Jim McDaniels

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Jim McDaniels
Allen County
(Scottsville, Kentucky)
CollegeWestern Kentucky (1968–1971)
NBA draft1971: 2nd round, 23rd overall pick
Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics
Playing career1971–1978
PositionPower forward / center
Number1, 44, 11, 45
Career history
1971–1972Carolina Cougars
1972–1974Seattle SuperSonics
1974–1975Udinese
1975–1976Los Angeles Lakers
1976Kentucky Colonels
1977–1978Buffalo Braves
Career highlights and awards
Career ABA and NBA statistics
Points
2,698 (10.0 ppg)
Rebounds1,748 (6.5 rpg)
Assists288 (1.1 apg)
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com

James Ronald McDaniels (April 2, 1948–September 6, 2017) was an American professional basketball player. He played collegiately for

better source needed
]

High school and college careers

McDaniels at WKU.

A 6'11"

NCAA later voided Western Kentucky's participation in the tournament, accusing McDaniels of signing with an agent while still in college.) He also set WKU school records with 2,238 career points (now tied with Courtney Lee) and 1,118 career rebounds.[3][4]

McDaniels' Western Kentucky University jersey, #44, was retired by his alma mater in January 2000.[4]

Professional career

Citing "informed sources",

American Basketball Association Draft,[citation needed] and was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the 1971 NBA draft.[6]

In any case, McDaniels began his professional career with the Carolina Cougars of the American Basketball Association, who offered him a $1.35 million contract to be paid over 25 years; the Cougars are reported to have first approached McDaniels during November 1970, while he was still playing for Western Kentucky.[citation needed] McDaniels averaged 26.8 points and 14 rebounds in 58 games with the Cougars during the 1971–72 season, and scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the 1972 ABA All-Star Game.[1]

However, he parted ways with the Cougars after trying to renegotiate his contract; according to a lawsuit filed by the Cougars (as reported by

SuperSonics had signed McDaniels on February 17 (1972),[7] that is, near the end of his rookie season;[citation needed] a Cougars' spokesman commented that "he 'wouldn't be too surprised if [the Cougars yet] remedied the situation'".[7]

McDaniels remained with Seattle for the next two full seasons.

better source needed] However, he struggled to maintain the same level of production he had achieved in the ABA,[citation needed] and by the 1973–74 NBA season, McDaniels was averaging just 5.5 points per game.[8] During that time, McDaniels was dogged by off-court troubles as the Cougars questioned the legality of his jump to the NBA. He later admitted in an interview, "I should have stayed in the ABA for a couple of years. I was just young and things started going bad for me there and I didn't know how to handle them."[4]

SuperSonics coach and general manager

Snaidero Udine of Italy.[10] He decided to retire from basketball in 1978.[citation needed
]

Personal life

McDaniels was a native of Scottsville, Kentucky and attended Allen County High School.[3] At the time of his death, McDaniels was married to his wife Carolyn; he was survived by two sons from previous marriages, Eskias and Shannon.[11]

McDaniels died in Bowling Green, Kentucky at the age of 69, due to complications from diabetes.[12][11]

Cultural relevance

The 1971

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team was the first non-historically black, Kentucky collegiate basketball team to start five African-American players. Coach John Oldham started McDaniels, Jim Rose, Clarence Glover, Jerry Dunn and Rex Bailey. McDaniels had helped recruit Rose and the others after signing at WKU. Oldham was pressured not to start all five together, but said "they are my best five players."[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Basketball-Reference.com Staff (March 7, 2024). "1972 ABA All-Star Game / East 142, West 115". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "Mr. Kentucky Basketball History". mrandmisskybasketball.com. December 16, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Thamel, Pete (March 27, 2008). "Recalling Forward Thinking at Western Kentucky". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Hilltopper Haven Staff & McDaniels, Jim (January 4, 2000). "[Jim McDaniels arrived on the Hill...]". HillTopperHaven.com. Archived from the original (interview) on March 3, 2001.
  5. ^ Jet [Sports] Staff (February 1971). "College Star Denies He Signed $350,000 Pro Pact". Jet (Magazine). [Vol.] 39 (21): 50. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "1971 NBA Draft". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c The New York Times Staff (February 18, 1973). "McDaniels Signed by NBA's Sonics". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Basketball-Reference.com Staff (March 7, 2024). "Jim McDaniels [James Ronald McDaniels (Big Mac)]". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  9. ^ Anderson, Dave (March 5, 1974). "Bill Russell's Complete Authority" (PDF). The New York Times. p. 39. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  10. ^ Goldaper, Sam (October 4, 1977). "O'Brien Rules on Free Agent" (PDF). The New York Times. p. 50. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Slotnik, Daniel E. (September 8, 2017). "Jim McDaniels, 69, Dies; Led Western Kentucky to Final Four". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  12. ^ Stephens, Brad (September 6, 2017). "Hilltopper Basketball Legend McDaniels Dies at 69". The Daily News. Bowling Green, KY: BGDailyNews.com. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Pratt, Elliott (April 2, 2014). "Standing Alone: WKU's 1971 Final Four Team Remains in a League of Its Own". College Heights Herald. Bowling Green, KY: College Heights Herald. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
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