NBA legend gets ultimate honor from his HBCU

An NBA legend and athletic pioneer is getting the ultimate honor from his HBCU. Former Boston Celtics great Sam Jones is set to receive a sculpture of his likeness from North Carolina Central, according to a report from HBCU Gameday. The sculpture, created by Douglas Aja, will be unveiled in a ceremony at McDougald-McLendon Arena and will remain on display there.

Sam Jones, who passed away on December 30, 2021, was a standout for North Carolina Central, then known as North Carolina College. He was a three-time All-CIAA selection and scored 1,745 points in his 10-year career with the institution. He served in the United States Army and returned for his final season in the 1956-1957 campaign. Although he was drafted to the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1956 NBA draft, he opted to return to North Carolina College after his stint in the Army.

He was then drafted with the eighth overall pick in the 1957 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. With the Celtics, he flourished, winning 10 NBA championships alongside Bill Russell and coach Red Auerbach. He earned five NBA All-Star selections and was a three-time All-NBA second-team performer. He has also been named to the NBA anniversary team three times, most recently making the NBA Top 75 players list.

He averaged 17.7 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in his career and scored 15,411 points.  He retired in 1969 and ultimately moved into coaching. His first coaching stop was at HBCU Federal City College, now known as the University of the District of Columbia, from 1969 to 1973. He eventually returned to lead his alma mater. He returned to the NBA via the coaching ranks in the 1974-75 season, joining the New Orleans Jazz staff as an assistant.

The post NBA legend gets ultimate honor from his HBCU appeared first on ClutchPoints.