Steve Jones (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Howard "Snapper" Jones (born October 17, 1942, in Alexandria, Louisiana
) is one of the most esteemed and watched National Basketball Association
(NBA) television analysts.
, where he led Franklin High School
to the state basketball championship in 1959. He went on to a standout career at the University of Oregon
, pacing the Ducks in scoring during the 1963-64 season.
Jones earned all-star honors during eight seasons in the American Basketball Association
where he averaged 16.0 points while scoring over 10,000 points in 640 games. Jones played for the Oakland Oaks
(1967–68), New Orleans Buccaneers
(1968–1970), Memphis Pros
(1970–71), Dallas Chaparrals
(1971–1973), Carolina Cougars
(1973–1974), Denver Rockets (1974) and Spirits of St. Louis
(1974–1975). Jones was a three time ABA All Star, shot 34% from three point range and never in his career had a technical foul called against him.
Jones then jumped leagues and finished his professional playing career with the NBA Portland Trail Blazers
in 1975-76
.
(the season after he retired as a player with the Portland Trail Blazers), when he became a color commentator for CBS. He was part of the network's crew that handled the Blazers championship game against the Philadelphia 76ers
. He also served as color analyst for the Blazers that year. Jones' other broadcasting credits include stints with TNT
, TBS, USA Network
and the Denver Nuggets
. Snapper joined NBC
shortly after the network obtained the rights to telecast NBA games prior to the 1990-91 season.
After serving as an analyst on The NBA on NBC
for 13 years, Jones now works in that same position for NBA TV
.
One of Jones' career highlights was his assignment as basketball analyst with Chick Hearn
and Jim Durham
in Barcelona
, as part of the NBC coverage of men's basketball during the 1992 Olympic Games
. In that capacity he worked the equivalent of almost one-half of an NBA season, 36 games, in just two weeks.
When he worked at NBC, Jones was typically paired up with former NBA teammate Bill Walton
for NBA games due to the point-counterpoint style of banter between the two. He gained notoriety while announcing with Bill Walton for reining in his verbose outbursts, often responding to Walton's sometimes sensational statements with phrases such as "Bill, you can't be serious..." Though they typically argued and disagreed during games, the two have a mutual respect for each other and remain good friends. They reunited on Bill Walton's short lived TV show Bill Walton's Long Strange Trip.
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
) is one of the most esteemed and watched National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) television analysts.
Basketball career
Jones is from Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, where he led Franklin High School
Franklin High School (Oregon)
Benjamin Franklin High School is a public high school in Portland, Oregon, United States. Franklin is located in central southeast Portland in the South Tabor neighborhood, at the foot of Mt. Tabor.-History:...
to the state basketball championship in 1959. He went on to a standout career at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, pacing the Ducks in scoring during the 1963-64 season.
Jones earned all-star honors during eight seasons in the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
where he averaged 16.0 points while scoring over 10,000 points in 640 games. Jones played for the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (ABA)
The Oakland Oaks were a charter member of the original American Basketball Association. Formed in February 1967 as the Oakland Americans, the team changed its name to the Oaks prior to play that fall. Playing in the ABA during the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons, the team colors were green and gold.The...
(1967–68), New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers
New Orleans Buccaneers was a charter member of the American Basketball Association. After three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana the franchise moved to Memphis, Tennessee where it became the Pros, Tams and Sounds for four years before an abortive move to Baltimore in 1975.-Origins:With the...
(1968–1970), Memphis Pros
Memphis Pros
Memphis Pros were an American Basketball Association team during the 1970-1971 and 1971-1972 seasons.-Origins:The New Orleans Buccaneers were a charter member of the ABA and played for three seasons, 1967-1970, winning the Western Division championship in 1969...
(1970–71), Dallas Chaparrals
Dallas Chaparrals
The Dallas Chaparrals were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, later becoming the San Antonio Spurs and joining the NBA.The team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in Dallas...
(1971–1973), Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars
Carolina Cougars was a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association that existed from late 1969 through 1974. The Cougars were originally a charter member of the ABA as the Houston Mavericks in 1967. The Mavericks moved to North Carolina in late 1969 after two unsuccessful...
(1973–1974), Denver Rockets (1974) and Spirits of St. Louis
Spirits of St. Louis
The Spirits of St. Louis were one of two teams still in existence at the end of the American Basketball Association that did not survive the ABA-NBA merger. They were a member of the ABA in its last two seasons, 1974–75 and 1975–76, while playing their home games at the St...
(1974–1975). Jones was a three time ABA All Star, shot 34% from three point range and never in his career had a technical foul called against him.
Jones then jumped leagues and finished his professional playing career with the NBA 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 1975-76
1975-76 NBA season
The 1975–76 NBA season was the 30th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Phoenix Suns 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
.
Broadcasting career
Jones' broadcasting career began in 19761976-77 NBA season
The 1976–77 NBA season was the 31st season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Portland Trail Blazers winning the NBA Championship, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
(the season after he retired as a player with the Portland Trail Blazers), when he became a color commentator for CBS. He was part of the network's crew that handled the Blazers championship game against the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
. He also served as color analyst for the Blazers that year. Jones' other broadcasting credits include stints with TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
, TBS, USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
and the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. Snapper joined NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
shortly after the network obtained the rights to telecast NBA games prior to the 1990-91 season.
After serving as an analyst on The NBA on NBC
The NBA on NBC
NBA on NBC was a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association games on the National Broadcasting Company television network from 1955 to 1962, and again from 1990 to 2002. The NBA on NBC succeeded the NBA on CBS...
for 13 years, Jones now works in that same position for NBA TV
NBA TV
NBA TV is a television specialty channel that is dedicated to showcasing the sport of basketball in the United States. The network is financially backed by the National Basketball Association , which also uses NBA TV as a way of advertising their out of market package NBA League Pass, and partner...
.
One of Jones' career highlights was his assignment as basketball analyst with Chick Hearn
Chick Hearn
Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn was an American sportscaster. Known primarily as the long-time play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, the legendary Hearn is remembered for his rapid fire, staccato broadcasting style, inventing colorful phrases such...
and Jim Durham
Jim Durham
Jim Durham is an American sportscaster.Since 1995, he has called numerous National Basketball Association games for ESPN and ESPN Radio. Durham has spent more than 32 years calling NBA games on TV and radio; his previous assignments were with the Chicago Bulls, the Dallas Mavericks, TNT and TBS...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, as part of the NBC coverage of men's basketball during the 1992 Olympic Games
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. In that capacity he worked the equivalent of almost one-half of an NBA season, 36 games, in just two weeks.
When he worked at NBC, Jones was typically paired up with former NBA teammate Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
for NBA games due to the point-counterpoint style of banter between the two. He gained notoriety while announcing with Bill Walton for reining in his verbose outbursts, often responding to Walton's sometimes sensational statements with phrases such as "Bill, you can't be serious..." Though they typically argued and disagreed during games, the two have a mutual respect for each other and remain good friends. They reunited on Bill Walton's short lived TV show Bill Walton's Long Strange Trip.
External links
- NBA stats @ basketballreference.com
- RememberTheABA.com Steve Jones page and statistics