Larry Jones (basketball)

Jones only started playing regularly for East High in Columbus, Ohio, during his senior year. As a 6'2 forward he wasn't considered big enough by major colleges and was recruited by the University of Toledo for whom he played in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) from 1960.{{refn|group=lower-alpha|name=Fresh|Freshmen were inelegible until 1972}}

He was repositioned as a guard by Toledo coach Ed Melvin and became a major player for the Rockets.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/8370107/ |title=Nobody wanted Jones who made Toledo a smash |last=Grayson |first=Harry |date=21 December 1963 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Frederick News-Post |agency=(NEA) |access-date=21 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

Jones was a unanimous selection in the 1962 All-MAC First Team chosen by the conference's coaches, having made the Second Team a year earlier.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100274303/ |title=One senior on All MAC Team |author= |date=10 March 1962 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Cincinnati Enquirer |agency=(UPI) |access-date=23 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

He injured his wrist in Toledo's season opener against Butler on 1 December 1962 after a heavy fall where he also hit his head. Jones, who scored 35 points in the game, managed to play the last five minutes of the game with what was thought to be a sprained wrist. It later emerged the wrist was fractured and he had to redshirt the rest of the 1962–63 season. His eligibility was then extended for another season.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106391851/ |title=College basketball |author= |date=6 December 1962 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Indianapolis Star |agency=(AP) |access-date=23 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

One year later, in December 1963, he helped Toledo score a "monumental upset" over New York University (at the time ranked second nationally). His coach Melvin described him as a "tremendous total player – rebounder, playmaker, scorer and defender" for his form that season after he averaged over 27 points the four previous games.

Jones, the Toledo captain and all-time second highest scorer, suffered a fractured knuckle on 13 January 1964 when he fell on ice after a practice. Before he could return from injury, he was suspended in early February for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/83303111/ |title=Toledo captain is suspended |author= |date=6 February 1964 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Logan Daily News |access-date=23 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

It later emerged that he had been involved in a paternity suit. However all charges were dropped, his name was cleared and he was reinstated in early March, allowing him to play the final two games of the season.{{cite web |url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=INR19640314-01.1.16 |title=Paternity suit against cage star dropped |author= |date=14 April 1964 |publisher=Indianapolis Recorder |agency=(ANP) |page= 11 |via=Texashistory.Library.In.gov |access-date=23 November 2017}}

He was an honorable mention All-American in the 1964 Newspaper Enterprise Association selection.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/17834065/ |title=All-America honors to Wichita cage ace |author= |date=4 March 1964 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Leavenworth Times |agency=(AP) |access-date=23 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

Jones was first drafted by the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers with a fifth round pick (43rd overall) in the 1963 NBA draft, however he played another college season instead of turning professional.(see College career).

He then re-entered the 1964 NBA draft where he was chosen in the third round (20th overall pick) by the Philadelphia 76ers.

During the 1964–65 season he was sent by the Sixers to the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) where he averaged 20 points per game. He was recalled to Philadelphia on 2 March 1965 due to injuries to backcourt players.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/60506603/ |title=Philadelphia |author= |date=2 March 1965 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Bridgeport Post |agency=(UPI) |access-date=22 November 2017}} {{subscription required}} At the end of an NBA season where he had averaged 5.7 points in 23 games, Jones was released.{{cite web |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2011/01/24/larry-jones-former-denver-rocket-guard/ |title=Larry Jones, former Denver Rocket guard |last=Moss |first=Irv |date=24 January 2011 |website=The Denver Post |access-date=22 November 2017}}

Following his release, Jones played from 1965 to 1967 in the EPBL, again with Wilkes-Barre. He was selected to the All-EPBL Second Team in 1966.{{cite web |title=Larry Jones minor league basketball statistics |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbasketball/stats/p-joneslar001 |website=Stats Crew |access-date=February 16, 2025}} He was part of the Baltimore Bullets pre-season squad but was released in October 1966 and returned to the Barons.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/28304351/ |title=Bullets cut squad, option two rookies |author= |date=14 October 1966 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Morning Herald |agency=(AP) |access-date=22 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

When the American Basketball Association was created in 1967, Jones called and wrote to every team in the league, the Denver Rockets were the only one to answer. He signed a $10,000 contract with the Rockets, the Eastern League disputed it and he had to stay in the team plane during his first game in Pittsburgh to avoid a subpoena.

Thanks to his excellent jump-shooting, Jones became a major player for Denver and the ABA in general, making three consecutive All-ABA First Teams from 1967 to 1970. He scored 30 points or more in 23 consecutive games during the 1968–69 ABA season. This included 52 points in a 133–123 win over the Houston Mavericks on 21 March 1969 which equalled his own club record. During this match he became the first ABA player to score over 2,000 points in a season.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/43103124/ |title=Larry repays fans for honoring him |author= |date=22 March 1969 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=High Point Enterprise |agency=(AP) |access-date=23 November 2017}} {{subscription required}} He finished the regular season with a league-leading 2,133 points as Denver lost in the playoffs first round to the Oakland Oaks.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1969/04/21/610390/a-roundup-of-the-sports-information-of-the-week |title=A roundup of the sports information of the week |author= |date=21 April 1969 |magazine=SI.com |access-date=23 November 2017}}

Jones reached 5,000 career ABA points on 15 January 1970, becoming the first player in the league to do so. He scored 23 points against the Dallas Chaparrals to reach the mark, including two free-throws at the end of the game to secure the win for Denver.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/3315744/ |title=Denver star tops 5,000-point mark |author= |date=16 January 1970 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Montana Standard |agency=(AP) |access-date=November 24, 2017}} {{subscription required}} During the 1969–70 season he averaged 24.9 points in the regular season and 26.6 during the playoffs as the Rockets lost in the West finals.

He was the top scorer of the 1970 ABA All-Star Game with 30 points, adding 6 rebounds and 5 assists. As the ABA Players' Association (ABAPA) President, Jones and the ABAPA threatened to sit out the game if the association was not recognized by ABA owners. They eventually arrived at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum at 1:39 pm, only twenty minutes before the game start.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/44709421/ |title=MVP Spencer, absolute marvel |last=Conard |first=Gene |date=26 January 1970 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Kokomo Tribune |access-date=24 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

Despite his tally, Jones was pipped to the All-Star Game MVP award (and assorted prizes such as a one-year Dodge Challenger lease) by Denver teammate Spencer Haywood.

This reflected Denver's payroll where Jones was replaced as the Rockets' highest-paid player by Haywood, a rookie, when he signed in 1969. In fact Haywood's $1.9 million contract (which included a $50,000 signing bonus) dwarfed Jones' $23,000 per year. Though Haywood left for the NBA after one season (as his contract deferred most of his salary for decades), Jones wasn't offered a revalued contract. He protested (once wearing a "railroad suit, claiming that was all he could afford") and obtained a trade to another team.{{cite book|author=Terry Pluto|title=Beyond Loose Balls: The short wild life of the American Basketball Association |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G_FAzZA07tUC&pg=PA200|year=1990|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-416540-61-8|pages=185, 200}}

Jones was traded to the Floridians in June 1970 when Denver sent him, Greg Wittman and a No. 2 draft pick to the Floridians in exchange for Don Sidle, Larry Cannon and a No. 1 draft pick.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/129543758/ |title=Floridians' Doyle backing up his words |last=Flowers |first=Jack |date=19 June 1970 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |access-date=22 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

His Denver career ended with averages of 25.4 points and 4.2 assists in 226 regular-season games and 25.1 points and 5.6 assists in 20 playoff games.

Jones joined the Floridians as they replaced their entire squad after finishing the 1969–70 season with a 23–61 record. Jones and teammate Mack Calvin contributed a 51.5 point average during the 1970–71 season which was the highest scoring backcourt ever in professional basketball.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1971/10/25/613503/east |title=East |author= |date=25 October 1971 |magazine=SI.com |access-date=23 November 2017}}

He averaged over 20 points for the Floridians over two seasons in which they reached the playoffs.

However the club struggled with attendances and the first round playoff loss to the Virginia Squires on 6 April 1972 was their final game.{{cite web |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-06-28/sports/8802080312_1_bagels-miami-floridians-team-player |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030934/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-06-28/sports/8802080312_1_bagels-miami-floridians-team-player |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |title=ABA Floridians had Bagels – but mostly lots of holes |last=Browne |first=Jeff |date=28 June 1988 |website=Sun-Sentinel |access-date=22 November 2017}}

The ABA bought the club and folded it, organising a dispersal draft in June where the four worst ABA teams had the first picks on Floridians and Pittsburgh Condors players. The Utah Stars selected Jones with the third pick.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/43814953/ |title=Finley buys Memphis as Pittsburgh franchise folds |last=Kale |first=Gary |date=14 June 1972 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Leader Times (Kittanning) |agency=(UPI) |access-date=22 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

Jones did not fit in at Utah, where he was the No. 4 guard as the team had many shooters and he was said to be weak on defense and team play. He left the team in December as he was exchanged for Bob Warren in a straight swap with the Dallas Chaparrals.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/147810295/ |title=Stars got "unbelievable deal" |author= |date=6 December 1972 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Pittsburgh Press |agency=(AP) |access-date=22 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

He reached 10,000 career ABA points during an 11 February 1973 game against the San Diego Conquistadors, becoming the fourth ABA player to reach the milestone during the season.{{refn|group=lower-alpha|name=Points|His NBA points were included in the tally}} He contributed a season-best 30 points, including a layup six seconds from time that helped claim an overtime 115–113 win for the Chaparrals.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/11096933/ |title=Larry Jones has 10,020 points |author= |date=12 February 1973 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=El Paso Herald-Post |access-date=22 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

At the end of the season Jones was placed on waivers by the Chaparrals and was not claimed by another club. It was speculated that his tenure of the head of the Players' Association discouraged clubs from signing the former all-time ABA scoring leader. He claimed no ABA team even called him to make a lower salary offer.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1973/12/10/618468/no-phooling-philly-is-phabulous |title=No phooling, Philly is phabulous |last=Carry |first=Peter |date=10 December 1973 |magazine=SI.com |access-date=23 November 2017}}

Having considered ending his professional career to finish a doctorate in counseling, Jones was offered a lifeline by Gene Shue, coach of his former NBA team Philadelphia, who signed him for the Sixers. The Sixers had finished the previous season with a 9–73 record, the worst in the history of the NBA. Hoping to prove those who considered him "over the hill" wrong, Jones contributed double figure scoring while starting eight of ten games between November and December as the Sixers won five times to reach a 9–15 record. This included 20 points in a 108–106 overtime win over the Houston Rockets and an NBA career-best 22 in a 20 November win over the Kansas City-Omaha Kings.

He finished the 1973–74 NBA season averaging 10 points per game, following which he was released by the Sixers in October 1974.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/17184516/ |title=Sixers cut former ABA star Jones |author= |date=15 October 1974 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Indiana Gazette |agency=(AP) |access-date=24 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

In November, he participated in the European Professional Basketball League draft with other free agents. He was signed by the Munich Eagles to both play for and coach the Germany-based club.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/11/20/archives/europe-basketball-holds-first-draft-new-european-league-holds.html |title=Europe basketball holds first draft |last=Eskenazi |first=Gerald |date=20 November 1974 |website=NYTimes.com |access-date=12 November 2017}}

He was one of the best players in the league, averaging 23 points (second best for the league) and a league-topping 7 assists per game when the season prematurely ended in March after 30 games.{{cite news |last=Maleval |first=Jean-Jacques |date=16 April 1975 |url=http://basketpassion.pagesperso-orange.fr/basket%20hebdo/l'Equipe%20basket%20hebdo%20N%2031.pdf#page=8 |title=Professionnalisme européen – Go home! |trans-title=European professionalism – Go home! |language=French |work=L'Équipe basket hebdomadaire |volume= 31 |pages= 8–9}}

Jones played one game for the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the renamed Eastern Basketball Association during the 1975–76 season.

After his first coaching experience in the European Professional Basketball League, Jones was hired by another former European coach, Herb Brown, when he joined the Detroit Pistons in 1976. He served as assistant coach with the Pistons for two NBA seasons, keeping his post when Brown was fired in 1977. He was not retained for the 1978–79 season after incoming coach Dick Vitale hired other assistants such as long-time friend Richie Adubato.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/98577961/ |title=Dick Vitale hires two helpers |author= |date=10 May 1978 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=Detroit Free Press |access-date=24 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

Jones was then the head coach of the Las Vegas Dealers of the Western Basketball Association during its inaugural 1978–79 season following which the unstable league folded.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1979/02/12/823358/taking-a-gamble-on-the-future-the-western-basketball-association-has-franchises-stretching-from-tucson-to-las-vegas-to-montana-its-a-last-chance-for-some-and-the-only-chance-for-other-nba-hopefuls--coaches-as-well-as-players |title=Taking a gamble on the future |last=Kirkpatrick |first=Curry |date=12 February 1979 |magazine=SI.com |access-date=23 November 2017}}

Jones next served as director of player personnel for the Women's Professional Basketball League until the league folded in 1981.

His following position was also in women's basketball, coaching his hometown team, the Columbus Minks, in the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA).{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/129025883/ |title=Cronets hope weights pay big dividends |author= |date=10 October 1979 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Des Moines Register |access-date=24 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/28/sports/sports-of-the-times-new-league-for-women.html |title=Sports of the times; new league for women |last=Vecsey|first=George|date=28 October 1984 |website=NYTimes.com |access-date=24 November 2017}}

The WABA played its only season from October to November 1984, its last game before folding was the All-Star Game on December 16 where Jones coached the All-Star team against champions Dallas Diamonds.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/109741887/ |title=WABA names All-Stars |author= |date=8 December 1984 |via=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Courier-Journal |agency=(AP) |access-date=24 November 2017}} {{subscription required}}

After his playing career, Jones worked as a state corrections official in Columbus.

Married with two daughters and one son, he conducts free summer basketball camps for youngsters in his hometown. He credits his high school coach Jackie Moore for helping him "go from a poor student to an honor student" and wants to follow his example in helping youths.

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

Source{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jonesla01.html|title=Larry Jones NBA stats|website=Basketball Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=6 April 2025}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"

|-

! Year

! Team

! GP

! GS

! MPG

! FG%

! 3P%

! FT%

! RPG

! APG

! SPG

! BPG

! PPG

|-

| style="text-align:left";|{{nbay|1964}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Philadelphia

| 23 || || 15.6 || .307 || || .712 || 2.5 || 1.7 || || || 5.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{abay|1967}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Denver (ABA)

| 76 || || 40.6 || .427 || .190 || .776 || 7.9 || 3.6 || || || 22.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{abay|1968}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Denver (ABA)

| 75 || || 40.6 || .465 || .240 || .778 || 6.6 || 3.4 || || || 28.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{abay|1969}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Denver (ABA)

| 75 || || 40.4 || .434 || .248 || .791 || 5.2 || 5.7 || || || 24.9

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{abay|1970}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Florida (ABA)

| 84 || || 43.0 || .467 || .363 || .802 || 5.4 || 4.6 || || || 24.3

|-

| style="text-align:left";|{{abay|1971}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Florida (ABA)

| 66 || || 34.2 || .531 || .300 || .804 || 4.7 || 3.2 || || || 17.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{abay|1972}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Utah (ABA)

| 27 || || 16.6 || .438 || .364 || .817 || 2.3 || 1.6 || || || 6.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{abay|1972|nolink=y}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Dallas (ABA)

| 53 || || 23.7 || .468 || .261 || .832 || 3.4 || 3.1 || || || 10.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1973}}

| style="text-align:left;"|Philadelphia

| 72 || 60 || 26.1 || .423 || || .838 || 2.6 || 3.2 || 1.2 || .3 || 10.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career (NBA)

| 95 || 60 || 23.5 || .400 || || .815 || 2.5 || 2.8 || 1.2 || .3 || 9.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career (ABA)

| 456 || || 36.7 || .459 || .277 || .791 || 5.4 || 3.9 || || || 21.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career (overall)

| 551 || 60|| 34.4 || .453 || .277 || .793 || 4.9 || 3.7 || 1.2 || .3 || 19.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|All-Star (ABA)

| 4 || 2 || 26.8 || .524 || .333 || .731 || 6.5 || 4.3 || || || 16.0

{{s-end}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:right;"

|-

! Year

! Team

! GP

! MPG

! FG%

! 3P%

! FT%

! RPG

! APG

! PPG

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1965

| style="text-align:left;"|Philadelphia

| 5 || 5.0 || .417 || || .636 || .8 || .4 || 3.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1968

| style="text-align:left;"|Denver (ABA)

| 1 || 41.0 || .600 || – || .625 || 4.0 || 4.0 || 29.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1969

| style="text-align:left;"|Denver (ABA)

| 7 || 40.3 || .358 || .375 || .724 || 7.7 || 4.6 || 22.0

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1970

| style="text-align:left;"|Denver (ABA)

| 12 || 44.6 || .546 || .250 || .871 || 5.3 || 6.3 || 26.6

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1971

| style="text-align:left;"|Florida (ABA)

| 6 || 36.0 || .395 || .250 || .917 || 4.2 || 6.2 || 17.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"|1972

| style="text-align:left;"|Florida (ABA)

| 4 || 28.8 || .342 || .000 || .824 || 3.3 || 2.3 || 10.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career (ABA)

| 30 || 39.6 || .454 || .270 || .819 || 5.3 || 5.3 || 21.5

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career (overall)

| 35 || 34.7 || .453 || .270 || .811 || 4.7 || 4.6 || 18.9

{{s-end}}

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Larry}}

Category:1942 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen

Category:20th-century American sportsmen

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Category:ABA All-Stars

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Germany

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Category:American men's basketball players

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Category:Expatriate basketball people in West Germany

Category:Forwards (basketball)

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Category:Los Angeles Lakers draft picks

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Category:Philadelphia 76ers players

Category:Toledo Rockets men's basketball players

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