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Boston Celtics: 25 Best Players To Play For The Celtics

By Phil Watson

Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – CIRCA 1965: Sam Jones #24 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball up court against the Philadelphia 76ers during an NBA basketball game circa 1965 at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jones played for the Celtics from 1957-69. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – CIRCA 1965: Sam Jones #24 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball up court against the Philadelphia 76ers during an NBA basketball game circa 1965 at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jones played for the Celtics from 1957-69. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

18. <strong> How Acquired: </strong>8th overall pick from North Carolina Central, 1957 NBA Draft. SG-SF-PG. 1957-69. Sam Jones. 13. player

Sam Jones wasn’t a typical NBA prospect in the late 1950s. Starring at North Carolina Central, where he averaged 18.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game as a senior, didn’t exactly trust a player into the spotlight.

But Red Auerbach had a hunch and the Boston Celtics took Jones with the eighth overall pick in the 1957 NBA Draft.

BOS_13_JONES
BOS_13_JONES /

It took Jones a bit of time to find his niche, but he was a rotational player at small forward for a couple of seasons before taking over the starting shooting guard spot in 1960.

It was the start of a big thing. Jones became a five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection, finishing fourth in the MVP voting in 1964-65 and fifth in 1965-66.

Jones finished fifth in the NBA in scoring in both 1964-65 and 1965-66.

He was also part of 10 championship teams in Boston, averaging 17.9 points in his 11 NBA Finals appearances.

Jones remained with the Celtics his entire career, retiring after the 1968-69 season.

In 12 seasons in Boston, Jones averaged 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.9 minutes per game, shooting 45.6 percent from the floor and 80.3 percent from the foul line.

Jones spent one season as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Jazz and was head coach at North Carolina Central in 1973-74.

Jones was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984.

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