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Laker From The Past: Jim Chones

Written by Ezra - TP&G Blog | 04 September 2011

As part of our "lockout relief" efforts, The Purple And Gold Blog will be profiling some of the past Laker role players that made made an impact on the team one way or another. This is Part 3 of the series.

JimChones
JIM CHONES
Position: Center/Power Forward
Height: 6' 11"
Weight: 220 lbs.
Jersey Number: 9
College: Marquette University

Seasons with Lakers: 1979-81
Averages as a Laker: 49.6% FG / 0% 3Pts. / 69.7% FTs / 10.7 PPG / 7.45 RPG / 1.85 AST / 0.6 STL / 1 BLK / 2 TO / 3.25 PF
Chones and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finally became teammates for 2 years after battling each other since Jim started playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1974. They made up the "twin tower" effect for the Lakers from 1979 to 1981 resulting in an NBA championship in 1980. Well actually, a rookie named Earvin "Magic" Johnson really had more to do with it when he replaced the injured Kareem at center in Game 6 of the Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers.


The Lakers actually drafted Chones in the 1973 draft as their 2nd-Round (13th /31st overall) pick before getting sent to Cleveland. Needing more size and more scoring punch in the starting lineup after the departure of Adrian Dantley, the Lakers traded for Chones in exchange for Dave Robisch and a future draft pick to the Cavs.

Although a bit of a hack machine (averaged at least 3 fouls per game), Jim was a solid big who can score and rebound. A broken foot injury in 1976 eventually slowed him down a little but not before posting his best overall numbers the following season with 15 points and 10.3 rebounds per game as a Cavalier.

Chones spent 3 years at Marquette before being the 2nd player ever to leave college early for the NBA. Interestingly enough, he joined the first player who left school early, Spencer Haywood, when he got traded to the Lakers.

After retiring in 1982, Chones did a lot of broadcasting and hosting for FoxSports, CBS Sports and ESPN. He's also the founder of The Phoenix Component, which is a non-profit organization in the Greater Cleveland area benefiting under-privileged kids.

He's currently a blogger and a color commentator for college basketball games at ESPN.