James Bernett (Jim) Chones

• Position: Center/Foward
• Height: 6'11“
• Weight: 220 lbs.
• Birthdate: November 30, 1949
• Hometown: Racine, WI
• High School: Park/St. Catherine's H.S.

Jim scored 1,073 points during his high school career, including 630 as a senior, under legendary coach John McGuire at Racine St. Catherine's High School. Chones was the leading scorer in the 1969 WISAA state tournament with 94 points, leading St. Catherine's to a state title and an undefeated 26-0 record.

• UPI Player of the Year
• AP & UPI All-State
• Named to the First Team of the Journal Sentinel's All-Time Wisconsin Boys High School Basketball Team

Jim Chones, a consensus Associated Press, Converse and UPI All-American in 1972, amassed 952 points and 583 rebounds during his 50-game Marquette playing career. Considered by many the most complete big man in the country entering his junior season, Chones ranks among Marquette’s all-time leaders in scoring average (19.0 ppg), rebounding average (11.7 rpg), and field-goal percentage (54.7 percent). In 1971, he helped lead Marquette to a 28-1 record and berth in the NCAA Tournament. The following season Chones led Marquette to a perfect 21-0 start by averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds before being selected in the first round of the 1972 ABA Draft by the New York Knicks. Inducted into Marquette's Hall of Fame in 2004 and sponsored by Louis Maier.

• 26th, Rebounds (583)

• 3rd, Scoring Average (19)
• 3rd, Field Goal Percentage (min. 500 att.) (54.7%)
• 4th, Rebounding Average (11.7)

• 8th, Scoring Average (20.5)
• 9th, Field Goals Made (230)
• 2nd, Field Goal Percentage (min. 250 att.) (57.4%)
• 9th, Field Goal Percentage (min. 250 att.) (51.6%)
• 8th, Rebounds (333)
• 9th, Rebounding Average (11.9)

• 5th, Scoring Average (20.5)
• 7th, Field Goal Percentage (min. 250 att.) (51.6%)
• 5th, Rebounding Average (11.9)

• 3rd, Points (520)
• 4th, Scoring Average (17.9)
• 1st, Field Goals Made (230)
• 5th, Field Goals Attempted (401)
• 2nd, Field Goal Percentage (min. 250 att.) (57.4%)
• 2nd, Rebounds (333)
• 3rd, Rebounding Average (11.4)

• 1971-72 AP All-American
• 1971-72 UPI All-American
• 1971-72 Chuck Taylor Converse All-American

By the time Chones was drafted by the Lakers in the 1973 Draft, he'd already been playing in the ABA for the New York Nets. At the time, the NBA had rules about drafting underclassmen that did not apply in the ABA. While he could not be drafted by the NBA, he could play in the ABA.

Chones played for the ABA's Nets (1972-73) and Carolina Cougars (1973-74).

He eventually did go to the NBA - in 1974 with the Cleveland Cavaliers - and went on to enjoy a 10-year NBA career with Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Bullets. He won an NBA Championship in 1980 as a member of the Lakers.

He was inducted into the Cleveland Sports Commission Hall of Fame in 2006.

Jim Chones' NBA Stats

Jim's daughter, Kareeda Chones, played for the Marquette women's basketball team.

Another daughter, Kaayla, starred collegiately for the North Carolina State Lady Wolfpack basketball team. She has played for the WNBA's Washington Mystics, Seattle Storm, and Los Angeles Sparks. For the past four seasons, Kaayla has been playing overseas for teams in Hungary, Spain, France, and Italy. Kaayla's WNBA Career Stats

Chones also has triplet sons: Kendall, a former Colgate standout, is in his first year of playing professional basketball for Hertener Loewen in the German Bundesliga (Kendall's Colgate bio); Kyle, also a former Colgate player, is waiting to be placed on a European hoops team (Chones Gang Makes Colgate Dangrous); and Kameron, a former Brown University player, is now a financial consultant with Smith/Barney Financials in Cleveland Ohio (Kameron's Brown U. bio).

He has his own website: http://jameschones.com/

Choneses Keeping Up Tradition, USA Today, 2/5/2005