Professional Basketball Player and Coach. He was a college teammate of Bill Russell's at the University of San Francisco, and he joined him in going to the Boston Celtics. His first eight seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) ended with a Celtics championship, and his playmaking and defense were major reasons why. Only Celtics teammates Russell and Sam Jones have more rings as a player in NBA history. Add in his NCAA championships at San Francisco and gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics, and Jones is one of only seven players to win the so-called "Triple Crown," per the Celtics. After his playing days, he went on to another decorated career as a coach. He won a championship as an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972, then served as head coach of the San Diego Conquistadors in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and later the Washington Bullets. He ended up back with the Celtics as an assistant in 1978, then took over the big job in Boston. He would lead the Larry Bird-era Celtics to two championships in 1984 and 1986, making the NBA Finals in four of his five years as head coach. He announced his surprise retirement in 1988, but did not stay away from the court for long. He spent a year in the Celtics' front office before taking an assistant coaching job with the Seattle Supersonics, then the head coaching job. Add up Jones' eight rings as a player, two as a head coach and two as an assistant, and only Red Auerbach (16) and Phil Jackson (13) have more combined championships. He and Russell remain the only Black head coaches to win multiple NBA championships. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989.
Professional Basketball Player and Coach. He was a college teammate of Bill Russell's at the University of San Francisco, and he joined him in going to the Boston Celtics. His first eight seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) ended with a Celtics championship, and his playmaking and defense were major reasons why. Only Celtics teammates Russell and Sam Jones have more rings as a player in NBA history. Add in his NCAA championships at San Francisco and gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics, and Jones is one of only seven players to win the so-called "Triple Crown," per the Celtics. After his playing days, he went on to another decorated career as a coach. He won a championship as an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972, then served as head coach of the San Diego Conquistadors in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and later the Washington Bullets. He ended up back with the Celtics as an assistant in 1978, then took over the big job in Boston. He would lead the Larry Bird-era Celtics to two championships in 1984 and 1986, making the NBA Finals in four of his five years as head coach. He announced his surprise retirement in 1988, but did not stay away from the court for long. He spent a year in the Celtics' front office before taking an assistant coaching job with the Seattle Supersonics, then the head coaching job. Add up Jones' eight rings as a player, two as a head coach and two as an assistant, and only Red Auerbach (16) and Phil Jackson (13) have more combined championships. He and Russell remain the only Black head coaches to win multiple NBA championships. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989.
Bio by: Glendora
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