| Jim Tucker | |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 7 |
| Weight Lb: | 185 |
| Birth Date: | 11 December 1932 |
| Birth Place: | Paris, Kentucky |
| Death Place: | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Nationality: | American |
| High School: | Paris Western (Paris, Kentucky) |
| College: | Duquesne (1951–1954) |
| Draft Year: | 1954 |
| Draft Round: | 3 |
| Draft Pick: | 24 |
| Draft Team: | Syracuse Nationals |
| Career Start: | 1954 |
| Career End: | 1957 |
| Career Number: | 14, 17 |
| Career Position: | Power forward |
| Years1: | – |
| Team1: | Syracuse Nationals |
| Highlights: |
|
| Stat1label: | Points |
| Stat1value: | 407 (4.1 ppg) |
| Stat2label: | Rebounds |
| Stat2value: | 349 (3.5 rpg) |
| Stat3label: | Assists |
| Stat3value: | 52 (.5 apg) |
| Bbr: | tuckeji01 |
James D. Tucker (December 11, 1932 – May 14, 2020) was an American professional basketball player.
Tucker attended Paris Western High School in Paris, Kentucky.[1] 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. 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.[2]
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.[3]
Source[4]
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| † | Syracuse | 20 | 14.4 | .336 | .711 | 4.9 | .6 | 5.3 | |
| Syracuse | 70 | 12.8 | .348 | .795 | 3.3 | .5 | 3.8 | ||
| Syracuse | 9 | 13.2 | .386 | .000 | 2.2 | .0 | 3.9 | ||
| Career | 99 | 13.1 | .349 | .762 | 3.5 | .5 | 4.1 | ||
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955† | Syracuse | 9 | 6.6 | .296 | .889 | 1.7 | .1 | 2.7 | |
| 1956 | Syracuse | 6 | 12.0 | .382 | .750 | 4.2 | .3 | 5.3 | |
| Career | 15 | 8.7 | .344 | .824 | 2.7 | .2 | 3.7 | ||