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Bobby Jones Enters Naismith Hall Of Fame
September 5, 2019 | Men's Basketball
Jones is the seventh former UNC player and 11th Tar Heel overall to be elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame, joining Ben Carnevale (1970), Frank McGuire (1977), Dean Smith (1983), Billy Cunningham (1986), Bob McAdoo (2000), Larry Brown (2002), James Worthy (2003), Roy Williams (2007), Michael Jordan (2009) and Charlie Scott (2018).
Our new long-form pod about one of the rarest players of his generation.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 6, 2019
Bobby Jones
A Hall of Fame Story
#19HoopClass | @Hoophall
🎧 https://t.co/2fhEx1RfLk pic.twitter.com/8NI7KD5Sbg
Beloved by teammates, respected by opponents.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 6, 2019
Bobby Jones
A Hall of Fame Story
#19HoopClass | @Hoophall
🎧 https://t.co/h9l0G7eoWt pic.twitter.com/T713etrttO
The Charlotte native (South Mecklenburg High School) earned first-team All-America and All-ACC honors in 1974, when he starred in UNC's famous comeback win against Duke as the Tar Heels rallied for eight points in the final 17 seconds to send the game to overtime. Jones scored four of UNC's eight points to tie the game and finished with 24 points in UNC's 96-92 victory. Earlier that season, he stole an inbounds pass and hit a layup at the buzzer to beat the Blue Devils in Durham, 73-71.
As we prepare for Bobby Jones' @hoophall induction on Friday, the @Sixers History Press kindly provides you some reading material on Jones' superlative career.
— Sixers History (@SixersHistory) September 4, 2019
First up, the Defensive Brilliance of Bobby Jones: https://t.co/iTX4DBdKNS
Jones set an ACC single-season record in 1972 by shooting 66.8 percent from the floor, one of three seasons in which he led the league in field goal percentage. He is one of two players in ACC history (and the most recent) to lead the conference in field goal percentage in three consecutive seasons.
He made the 1972 U.S. Olympic team as a sophomore. The U.S. team lost a controversial game for the gold medal against the Soviet Union in Munich, Germany.
Jones began his professional career in the ABA with the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets joined the NBA in his third season (1976-77). He was an ABA all-star in 1976, an NBA all-star with Denver in 1977, and an NBA all-star as a Philadelphia 76er three times, in 1978, 1981 and 1982.
One of the classiest to wear the jersey 🙌 pic.twitter.com/O5GbG25ok1
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 3, 2019
Jones made 10 consecutive first-team all-defensive teams – in 1975 and 1976 in the ABA and 1977-84 in the NBA. He was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 1983, when he teamed with Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney and Mo Cheeks to beat the L.A. Lakers for the NBA championship. He averaged 12 points in the 76ers' four-game sweep in the 1983 NBA Finals and had 13 points and four steals in Game 4 to clinch the title.
Jones played for fellow UNC Hall of Famers Larry Brown in Denver and Billy Cunningham with the 76ers.
5x #NBAAllStar, All-Defensive first team for his first 10 seasons and 1983 inaugural winner of the Sixth Man of the Year Award & Champion... Bobby Jones will be inducted into @Hoophall this Friday (9/6)!
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) September 3, 2019
🏀: #19HoopClass Enshrinement
⏰: 7:30pm/et
📺: @NBATV pic.twitter.com/kioUh5UHV3
He twice led the ABA in field goal percentage and led the NBA in field goal percentage in 1978. He holds the ABA's career field goal percentage record at 59.2 percent.
His No. 24 is retired by the 76ers. Jones is one of six players whom the 76ers have honored with statues in front of the team's practice facility in Camden, N.J., along with Wilt Chamberlain, Erving, Cunningham, Cheeks and Hal Greer. Jones' statue depicts him diving for a loose ball.
Mighty dapper in that @Hoophall 💧. #19HoopClass pic.twitter.com/wLoAV04uZy
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) September 6, 2019