Sam Jones, an NBA legend who helped build the Boston Celtics dynasty will be permanently honored at the HBCU where his basketball journey took shape.
North Carolina Central will unveil a sculpture honoring the late Sam Jones, a 10-time NBA champion and one of the greatest players in league history, prior to the Eagles’ men’s basketball game against South Carolina State.
Family members and friends of Jones, along with university officials, will participate in the ceremony at McDougald-McLendon Arena. The sculpture measures 30 inches tall and 22 inches wide and was created by award-winning Vermont-based artist Douglas Aja.
Following the unveiling, the sculpture will remain on display inside the arena as a permanent tribute to Jones and his impact on North Carolina Central basketball.
Sam Jones built his legacy at North Carolina Central
Long before becoming synonymous with the Boston Celtics, Sam Jones starred at North Carolina Central from 1951-54 and again during the 1956-57 season.
Jones finished his collegiate career with 1,745 points, which remains second on the program’s all-time scoring list. He averaged 17.8 points per game across 98 contests while playing under legendary coaches John McLendon and Floyd Brown.
The Wilmington, North Carolina, native was selected eighth overall by Boston in the first round of the 1957 NBA Draft.
Making history with the Boston Celtics
That selection launched one of the most decorated careers in NBA history.
Jones spent all 12 seasons of his professional career with the Celtics, winning 10 NBA championships. He was selected to five NBA All-Star Games and earned three All-NBA Second Team honors.
Known as “Mr. Clutch,” Jones finished his NBA career with 15,411 points, 4,305 rebounds and 2,209 assists over 871 games.
HBCU legend earned basketball’s highest honors
The impact of Sam Jones extended far beyond championships.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Central Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984. He also earned induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame and the CIAA Hall of Fame.
The former HBCU star was selected to the NBA’s 25th Anniversary All-Time Team and the league’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Shortly before his death in December 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Jones also received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2015, one of North Carolina’s highest civilian honors.
Now, generations of North Carolina Central students, athletes and fans will have another permanent reminder of the man whose journey from an HBCU campus ultimately helped shape one of the greatest dynasties in Boston Celtics and NBA history.