| Jerry Graves | |
| Birth Date: | 12 September 1938 |
| Birth Place: | Lexington, Tennessee |
| Death Place: | Jackson, Tennessee |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 6 |
| Weight Lbs: | 190 |
| High School: | Lexington (Lexington, Tennessee) |
| College: | Mississippi State (1958–1961) |
| Draft Year: | 1961 |
| Draft Round: | 2 |
| Draft Pick: | 19 |
| Draft Team: | Chicago Packers |
| Career Position: | Forward |
| Highlights: |
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Jerry Lynn Graves (September 12, 1938 – February 7, 2021) was an American basketball player.[1] He was banned from the National Basketball Association (NBA) for his involvement in the 1961 college basketball point shaving scandal during his senior season playing for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.[2]
Graves played at Lexington High School in his hometown of Lexington, Tennessee, where he set a state record for points scored in a season with 1,156 during his senior year.[3] Graves played college basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs from 1958 to 1961 and was a two-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection.[4] He was voted "Mr. Mississippi State" as the university's most popular student in 1960 and led the Bulldogs to the SEC regular season championship in 1961.[5]
Graves was selected by the newly-formed Chicago Packers as the 19th overall pick in the 1961 NBA draft but elected to sign with the Chicago Majors of the American Basketball League (ABL).[6] On April 27, 1961, he was alleged to have been involved in a point shaving scandal during his senior season.[7] He refused the allegation and said he "played [his] best for Coach McCarthy in every game".[8] However, Graves admitted that he accepted $4,750 in bribes from gamblers who bet on Bulldogs games and paid him if he won.[9] He was expelled from Mississippi State University and banned from the NBA.[9]
Graves worked as a teacher, principal, coach and superintendent for 42 years.[3]