Jim Tucker (basketball)
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Paris, Kentucky, U.S.
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 11, 1932 Paris, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | May 14, 2020 (aged 87) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Paris Western (Paris, Kentucky) |
| College | Duquesne (1951–1954) |
| NBA draft | 1954: 3rd round, 24th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Syracuse Nationals |
| Playing career | 1954–1960 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Number | 14, 17 |
| Career history | |
| 1954–1957 | Syracuse Nationals |
| 1954–1955 | Wilkes-Barre Barons |
| 1954–1955 | Hazleton Pros |
| 1958–1959 | Allentown Jets |
| 1958–1959 | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1959–1960 | Easton Madisons |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 407 (4.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 349 (3.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 52 (.5 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
James D. Tucker (December 11, 1932 – May 14, 2020) was an American professional basketball player.
Tucker attended Paris Western High School in Paris, Kentucky.[1] A 6' 7" forward from Duquesne University, Tucker played three seasons (1954–1957) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Syracuse Nationals. He averaged 4.1 points per game in his career and won a league championship in 1955.
Tucker and teammate Earl Lloyd were also the first two African Americans to play on an NBA championship team.[2]
After the NBA he played with the Harlem Magicians.[3] He played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) for the Allentown Jets, Baltimore Bullets and the Easton Madisons from 1958 to 1960.[4] Tucker won an EPBL championship with the Madisons in 1960.[5]
In 2018, a short documentary titled "Let 'Em Know You're There" told the story of Jim's professional basketball career and eventual battle with Alzheimer's disease. The documentary won a 2019 Mid-Atlantic Emmy.
Tucker died on May 14, 2020, from complications from Alzheimer's disease at age 87.[6]