NBA Legend Celebrates Hall of Fame Induction for Incredible Christ-Based Reason
Across a 12-year professional basketball career that included stops for the Denver Nuggets (both the NBA and ABA iterations) and the Philadelphia 76ers, Bobby Jones established himself as a premier pest and absolute nuisance of a player.
And that is meant as the ultimate compliment.
Jones — who averaged a relatively meager 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game across his NBA and ABA career — was a renowned defensive player whose hustle and effort was the stuff of legend.
Better yet, Jones was a consummate gentleman while plying his craft as a defensive ace. There was no jersey-grabbing, tripping, shoving or any number of other dirty tricks of the trade that some of the NBA’s better defenders are known for.
Despite a sparkling résumé that included an NBA championship in 1983, four All-Star berths, a whopping eight NBA All-Defensive First Team appearances and the league’s inaugural Sixth Man of the Year award, it still took Jones almost 30 years to make the Hall of Fame.
Bobby Jones is going to the @hoophall!
Check out our three-part series that made the convincing case for his inclusion. #HereTheyCome
Part 1 – Defense: https://t.co/X0cYL3ywYW
Part 2 – Offense: https://t.co/Pj6wZchkrW
Part 3 – Clutch Play: https://t.co/BxbDWxIQC9 pic.twitter.com/8t51SPLbtS— Sixers History (@SixersHistory) April 7, 2019
As Jones explained, that was no problem for the humble star.
“I got a letter from the basketball hall of fame, about a month and a half ago,” Jones told The Charlotte Observer, before shrugging. “I’m a finalist again.”
Jones spoke to The Observer on April 1, just days before the 2019 class of the Basketball Hall of Fame was officially announced on April 6.
“There are two ends of it,” Jones explained. “I’m not really a publicity-type person, so that is a negative.”
Unlike many of today’s professional athletes who seem more obsessed with their personal brand than actually winning, Jones never sought the spotlight. He let his play do all of the branding he needed. Jones did, however, acknowledge that despite not wanting much attention, there was an incredible upside to making the Hall of Fame.
“But as a Christian, that would increase my platform to share my faith. That would certainly outweigh anything else. So it’s a great honor, and it’d be great to have,” he said.
That is as humble and awesome of a reason for wanting to make the Hall of Fame as any. And, obviously, Jones was inducted as part of the class of 2019 alongside some other luminaries such as Vlade Divac, Jack Sikma and Sidney Moncrief.
Introducing the #19HoopClass!
Al Attles
Carl Braun
Chuck Cooper
Vlade Divac
Bill Fitch
Bobby Jones
Sidney Moncrief
Jack Sikma
Teresa Weatherspoon
Paul Westphal
Wayland Baptist Flying Queens
Tennessee A&I (1957-59) pic.twitter.com/URStZc6U0j— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2019
After officially making it? Jones remained as humble and thankful for his faith as ever.
“Basketball has given me a lot,” Jones said with a chuckle in an interview at the 2019 Hall of Fame Announcement. “As a Christian, it’s given me a platform to share my faith. It’s given me a chance to coach and to influence young people. It’s given me friends, a great living. It’s just been everything in my life.”
Some NBA players want to make the Hall of Fame for personal glory. Jones wanted to make the Hall of Fame so he could spread the word of his Lord.
That is awesome.
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