Jim Paxson Sr. Explained

Jim Paxson Sr.
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lb:200
Birth Date:19 December 1932
Birth Place:Pennville, Indiana
Death Place:Dayton, Ohio
Nationality:American
High School:Catholic Central
(Springfield, Ohio)
College:Dayton (1951–1953, 1955–1956)
Draft Year:1956
Draft Round:1
Draft Pick:3
Draft Team:Minneapolis Lakers
Career Start:1956
Career End:1958
Career Number:11
Career Position:Shooting guard / small forward
Team1:Minneapolis Lakers
Team2:Cincinnati Royals
Stats League:NBA
Stat1label:Points
Stat1value:1,105 (8.0 ppg)
Stat2label:Rebounds
Stat2value:616 (4.5 rpg)
Stat3label:Assists
Stat3value:225 (1.6 apg)

James Edward Paxson Sr. (December 19, 1932 – October 28, 2014) was an American professional basketball player.

A 6'6" swingman, Paxson attended the University of Dayton during the mid-1950s, averaging 10.9 points per game in his collegiate career. He helped the Flyers attain two consecutive second-place finishes in the National Invitation Tournament.[1] After his sophomore year, Paxson Sr. was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He spent two years in the Army and played with the Armed Forced All-Stars who won the Pan-Am games in Mexico in 1955 before returning for his final season in 1955–56. He averaged 15.5 points per game as a senior as the Flyers went 25-4 and lost to Louisville in the NIT championship game. [6] After graduating in 1956, he was selected by the Minneapolis Lakers with the third pick of the NBA draft, then played two seasons in the NBA with the Lakers and Cincinnati Royals.[2] When his basketball career ended, he entered the insurance business.[3]

Paxson's sons Jim and John both played in the NBA and have also served as NBA general managers. His son Michael played collegiately at Ohio University for one year.[4]

Paxson died on October 28, 2014. He was 81.[5]

Career statistics

NBA

Source[2]

Regular season

YearTeamGPMPGFG%FT%RPGAPGPPG
Minneapolis71 17.9 .285 .720 3.7 1.2 6.3
Cincinnati67 26.8 .352 .733 5.2 2.1 9.8
Career138 22.2 .323 .727 4.5 1.6 8.0

Playoffs

YearTeamGPMPGFG%FT%RPGAPGPPG
Minneapolis5 10.8 .333 .500 2.8 .6 5.0
Cincinnati2 15.0 .150 .750 4.0 2.5 6.0
Career7 12.0 .255 .591 3.1 1.1 5.3

Notes and References

  1. http://daytonflyers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/paxsonsr_jim00.html Player Bio: Jim Paxson Sr
  2. Web site: Jim Paxson NBA statistics. Basketball Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. 8 November 2023.
  3. Bob Ryan. "Paxson Sr like the chemistry". Boston Globe. May 1, 1988. 79.
  4. Bruce Newman. "A Family Tradition." Sports Illustrated. March 21, 1983. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
  5. http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/ohio-basketball-legend-jim-paxson-sr-dies-at-81-102814 Ohio basketball legend Jim Paxson Sr. dies at 81