James Bailey (basketball)
Encyclopedia
James L. "Jammin' James" Bailey (born May 21, 1957 in Dublin, Georgia
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player. A 6' 9" forward/center
from Rutgers University
, he was selected with the 6th pick of the 1979 NBA Draft
by the Seattle SuperSonics
. He spent 9 seasons (1979–1988) in the NBA, playing for the Sonics as well as the New Jersey Nets
, Houston Rockets
, New York Knicks
, and Phoenix Suns
. He ended his NBA career with 5,246 total points.
While at Rutgers, Bailey was a formidable player, displaying a strong inside presence in addition to possessing great leaping ability. He was famous for his conversion of "alley oop" passes into slam dunks. The rule allowing dunking was re-instituted in college basketball beginning with the 1976-77 season, Bailey's sophomore year. Bailey's slam dunks were an immediate sensation at Rutgers, and Bailey led the team with 88 dunks as a sophomore. He increased this number to 116 as a junior. However, as a senior, he was met with constant double and triple teaming, and Rutgers' opponents "held" him to 79 dunks as a senior.
The Scarlet Knights advanced to the NCAA basketball final four in 1976, Bailey's freshman year, arriving with a 31-0 record. However, they were defeated by Michigan in the national semi finals, and then lost to UCLA in the 3rd place (consolation) game.
Bailey is number three on the Rutgers all-time scoring list (2,034 points), and second in career rebounds behind Phil Sellers
(1,047). He is also the second leading shot-blocker in Rutgers history behind Roy Hinson
.
Bailey went on to capture All-America honors from UPI and The Sporting News in 1978.
Bailey's #20 jersey was retired by Rutgers in 1993, and he was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame in the same year.
Dublin, Georgia
Dublin is a city in Laurens County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 16,201. The city is the county seat of Laurens County.-History:The original settlement was named after the city Dublin, Ireland....
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 6' 9" forward/center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, he was selected with the 6th pick of the 1979 NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
by the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. He spent 9 seasons (1979–1988) in the NBA, playing for the Sonics as well as the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
. He ended his NBA career with 5,246 total points.
While at Rutgers, Bailey was a formidable player, displaying a strong inside presence in addition to possessing great leaping ability. He was famous for his conversion of "alley oop" passes into slam dunks. The rule allowing dunking was re-instituted in college basketball beginning with the 1976-77 season, Bailey's sophomore year. Bailey's slam dunks were an immediate sensation at Rutgers, and Bailey led the team with 88 dunks as a sophomore. He increased this number to 116 as a junior. However, as a senior, he was met with constant double and triple teaming, and Rutgers' opponents "held" him to 79 dunks as a senior.
The Scarlet Knights advanced to the NCAA basketball final four in 1976, Bailey's freshman year, arriving with a 31-0 record. However, they were defeated by Michigan in the national semi finals, and then lost to UCLA in the 3rd place (consolation) game.
Bailey is number three on the Rutgers all-time scoring list (2,034 points), and second in career rebounds behind Phil Sellers
Phil Sellers
Phillip "Phil" Sellers, Jr. is an American former professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA.-Early life:...
(1,047). He is also the second leading shot-blocker in Rutgers history behind Roy Hinson
Roy Hinson
Roy Hinson is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1st round of the 1983 NBA Draft. Hinson attended Franklin H.S. in Franklin Township, New Jersey. He then spent his college career at Rutgers University in nearby New Brunswick, NJ...
.
Bailey went on to capture All-America honors from UPI and The Sporting News in 1978.
Bailey's #20 jersey was retired by Rutgers in 1993, and he was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame in the same year.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
External links
- James Bailey at basketball-reference.com