Jim Loscutoff
Encyclopedia
James Loscutoff Jr. is a former professional basketball
player for the NBA
's Boston Celtics
. A forward, Loscutoff played on seven Celtics championship
teams between 1956 and 1964.
Born in San Francisco, California
, Jim grew up as one the four children of James (Sr.) and Nellie Loscutoff. He starred in basketball at Palo Alto High School
, graduating in 1948. Loscutoff then attended Grant Technical College (which later became American River College
), a two-year college near Sacramento, California
before proceeding to the University of Oregon
.
Standing 6'5", Loscutoff was selected with the third non-territorial pick
of the first round in the 1955 NBA Draft
. In nine seasons from 1955 to 1964, he played forward and won seven championships as part of the legendary Celtics teams of the 1960s. He was originally drafted by coach Red Auerbach
to provide some much-needed defensive nerve for the Celtics team, which (despite becoming the first team to average 100 points per game in the 1954–55 season) had one of the worst defensive records in the league.
Loscutoff was described by one player as a hatchet-man, and his defense and strength were part of the defensive greatness of the 60s Celtics, alongside Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell.
Loscutoff's nicknames included "Jungle Jim" or "Loscy". The organization wished to honor Loscutoff, but he asked that his jersey number (18) not be retired so that a future Celtic could wear it. The number 18 was indeed worn by Dave Cowens
, and it was after his tenure and in honor of him that the number was retired. However, Loscutoff does have an honorary banner amongst the rafters in the TD Garden, along with the rest of the retired numbers—one displaying his nickname, "Loscy".
Today, Loscutoff lives between Florida and Andover, Massachusetts
, where his family owns a day camp for children.
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 for the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. A forward, Loscutoff played on seven Celtics championship
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
teams between 1956 and 1964.
Born in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, Jim grew up as one the four children of James (Sr.) and Nellie Loscutoff. He starred in basketball at Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto Senior High School, known locally as "Paly," was founded in 1898 and is one of the oldest high schools in the region. Located in Palo Alto, California, United States, Paly is nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, and is adjacent to Stanford University. Paly is known for its academically...
, graduating in 1948. Loscutoff then attended Grant Technical College (which later became American River College
American River College
American River College is a California community college located in the southern edge of unincorporated Foothill Farms in Sacramento County, California....
), a two-year college near Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
before proceeding to the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
.
Standing 6'5", Loscutoff was selected with the third non-territorial pick
Territorial pick
A territorial pick was a type of special draft choice used in the Basketball Association of America Draft in 1949 and in the National Basketball Association Draft after 1950, the year in which the BAA was renamed the NBA. In the draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college...
of the first round in the 1955 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...
. In nine seasons from 1955 to 1964, he played forward and won seven championships as part of the legendary Celtics teams of the 1960s. He was originally drafted by coach Red Auerbach
Red Auerbach
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Boston Celtics. After he retired from coaching, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death...
to provide some much-needed defensive nerve for the Celtics team, which (despite becoming the first team to average 100 points per game in the 1954–55 season) had one of the worst defensive records in the league.
Loscutoff's nicknames included "Jungle Jim" or "Loscy". The organization wished to honor Loscutoff, but he asked that his jersey number (18) not be retired so that a future Celtic could wear it. The number 18 was indeed worn by Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
, and it was after his tenure and in honor of him that the number was retired. However, Loscutoff does have an honorary banner amongst the rafters in the TD Garden, along with the rest of the retired numbers—one displaying his nickname, "Loscy".
Today, Loscutoff lives between Florida and Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
, where his family owns a day camp for children.