Larry Jones, a former observatory of the East High School that was recruited by the University of Toledo and played eight seasons in the NBA and Aba, died on August 16 at the age of 83.
Larry Jones played in Aba for six years, two in NBA
Jones, an Inductee from 2011 in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame, spent his professional career in the ABA with the leading role for the Denver Rockets, Floridians, Utah Stars and Dallas Chaparrals.
He played two seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and ended his gaming career at the Munich Eagles in Germany in 1975 before he played one match for the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the Eastern Basketball Association in 1975-76.
In East High, Jones was a late bloomer as an attacker mentioned on 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. Later he changed positions to shooting guard at a collegial level.
Deepest participation in the family and friends of rocket legend Larry Jones for his recent death.
Larry was one of the best to ever set up a rocket uniform and played in the NBA & Aba for 10 years. #TEAR https://t.co/cmtxlmefl7
– Toledo men’s basketball (@toledo_mbb) August 21, 2025
During an appearance of 2024 on the “Be a baller” Podcast, Jones remembered that he was cut from the Varsity team of East several times before he improved his game in the summer prior to his senior season.
After a breakout senior season, he earned a fair to play for the University of Toledo. He played for the rockets and became an All-Mac First Team selection in 1962.
Per College Basketball ReferenceJones ended his collegial career with 1,315 points and 564 rebounds in 63 games in four seasons (1960-64), an average of 20.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting 46.1%.
Jones was generally selected by 76 people in 1964 Draft
Jones was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the fifth round of the NBA design of 1963, but returned to Toledo for his senior season. He was then selected by the 76 people in the third round of the 1964 design.
The Sixers admitted him to Wilkes Barre of the Eastern Professional Basketball League, and he on average 20 points per match in 1965 before he made his NBA debut for the 76ers as an injury replacement to end the season.
Jones then signed at Denver during the low season.
“Today players can pay cash for every car they want,” Jones said IRV Moss by The Denver Post In 2016. “My first contract with the rockets was for $ 10,000 and a $ 3,000 bonus. After the season I was able to buy new front tires for my car and new tires for the back of my car if we made the play -offs.”
His play -off check was reportedly worth $ 1500.
Jones received four ABA All-Star, three selections from All-ABA First-Team
During his second ABA season with the rockets, Jones had an average of 28.4 points per match and became the first ABA player to score 2,000 points in a season.
In the 1968-69 season, he established a competition record with 23 consecutive games that scored at least 30 points, according to Brian Hedger by The Columbus -Shipping.
Jones became a four-time ABA All-Star, triple All-ABA first-team striking, and was chosen as the first president of the ABA Players Association.
In 551 career ABA and NBA matches in the regular season, Jones had an average of 19.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 34.4 minutes per match while 45.3% of the floor shoot, 27.7% of deep and 79.3% with the fault line.
He was the first ABA player who reached 5,000 career points.
After his gaming career, Jones became an assistant coach for the Detroit pistons before taking a head coaching position with the Las Vegas dealers of the Western Basketball Association.
Jones also coached Franklin University for one season (1982-83) and joined the Women’s Professional Basketball League as director of player staff before taking a general manager/head coach function with the WPBL’s Columbus Minks in 1984.
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