New Orleans Buccaneers/Memphis Pros and Utah Stars. Playing with teammates Larry Brown and Doug Moe, the Buccaneers won the inaugural Western Division title in 1968.

He averaged 20 points in the 1968 ABA playoffs when the Buccaneers reached the ABA Finals, losing in seven games to the Pittsburgh Pipers. He scored 2,000 points in the 1968–69 ABA season, second only to Larry Jones as the first 2,000-point scorers in the ABA. Jones was one of the ABA's best players, averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds during his seven years in that league. As late as 1974, Jones was thought to be among if not the best guard in the league; Jones believed he was not among the best defensive players at his position but felt his size was comparable, reflecting as such in an interview:

I know my assets and liabilities. Like I don’t feel I’m in the top four defensive guard in the league. You’ve got guys like Mike Gale (New York), Al Smith (Denver), Fatty Taylor (Virginia), and Ted McClain (Carolina), who I feel are the top defensive guards. And I don’t feel that I’m the overpowering-type guard either.

But whenever I have the height advantage on another guard, I figure I can take advantage of him. It seems like it’s a lot harder to post guys the last two years. Teams are playing tougher defense and trying to help out more. We try to clear out a side, like we do in our guard ‘41’ play, and get into a good shooting area. You really don’t have to worry about posting them or jockeying for a layup. Any time you shoot a 15-footer on them, it’s like shooting a layup in the pros.

The 1974 ABA playoffs saw the Stars reach the Finals but they lost to the New York Nets in five games. Desiring a pay raise but playing for a team that was strapped for cash, Jones finally joined the Bullets franchise that year, appearing in three seasons.

In the 1975 NBA playoffs, he tore ligaments in his right knee that required surgery, which meant he missed the 1975 NBA Finals. By 1976, he had chronic knee problems.

He played three games of the season before retiring due to leg problems.

Personal life His son Mike became a coach in the NCAA. As of 2026, Jones worked for Amway and as an Uber driver. He is one of 23 surviving former ABA players still seeking financial compensation from the NBA (in 2022, the league committed to pay money to 99 other players from the ABA as "recognition payments" that had played in the NBA after the merger but were struggling to meet basic needs but not the 23 players like Jones due to them receiving NBA pensions). Jones receives a small NBA check from Legends of Basketball (a marketing company for numerous NBA/ABA/WNBA players).

ABA and NBA career statistics

BoldDenotes career highs

Regular season

Playoffs

Legacy Among the most underrated players of his day, Jones was once called "the most deserving ABA candidate remaining" of players from his ABA playing days to not currently be in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Of the four six-time ABA All-Stars, Jones is the only one not in the Hall as of 2025. In 2013, he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.