Jim Paxson
Encyclopedia
James Joseph "Jim" Paxson (born July 9, 1957 in Kettering, Ohio
) is an American retired professional basketball player. A first round selection (12th overall) of the Portland Trail Blazers
in the 1979 NBA Draft
, Paxson played for the Portland and the Boston Celtics
of the NBA from 1979-1990 and was twice an All-Star. Paxson served as general manager
of the Cleveland Cavaliers
for six years and now works as a consultant with the Chicago Bulls
where his brother John Paxson
is an executive.
, played college basketball at the University of Dayton
. When the older Paxson tried out for the Dayton Flyers
, he couldn't afford to buy athletic shoes, so athletic director Thomas Frericks loaned him a pair. Paxson was a three-time team MVP and earned All-America
honors as a senior after averaging more than 23 points per game. He also averaged 17 points as a junior and 18 points as a sophomore at Dayton.
. He was promoted to general manager in 1999, serving in that position until he was fired in April 2005. The Cavaliers won 185 games and lost 307 games in the six years Paxson was general manager.
In July 2006, Paxson, the older brother of former Chicago Bulls
guard and current Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President of basketball operations John Paxson
, was hired as a consultant for the Bulls. Paxson was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
in 1998. In 2004, he was named to the University of Dayton's All-Century Team.
Kettering, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,502 people, 25,657 households, and 15,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,077.4 people per square mile . There were 26,936 housing units at an average density of 1,441.6 per square mile...
) is an American retired professional basketball player. A first round selection (12th overall) of the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
in the 1979 NBA Draft
1979 NBA Draft
The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
, Paxson played for the Portland and the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
of the NBA from 1979-1990 and was twice an All-Star. Paxson served as general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
for six years and now works as a consultant with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
where his brother John Paxson
John Paxson
John MacBeth Paxson is a retired American basketball player. He is currently the VP of Basketball Operations of the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls.-High school career:...
is an executive.
Pre-NBA
Paxson, a guard-forward and the son of former NBA player Jim Paxson, Sr.Jim Paxson, Sr.
James Edward Paxson is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'6" guard/forward, 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...
, played college basketball at the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
. When the older Paxson tried out for the Dayton Flyers
Dayton Flyers men's basketball
The Dayton Flyers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Ten Conference representing the University of Dayton. They are known for a rivalry with Xavier University, playing for the Blackburn/McCafferty Trophy each year.-History:The...
, he couldn't afford to buy athletic shoes, so athletic director Thomas Frericks loaned him a pair. Paxson was a three-time team MVP and earned All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
honors as a senior after averaging more than 23 points per game. He also averaged 17 points as a junior and 18 points as a sophomore at Dayton.
Career
The 6-foot-6 Paxson was an NBA All-Star in 1983 and 1984. He also earned All-NBA Second Team honors in 1984 after averaging 21 points per game. He spent nine seasons with Portland (1979-1988) and, after being traded to Boston in February 1988, spent two full seasons with Boston (1988-1990). When he was traded from Portland, he left as the team's all-time leading scorer.Post-playing career
After retiring in 1990 at the age of 32, Paxson joined Portland's front office as assistant general manager. In September 1998, he was named vice president of basketball operations for the Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
. He was promoted to general manager in 1999, serving in that position until he was fired in April 2005. The Cavaliers won 185 games and lost 307 games in the six years Paxson was general manager.
In July 2006, Paxson, the older brother of former Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
guard and current Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President of basketball operations John Paxson
John Paxson
John MacBeth Paxson is a retired American basketball player. He is currently the VP of Basketball Operations of the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls.-High school career:...
, was hired as a consultant for the Bulls. Paxson was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 1998. In 2004, he was named to the University of Dayton's All-Century Team.
External links
- Jim Paxson at NBA.com
- NBA stats @ basketballreference.com
- A Family Tradition - Sports Illustrated