Wali Jones
Encyclopedia
Walter "Wali" Jones is a retired American
professional basketball
player. He was a 6'2" (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) guard.
Jones played at Overbrook High School
in Philadelphia, the same school that had produced Wilt Chamberlain
a few years earlier. He played college ball at Villanova University
.
In his first NBA season, Jones played for the Baltimore Bullets
and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team
. The next season, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
where he would play for the next six years.
Jones and Hal Greer
were the starting guards on the 1966-67 76ers team that also featured Chamberlain, Chet Walker
, Lucious Jackson
and Billy Cunningham
. That team went 68-13 during the regular season, then easily won three playoff series in dethroning the eight-time defending NBA champion Boston Celtics
. Jones made the 76ers' starting lineup after Larry Costello
tore his Achilles tendon
on January 6, 1967.
Later, Jones played for the Baltimore Bullets
, Detroit Pistons
, Milwaukee Bucks
and Utah Stars
.
Jones' son Askia
is the third-leading scorer in Kansas State University
basketball history and played briefly in the NBA himself, with the Minnesota Timberwolves
.
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. He was a 6'2" (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) guard.
Jones played at Overbrook High School
Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
Overbrook High School is an inner-city, public, four-year secondary school in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-School:...
in Philadelphia, the same school that had produced Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
a few years earlier. He played college ball at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
.
In his first NBA season, Jones played for the Baltimore Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
. The next season, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
where he would play for the next six years.
Jones and Hal Greer
Hal Greer
Harold Everett Greer is a retired American professional basketball player.He attended Douglass Junior and Senior High School in Huntington. He played college basketball at Marshall University and was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals of the NBA in 1958...
were the starting guards on the 1966-67 76ers team that also featured Chamberlain, Chet Walker
Chet Walker
Chester "Chet" Walker is a former pro basketball player.Walker played high school basketball for the Benton Harbor High School boys basketball team. He graduated from Bradley University in 1962 as the school's all-time leading scorer. The Bradley Braves won the NIT Championship in 1957 and 1960...
, Lucious Jackson
Lucious Jackson
Lucious Brown "Luke" Jackson is a retired American professional basketball player.-Collegiate career:Born in San Marcos, Texas, Jackson played college basketball at Pan American College and was a member the U.S. Olympic basketball team that won the gold at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo...
and Billy Cunningham
Billy Cunningham
William John "Billy" Cunningham is an American former professional basketball player and coach, who was nicknamed the Kangaroo Kid.- Beginnings :...
. That team went 68-13 during the regular season, then easily won three playoff series in dethroning the eight-time defending NBA champion 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...
. Jones made the 76ers' starting lineup after Larry Costello
Larry Costello
Lawrence Ronald "Larry" Costello was an American professional basketball player and coach....
tore his Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
on January 6, 1967.
Later, Jones played for the Baltimore Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
and Utah Stars
Utah Stars
The Utah Stars was an American Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.Under head coach Bill Sharman the Stars were the first major professional basketball team to use a pre-game shootaround.-History:...
.
Jones' son Askia
Askia Jones
Askia Rahman Jones is an American professional basketball player. A 6'5" shooting guard, Jones was never drafted by a National Basketball Association team, but did manage to play in 11 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves.-Basketball career:A Kansas State University graduate, Jones left college...
is the third-leading scorer in Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
basketball history and played briefly in the NBA himself, with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
.
External links
- Wali Jones NBA statistics, basketballreference.com