Jim Tucker (basketball)
James D. Tucker (December 11, 1932 – May 14, 2020) was an American professional basketball player.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 11, 1932 Paris, Kentucky |
| Died | May 14, 2020 (aged 87) Jacksonville, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| 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 / Round: 3 / Pick: 24th overall |
| Selected by the Syracuse Nationals | |
| Playing career | 1954–1957 |
| Position | Power forward |
| Number | 14, 17 |
| Career history | |
| 1954–1957 | Syracuse Nationals |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 407 |
| Rebounds | 349 |
| Assists | 52 |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
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. In his second season, he was known for recording the fastest triple-double in league at the time, completing the feat in 17 minutes of action. The record would not be beaten until 2018, when Nikola Jokić would break that record in 14 minutes and 33 seconds of playing time. 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.[1]
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.[2]
References
- Paul Kuharsky. "Pioneer Lived Out His Hoop Dreams". Black Athlete Sports Network.
- Rohrbach, Ben (May 19, 2020). "Remembering Jim Tucker, the trailblazing NBA champion who died at age 87". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 20, 2020.