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Basketball legend, Larry Jones, will be remembered for his impact and commitment to mentoring the next generation. Larry was committed to his wife, family, friends, his church, and the community. He always had a kind word and would light up a room with his endless tensing jokes. will truly be missed. His story isn't just about basketball—it's about building a legacy of positive influence, the kind that resonates long after the final buzzer. Listen in and be moved by the spirit of a baller who made his mark, both on and off the court. Enjoy the rebroadcast of episode.
Larry shares with us tales from his ABA and NBA heydays, and the profound role his faith, family, and community played in his rise to stardom. Larry's narrative is as captivating as it is inspiring; from a late bloomer on the church basketball team to making waves in the pro leagues, his story is a testament to the power of belief and perseverance. Tune in and be moved by the spirit of a baller who continues to make his mark, both on and off the court.
He takes us through his decision to play for the Denver Rockets over the LA Lakers and reveals the fierce advocacy for player rights that led him to a presidency in the ABA Players Association.
We navigate through the thrilling world of ABA basketball, where Larry Jones became a household name, and his astonishing 23-game 30 point scoring streak left fans and future players alike in awe. His anecdotes are filled with the tension and triumph of a professional athlete, including a memorable standoff with a general manager that solidified his reputation as a man of intelligence and integrity. Larry's leadership extended beyond the court, setting the stage for the modern era of player empowerment and equity.
As Larry reflects on his impact and commitment to mentoring the next generation, we're reminded that a true baller's influence isn't confined to the hardwood. His touching tales from a standout all-star game performance and his strategic shift to the Philadelphia 76ers round out an illustrious career. But it's his role as a founder of a yearly summer basketball camp, substitute teacher, shaping young minds, that truly showcases the breadth of Larry's legacy.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
You know, when I look back, no, coming up as a young
person myself, you know it'salmost like you try to pay back
and I look at it.
Maybe I could say something.
Talking to kids could make adifference in their life.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome to Be A Baller Podcast where we discuss
how to build a lifelong legacy.
I'm your host, coach Tim BrownToday.
I'm excited to have in thestudio with me Columbus Ohio
native and American BasketballAssociation ABA Trailblazer and
former NBA player, larry Jones.
Today on the show, larry willshare his experience of playing
(00:41):
in both the ABA and NBA.
Shares experience of playing inboth the ABA and NBA.
Currently, larry is committedto mentoring young people
through his annual basketballcamp and involvement in the
community.
Larry, welcome to Be A Ballerpodcast.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Thank you for letting me be a part of your day.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, I'm just so excited to have you in here.
I've been waiting to get you inhere.
I was telling you I was teasingyou.
I got 10 pages of notes here,you know.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
I'm ready.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Are they good notes?
Oh, they're good notes, bro.
I got it all.
I got all the T's they say aswe begin this podcast.
I know you're a man of faith.
I know faith has been yourfoundation.
As we begin, can you talk tothe audience about how your
faith has helped you achieve thesuccess you've had in life?
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Well, I've always believed in the Lord and when I
look back at my traveling alongthe way you know I was a late
bloomer in basketball but when Istart thinking about how I got
to where I am today, as far asmy achievement playing
basketball I played for thechurch basketball team coming up
(01:44):
, I remember trying out for abasketball team in junior high
school and I got cut.
But a lot of the young guys inmy church brought me around them
and I played with the churchteam.
Church has always been a pillarin my life.
You know, when I talk to peopleabout my life coming up and you
(02:06):
say what kept you going in alot of ways and I said in a
physical realm it was my motherI said been in the spiritual
realm.
God has always been a specialpart of my life.
And when I think back as Imoved through high school and
college, when I was in college,I never can remember missing
(02:31):
going to church at any home game.
I always went to church andit's always.
God has always been importantto my life.
When everything is going bad, Iknow God is there covering me
and I just feel like I've beenblessed along the way and I know
it's not me, but God has lookedover my life, my family and so
(02:54):
forth.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Hey there Clark Kellogg here.
Building a legacy usuallyinvolves meeting the unique
needs of others and being partof something bigger than
yourself.
That's why I love FirstMerchants Bank.
First Merchants believes thathelping communities prosper
means more than just providingbanking services.
It means offering accessiblefinancial education, expanded
access to homeownership andpartnerships with local
(03:17):
nonprofits to help raise upneighborhoods and lift families
out of financial hardship.
For resources and toolsavailable to you, visit
wwwfirstmerchantscom.
Member.
Fpic Equal Housing Lender.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
You know you started playing regularly at East High
School during your senior year.
You know that's quite a story.
How did you become such a goodbasketball player and receive a
scholarship after only oneseason of high school basketball
?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Well, I got to back up a little bit with that piece.
Okay, I remember I went toChampion Junior High School.
I remember going out for thebasketball team as a seventh
grader.
I got cut.
As an eighth grader I got cutand as a ninth grader I made the
team and never played a game.
So now I graduated fromChampion Junior High School Now
(04:07):
I'm enrolling at East HighSchool had a serious history of
great basketball.
So as a 10th grader I went outfor the basketball team and I
made the reserve team play verylittle.
As an 11th grader I went outfor the varsity team.
I played in one game and seemedlike, and when I went from 11th
(04:31):
grade to the 12th grade thatsummer the light came on, or the
lord showed me a you can dothis.
And I went from nobody choosingme unless it was my turn to
choose.
I didn't get a chance to playand all of a sudden, when I went
back to school as a senior, Imean I was killing everybody.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, I was reading in your bio about your high
school coach, coach Moore, coachJackie Moore, and how the most
important thing you said abouthim he helped you go from a poor
student to an honor student.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
You know, when I was in high school, they used to
take grades each week in termsof whether you can play or not.
And in the early part of myhigh school career, in the
classroom I wasn't knocking thedoor down, doing a good job.
And as I went back as a senior,I mean, and the basketball
(05:26):
happened to be what I was doingwell, at that time I got focused
in the fact of doing better inthe classroom and I went from
being maybe a CD student to as asenior, I was making the honor
rail and it basically was basedon the coach, you know,
encouraging me to do better inthe classroom with the idea it
would provide anotheropportunity for me to go to
(05:47):
school.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
This podcast will be released during June, which is
Ground Fathers Day.
Can you talk about some of themen growing up who had an impact
on your life in the communityteachers, coaches, elders?
Speaker 1 (06:02):
No, when I was coming up it was amazing.
I used to play at Beatty Center, play outside Maryland Park,
and I had a lot of fathers spendtime with kids back in the day.
You know kids were morerespectful.
And a lot of coaches, a lot ofthe men that coached some of the
young guys, they wereencouraging.
(06:23):
And I can remember playing fora particular coach.
His name was Toe Morrison.
He used to have us travel Onteams and we used to play
throughout the city over some ofthe rec center and the boys
club.
And when I think back, I thinkabout some coaches and some
(06:45):
older guys.
A lot of older guys used to puttheir arm around some younger
guys, because I remember playingfor a coach and they had an
adult older guys it was calledthe Wildcats older guys.
Then they had the little guys,which I was, and a lot of the
older guys used to try toencourage the little guys,
(07:06):
younger guys, to play.
But a lot of and the thing Inever talked about this, but my
mother was I mean, my mother wasa baller, okay, my mother
played basketball and I rememberI used to go shoot baskets and
she would be out there shootingbaskets with me and most of the
guys that knew my father used tosay my mother was a better
(07:26):
athlete than my dad.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, you had a.
From that you received ascholarship to play at the
University of Toledo and you hada great story career there.
Then you had a uniqueexperience at the opportunity to
play in the ABA when it wasfirst formed.
You had a great career.
You were a four-time ABAAll-Star, three-time All-ABA
First Team.
(07:49):
But here's the uniqueexperience.
Talk about that uniqueexperience of how you even got
in the league.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, first, when I came out of school, I was
drafted by the Sixers, so Iplayed with the Sixers for a
year and eventually the nextyear I went back.
I didn't make the team.
Then they had what they calledback then the Eastern League,
which was a semi-pro league, andback then they played on the
weekend and a lot of guys wouldmake probably maybe $200 or $300
(08:20):
just playing on the weekendbasketball and they had regular
jobs.
Eventually they start talkingabout starting the ABA.
There were probably about maybeeight or nine teams in the
Eastern League, but when theystarted the ABA for me I had
played in the Eastern League fortwo years and played quite well
(08:41):
and interesting.
Most people don't know if youfollow basketball history when
you look at Bob Love, who was agreat player with Chicago, paul
Salas, who played in the NBA andalso a coach, but a lot of guys
came out of the Eastern Leaguewhen the ABA started.
So what I did?
I wrote or called every team inthe Eastern League in the ABA
(09:06):
if they would pay for me to comefor a tryout.
Denver was the only one thatwould pay for me to come for a
tryout.
So what I ended up doing, Iwent that summer also got a call
from the Lakers.
They wanted me to come totraining camp that summer.
So what I did went to LA, triedout, for that team played well.
(09:30):
They offered me a contract for$10,000 and a $3,000 bonus, so I
was sort of happy with that.
So then I came home and two orthree weeks later I went to
Denver and I did the set try itout.
They offered me the same amountof money, same contract.
(09:51):
So now I come back home andthis is probably running into
September I'm trying to figureout what team to go to.
Should I go to LA or should Igo to Denver?
So I was a mama's boy now, so Iwas looking for my mother to
tell me which trip to take, andshe wouldn't tell me.
So I got in my car and I'mdriving 70 West.
(10:15):
When you get to St Louis youcan take 66, go to LA, or you
can take 70 and go to Denver.
I said to myself I don't dowell going to my left, so I'm
going to go left.
And that's how I ended up in.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Denver.
Wow, that's quite a story, andso it all worked out well.
You know, playing in thatleague, the ABA league, you had
a did you have a?
Big afro like the Dr J and allthem guys.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
You had your big fro, I had a mini fro.
I don't think my hair wouldgrow long, but I had a mini fro.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
I was playing against Dr J George Gervin, the Iceman
and all those other guys thatwas in the league at that time.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Oh, it was great.
I mean, you know most peopleknow about the Iceman but most
people don't know he came out ofEastern Michigan, ended up
going with the Virginia Squiresat that time and with that team
they had Dr J was playing there,a guy by the name of Charlie
Scott, and they had severalplayers that had even played in
(11:18):
the NBA playing with that team.
But then when Girvin came there, most people think he was
always an outstanding player.
He was a guy that you wouldhope that they put him in
because he didn't do anything.
But then the rest of it ishistory.
With him he became, well, oneof the most outstanding players
ever playing in the league.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Looked like you held your own with those guys as well
.
There were some days when youhad 30 or more points in.
About what 10, 15 straightgames Did I get that right?
Speaker 1 (11:48):
No, you got it wrong.
No, I played in 23 straightgames where I had 30 or more and
it was interesting when theywere were talking about harden
had a record going of so manygames in a row at 30 or more.
I mean, I got a couple phonecalls from the media asked me
how did I feel about it and Ireally never gave it a whole lot
of thought.
(12:08):
But sometime I think back thatwasn't bad.
Man scored 30 points in 23straight games and and I was
trying to figure out what was agame I scored less than and I
think it was against theKentucky Colonels and I think I
had about 22, 23 points a game.
But it was fun, it was fun.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
You know back then.
Legend has it that you werepresident of the ABA Players
Association and at one time youguys threatened to sit out a
game at the association anddidn't get recognized by the
owners.
Can you talk about thatexperience?
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Well, when the league first started, after a year or
two, I sent out a questionnaireto all the guys in the ABA and I
asked them about would they beinterested in if we had a
Players Association?
(13:04):
And I was called into the officeby the general manager and he
said that indicated that I wastrying to start a players
association and he didn't thinkI should do that.
And he said the league is toomuch in the infancy state.
And he said, if it doesn't be,for the ABA guys be working in
the factory and all those kindsof things.
And basically when he said thatto me, I said now you might say
that to some of the other guys,but not with me, because at
(13:24):
that time I had a master'sdegree and I was working on a
PhD, so I wasn't knocking theother guys, but that wouldn't
work with me.
So at the conclusion of thatmeeting he said you understand.
I said okay, so I left and Icontinued doing what I was doing
starting a players' association.
And finally it got going andwe're getting ready to play an
(13:46):
all-star game in Indianapolis,indiana.
You know about Indianapolis?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Oh yeah, we know about that.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Indianapolis, indiana , and it was on the ESPN game
and we were trying to get anacceptance from the league to
accept the Players Association.
We were asked Stouffer's thatwas a hotel we were staying in
and the players said, well, ifthey don't accept us, we're not
going to play.
So we just sat in a hotel andbecause it was the ESPN game and
(14:16):
it was big, uh, they finallyaccepted us.
So we had to be escorted by bythe highway patrol to the
coliseum to play the game.
And it was there they're on anduh, it was a fun game and I
started trying to figure out.
It was a game I played it.
It was probably the first gameI could remember all-star game
now that I played in.
(14:36):
It was probably the first gameI can remember all-star game now
that I played in that my momand dad both were at the game
and I was with the East and theWest and the West won and on my
team at the time they hadSpencer Haywood and Rick Barry
and it was a game.
I think I had like 30, 31points and it was big.
(14:58):
It was big to be the MVP.
They gave you the use of a carand a whole lot of frills.
So when the game was over, Iwas thinking about you know, you
go in the locker room.
I was thinking I was, you know,because I had a lean score, and
I was thinking my mom and dadin the stands and I'm going to
thank God and thank my parentsand stuff.
(15:19):
So when I go out there, theygive the most valuable player to
Spencer Haywood.
Now, spencer Haywood was hisfirst year in the ABA.
He came out of Trinidad JuniorCollege and he was one of the
earlier players to play in theleague out of college.
I mean, he was an outstandingplayer and he became the MVP of
(15:42):
the game.
So when the locker room andRick Barry outstanding player
and he became the MVP of thegame.
So when the locker room andRick Barry always spoke the way
he felt and he said the guy thatshould have been the MVP was
Larry Jones, which, no, I feltthat way too.
But Spencer got it and it was agood experience.
And at that point the ABA had aPlayers Association.
(16:04):
And then, as I look back aftermy contract, it was amazing.
After my contract was up now, Iplayed several years.
My skills were starting todiminish somewhat, but no one
would sign me and if I had to doall over again I probably would
have took that to task, butnobody would sign me after then.
(16:27):
So now I'm trying to figure outwhat do I do now, because I
still had some basketball in me.
So I looked at the NBA and Iwas looking at the team that had
the worst guards, the worstrecord, and I looked at it was
Philadelphia and I said no,that's interesting, that's where
I started.
So I ended up going toPhiladelphia, tried with the
(16:52):
Philadelphia 76ers and they hadwon maybe eight or nine games
the year before.
So I said they're more like inthe building stage.
And at that time they had aFreddie Carter was a starting
guard and a guy named FreddieBoyd.
But also that year they draftedDoug Collins and a guy named
Raymond Lewis.
(17:12):
Raymond Lewis was from LosAngeles City College.
He might have led the nation inscoring.
Doug Collins came out ofIllinois State, I think, but
they both were first-round draftpicks.
So at that time they might havehad about 20 guards trying out
about 15 forwards and severalcenters.
(17:34):
And at a point the coach calledsome of us aside, some centers,
some forwards and some guardswould say if you guys got
something else to do, you justwill leave, because basically
we're saying you're not going tomake the team.
So I said I just will stay hereuntil I get cut, come back home
and get a job.
So we start playing the ABAteams and I end up being the
(17:59):
leading scorer in the exhibitionseason and so, even though they
were rebuilding, it had beendifficult for them to cut me at
the time because I led the teamin scoring.
So when the season startedthere were 12 players on the
team.
I was the 12th guy.
But I was glad to be the 12thguy because at least I would get
(18:21):
paid.
So when the season started, Iwas not a point guard, I was a
shooter.
The point guard got hurt and Iwas the last guy on the bench.
And when the point guard gothurt, I became the starting
point guard and the guy got welland never got his job back.
(18:41):
So I started the rest of theyear.
All right, what a great story.
Great story.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
The team at the Financial Solutions Network is
proud to partner with Tim Brownand bring you this episode of Be
A Baller.
Our mission is to sharegenerously of our time, talent
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(19:09):
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The Financial Solutions Networkis an independently owned and
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We are a multi-generationalprofessional team of advisors
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(19:30):
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We would be honored to help youplan your financial journey.
Contact us at 614-505-3025 orvisit our website at tfsnnet.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
We know that you have a heart for young people and
serving the community as well.
You know you've been seen inthe classroom occasionally as a
substitute teacher.
Why is that so important to you?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
You know, when I look back, coming up as a young
person myself, it's almost likeyou try to pay back and I look
at it.
Maybe I could say something.
Talking to kids could make adifference in their life and I
always felt like that wasimportant for somebody to have
interest in you and some of thethings I would think.
(20:23):
I was blessed to play pro ball,but when I would go in the
classroom, you know it's alwaysan issue being a sub because
most of the time you have adifficult time getting kids'
attention, but for me it helpedme because I would say why I'm
there, trying to make adifference in their life, and I
said indicate that I play probasketball and that
(20:45):
automatically gets yourattention.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, okay.
So it was the icebreaker for me.
Now you got to work it Right,but I would share my experience
playing pro ball while I'm doingthe school thing, trying to
make a difference in somebodyelse's life, and I think when I
look at children today, man,it's tough being a kid today.
There's so much out there todaythat wasn't there when I was
(21:08):
coming up and you're a littleyounger than me so you can
relate to that, but I mean a lotof times.
I just think.
Sometimes, when I look atchildren, you need someone to be
encouraging and believe in them.
Believe in them.
Believe in them.
I mean a lot of times one'sself-esteem could be low and
sometimes you can save somethingthat can help raise a person's
(21:31):
self-esteem.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
You know, as we come around the corner, this is a
legacy podcast.
Think about that word legacyTwo things.
What does that mean to you andwhat is the legacy of Larry
Jones?
Speaker 1 (21:42):
You know, and I often think about that, even though I
did a lot in basketball, I liketo feel like when people look
at me, saying that he was a goodperson, loved the Lord and was
willing to give back to try tomake a difference with young
people's lives, with youngpeople's lives, and I was a good
(22:03):
husband, a good father, I mean,and you know, the older I get,
the more I feel like I've beenblessed by God man, because a
whole lot of other things.
When I think about some of thethings, some of the choices I
made coming up, if it wasn't forthe grace of God, I could have
been in trouble.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Well, larry, I want to thank you for being a part of
this podcast, but most of all,I want to thank you for your
commitment to making adifference, you know, for
sharing your wisdom and sharingthose life lessons that you
learned both on the court andoff the court.
And I want you to know thatyoung people are truly inspired,
and every time I see you share,I can just see how attentive
they are.
You know, just hanging on everyword.
(22:44):
So I appreciate this, youcoming in the studio today.
This brings us to the end ofthis episode.
Thanks to our special guest,larry Jones, for sharing his
wisdom of life lessons learnedon the basketball court and in
life.
Thank you, larry, for beingcommitted to encouraging and
inspiring the next generation.
Thank you for having me on.
It's a blessing.
Thank you for joining us duringthis enlightening and
(23:05):
informative discussion onbuilding a legacy in sports.
Hope this episode wasbeneficial to you all and, as
always, thanks for listening toBe A Baller Podcast.
Thank you, great job, great job.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
If you enjoyed our show, please share this podcast
with family and friends.
Be A Baller podcast isavailable on all major podcast
stations.
Be sure to come back next weekas we continue to discuss on how
to build a lifelong legacy.
Until then, don't forget to bea baller.
This podcast was created byCoach Tim Brown and produced and
edited by the video productionclass of Worthington Christian
(23:41):
High School.
You know, when I look back, no, coming up as a young
person myself, you know it'salmost like you try to pay back
and I look at it.
Maybe I could say something.
Talking to kids could make adifference in their life.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome to Be A Baller Podcast where we discuss
how to build a lifelong legacy.
I'm your host, coach Tim BrownToday.
I'm excited to have in thestudio with me Columbus Ohio
native and American BasketballAssociation ABA Trailblazer and
former NBA player, larry Jones.
Today on the show, larry willshare his experience of playing
(00:41):
in both the ABA and NBA.
Shares experience of playing inboth the ABA and NBA.
Currently, larry is committedto mentoring young people
through his annual basketballcamp and involvement in the
community.
Larry, welcome to Be A Ballerpodcast.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Thank you for letting me be a part of your day.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, I'm just so excited to have you in here.
I've been waiting to get you inhere.
I was telling you I was teasingyou.
I got 10 pages of notes here,you know.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
I'm ready.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Are they good notes?
Oh, they're good notes, bro.
I got it all.
I got all the T's they say aswe begin this podcast.
I know you're a man of faith.
I know faith has been yourfoundation.
As we begin, can you talk tothe audience about how your
faith has helped you achieve thesuccess you've had in life?
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Well, I've always believed in the Lord and when I
look back at my traveling alongthe way you know I was a late
bloomer in basketball but when Istart thinking about how I got
to where I am today, as far asmy achievement playing
basketball I played for thechurch basketball team coming up
(01:44):
, I remember trying out for abasketball team in junior high
school and I got cut.
But a lot of the young guys inmy church brought me around them
and I played with the churchteam.
Church has always been a pillarin my life.
You know, when I talk to peopleabout my life coming up and you
(02:06):
say what kept you going in alot of ways and I said in a
physical realm it was my motherI said been in the spiritual
realm.
God has always been a specialpart of my life.
And when I think back as Imoved through high school and
college, when I was in college,I never can remember missing
(02:31):
going to church at any home game.
I always went to church andit's always.
God has always been importantto my life.
When everything is going bad, Iknow God is there covering me
and I just feel like I've beenblessed along the way and I know
it's not me, but God has lookedover my life, my family and so
(02:54):
forth.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Hey there Clark Kellogg here.
Building a legacy usuallyinvolves meeting the unique
needs of others and being partof something bigger than
yourself.
That's why I love FirstMerchants Bank.
First Merchants believes thathelping communities prosper
means more than just providingbanking services.
It means offering accessiblefinancial education, expanded
access to homeownership andpartnerships with local
(03:17):
nonprofits to help raise upneighborhoods and lift families
out of financial hardship.
For resources and toolsavailable to you, visit
wwwfirstmerchantscom.
Member.
Fpic Equal Housing Lender.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
You know you started playing regularly at East High
School during your senior year.
You know that's quite a story.
How did you become such a goodbasketball player and receive a
scholarship after only oneseason of high school basketball
?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Well, I got to back up a little bit with that piece.
Okay, I remember I went toChampion Junior High School.
I remember going out for thebasketball team as a seventh
grader.
I got cut.
As an eighth grader I got cutand as a ninth grader I made the
team and never played a game.
So now I graduated fromChampion Junior High School Now
(04:07):
I'm enrolling at East HighSchool had a serious history of
great basketball.
So as a 10th grader I went outfor the basketball team and I
made the reserve team play verylittle.
As an 11th grader I went outfor the varsity team.
I played in one game and seemedlike, and when I went from 11th
(04:31):
grade to the 12th grade thatsummer the light came on, or the
lord showed me a you can dothis.
And I went from nobody choosingme unless it was my turn to
choose.
I didn't get a chance to playand all of a sudden, when I went
back to school as a senior, Imean I was killing everybody.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Yeah, I was reading in your bio about your high
school coach, coach Moore, coachJackie Moore, and how the most
important thing you said abouthim he helped you go from a poor
student to an honor student.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
You know, when I was in high school, they used to
take grades each week in termsof whether you can play or not.
And in the early part of myhigh school career, in the
classroom I wasn't knocking thedoor down, doing a good job.
And as I went back as a senior,I mean, and the basketball
(05:26):
happened to be what I was doingwell, at that time I got focused
in the fact of doing better inthe classroom and I went from
being maybe a CD student to as asenior, I was making the honor
rail and it basically was basedon the coach, you know,
encouraging me to do better inthe classroom with the idea it
would provide anotheropportunity for me to go to
(05:47):
school.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
This podcast will be released during June, which is
Ground Fathers Day.
Can you talk about some of themen growing up who had an impact
on your life in the communityteachers, coaches, elders?
Speaker 1 (06:02):
No, when I was coming up it was amazing.
I used to play at Beatty Center, play outside Maryland Park,
and I had a lot of fathers spendtime with kids back in the day.
You know kids were morerespectful.
And a lot of coaches, a lot ofthe men that coached some of the
young guys, they wereencouraging.
(06:23):
And I can remember playing fora particular coach.
His name was Toe Morrison.
He used to have us travel Onteams and we used to play
throughout the city over some ofthe rec center and the boys
club.
And when I think back, I thinkabout some coaches and some
(06:45):
older guys.
A lot of older guys used to puttheir arm around some younger
guys, because I remember playingfor a coach and they had an
adult older guys it was calledthe Wildcats older guys.
Then they had the little guys,which I was, and a lot of the
older guys used to try toencourage the little guys,
(07:06):
younger guys, to play.
But a lot of and the thing Inever talked about this, but my
mother was I mean, my mother wasa baller, okay, my mother
played basketball and I rememberI used to go shoot baskets and
she would be out there shootingbaskets with me and most of the
guys that knew my father used tosay my mother was a better
(07:26):
athlete than my dad.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, you had a.
From that you received ascholarship to play at the
University of Toledo and you hada great story career there.
Then you had a uniqueexperience at the opportunity to
play in the ABA when it wasfirst formed.
You had a great career.
You were a four-time ABAAll-Star, three-time All-ABA
First Team.
(07:49):
But here's the uniqueexperience.
Talk about that uniqueexperience of how you even got
in the league.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Well, first, when I came out of school, I was
drafted by the Sixers, so Iplayed with the Sixers for a
year and eventually the nextyear I went back.
I didn't make the team.
Then they had what they calledback then the Eastern League,
which was a semi-pro league, andback then they played on the
weekend and a lot of guys wouldmake probably maybe $200 or $300
(08:20):
just playing on the weekendbasketball and they had regular
jobs.
Eventually they start talkingabout starting the ABA.
There were probably about maybeeight or nine teams in the
Eastern League, but when theystarted the ABA for me I had
played in the Eastern League fortwo years and played quite well
(08:41):
and interesting.
Most people don't know if youfollow basketball history when
you look at Bob Love, who was agreat player with Chicago, paul
Salas, who played in the NBA andalso a coach, but a lot of guys
came out of the Eastern Leaguewhen the ABA started.
So what I did?
I wrote or called every team inthe Eastern League in the ABA
(09:06):
if they would pay for me to comefor a tryout.
Denver was the only one thatwould pay for me to come for a
tryout.
So what I ended up doing, Iwent that summer also got a call
from the Lakers.
They wanted me to come totraining camp that summer.
So what I did went to LA, triedout, for that team played well.
(09:30):
They offered me a contract for$10,000 and a $3,000 bonus, so I
was sort of happy with that.
So then I came home and two orthree weeks later I went to
Denver and I did the set try itout.
They offered me the same amountof money, same contract.
(09:51):
So now I come back home andthis is probably running into
September I'm trying to figureout what team to go to.
Should I go to LA or should Igo to Denver?
So I was a mama's boy now, so Iwas looking for my mother to
tell me which trip to take, andshe wouldn't tell me.
So I got in my car and I'mdriving 70 West.
(10:15):
When you get to St Louis youcan take 66, go to LA, or you
can take 70 and go to Denver.
I said to myself I don't dowell going to my left, so I'm
going to go left.
And that's how I ended up in.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Denver.
Wow, that's quite a story, andso it all worked out well.
You know, playing in thatleague, the ABA league, you had
a did you have a?
Big afro like the Dr J and allthem guys.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
You had your big fro, I had a mini fro.
I don't think my hair wouldgrow long, but I had a mini fro.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
I was playing against Dr J George Gervin, the Iceman
and all those other guys thatwas in the league at that time.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Oh, it was great.
I mean, you know most peopleknow about the Iceman but most
people don't know he came out ofEastern Michigan, ended up
going with the Virginia Squiresat that time and with that team
they had Dr J was playing there,a guy by the name of Charlie
Scott, and they had severalplayers that had even played in
(11:18):
the NBA playing with that team.
But then when Girvin came there, most people think he was
always an outstanding player.
He was a guy that you wouldhope that they put him in
because he didn't do anything.
But then the rest of it ishistory.
With him he became, well, oneof the most outstanding players
ever playing in the league.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Looked like you held your own with those guys as well
.
There were some days when youhad 30 or more points in.
About what 10, 15 straightgames Did I get that right?
Speaker 1 (11:48):
No, you got it wrong.
No, I played in 23 straightgames where I had 30 or more and
it was interesting when theywere were talking about harden
had a record going of so manygames in a row at 30 or more.
I mean, I got a couple phonecalls from the media asked me
how did I feel about it and Ireally never gave it a whole lot
of thought.
(12:08):
But sometime I think back thatwasn't bad.
Man scored 30 points in 23straight games and and I was
trying to figure out what was agame I scored less than and I
think it was against theKentucky Colonels and I think I
had about 22, 23 points a game.
But it was fun, it was fun.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
You know back then.
Legend has it that you werepresident of the ABA Players
Association and at one time youguys threatened to sit out a
game at the association anddidn't get recognized by the
owners.
Can you talk about thatexperience?
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Well, when the league first started, after a year or
two, I sent out a questionnaireto all the guys in the ABA and I
asked them about would they beinterested in if we had a
Players Association?
(13:04):
And I was called into the officeby the general manager and he
said that indicated that I wastrying to start a players
association and he didn't thinkI should do that.
And he said the league is toomuch in the infancy state.
And he said, if it doesn't be,for the ABA guys be working in
the factory and all those kindsof things.
And basically when he said thatto me, I said now you might say
that to some of the other guys,but not with me, because at
(13:24):
that time I had a master'sdegree and I was working on a
PhD, so I wasn't knocking theother guys, but that wouldn't
work with me.
So at the conclusion of thatmeeting he said you understand.
I said okay, so I left and Icontinued doing what I was doing
starting a players' association.
And finally it got going andwe're getting ready to play an
(13:46):
all-star game in Indianapolis,indiana.
You know about Indianapolis?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Oh yeah, we know about that.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Indianapolis, indiana , and it was on the ESPN game
and we were trying to get anacceptance from the league to
accept the Players Association.
We were asked Stouffer's thatwas a hotel we were staying in
and the players said, well, ifthey don't accept us, we're not
going to play.
So we just sat in a hotel andbecause it was the ESPN game and
(14:16):
it was big, uh, they finallyaccepted us.
So we had to be escorted by bythe highway patrol to the
coliseum to play the game.
And it was there they're on anduh, it was a fun game and I
started trying to figure out.
It was a game I played it.
It was probably the first gameI could remember all-star game
now that I played in.
(14:36):
It was probably the first gameI can remember all-star game now
that I played in that my momand dad both were at the game
and I was with the East and theWest and the West won and on my
team at the time they hadSpencer Haywood and Rick Barry
and it was a game.
I think I had like 30, 31points and it was big.
(14:58):
It was big to be the MVP.
They gave you the use of a carand a whole lot of frills.
So when the game was over, Iwas thinking about you know, you
go in the locker room.
I was thinking I was, you know,because I had a lean score, and
I was thinking my mom and dadin the stands and I'm going to
thank God and thank my parentsand stuff.
(15:19):
So when I go out there, theygive the most valuable player to
Spencer Haywood.
Now, spencer Haywood was hisfirst year in the ABA.
He came out of Trinidad JuniorCollege and he was one of the
earlier players to play in theleague out of college.
I mean, he was an outstandingplayer and he became the MVP of
(15:42):
the game.
So when the locker room andRick Barry outstanding player
and he became the MVP of thegame.
So when the locker room andRick Barry always spoke the way
he felt and he said the guy thatshould have been the MVP was
Larry Jones, which, no, I feltthat way too.
But Spencer got it and it was agood experience.
And at that point the ABA had aPlayers Association.
(16:04):
And then, as I look back aftermy contract, it was amazing.
After my contract was up now, Iplayed several years.
My skills were starting todiminish somewhat, but no one
would sign me and if I had to doall over again I probably would
have took that to task, butnobody would sign me after then.
(16:27):
So now I'm trying to figure outwhat do I do now, because I
still had some basketball in me.
So I looked at the NBA and Iwas looking at the team that had
the worst guards, the worstrecord, and I looked at it was
Philadelphia and I said no,that's interesting, that's where
I started.
So I ended up going toPhiladelphia, tried with the
(16:52):
Philadelphia 76ers and they hadwon maybe eight or nine games
the year before.
So I said they're more like inthe building stage.
And at that time they had aFreddie Carter was a starting
guard and a guy named FreddieBoyd.
But also that year they draftedDoug Collins and a guy named
Raymond Lewis.
(17:12):
Raymond Lewis was from LosAngeles City College.
He might have led the nation inscoring.
Doug Collins came out ofIllinois State, I think, but
they both were first-round draftpicks.
So at that time they might havehad about 20 guards trying out
about 15 forwards and severalcenters.
(17:34):
And at a point the coach calledsome of us aside, some centers,
some forwards and some guardswould say if you guys got
something else to do, you justwill leave, because basically
we're saying you're not going tomake the team.
So I said I just will stay hereuntil I get cut, come back home
and get a job.
So we start playing the ABAteams and I end up being the
(17:59):
leading scorer in the exhibitionseason and so, even though they
were rebuilding, it had beendifficult for them to cut me at
the time because I led the teamin scoring.
So when the season startedthere were 12 players on the
team.
I was the 12th guy.
But I was glad to be the 12thguy because at least I would get
(18:21):
paid.
So when the season started, Iwas not a point guard, I was a
shooter.
The point guard got hurt and Iwas the last guy on the bench.
And when the point guard gothurt, I became the starting
point guard and the guy got welland never got his job back.
(18:41):
So I started the rest of theyear.
All right, what a great story.
Great story.
Speaker 5 (18:46):
The team at the Financial Solutions Network is
proud to partner with Tim Brownand bring you this episode of Be
A Baller.
Our mission is to sharegenerously of our time, talent
and financial resources to helpour clients develop financial
plans and wealth managementstrategies that allow them to
live the lives they imagine,while connecting them with
experiences and people thatenhance their quality of life.
(19:09):
Fca is one of thoseorganizations, by helping young
men and women through thedevelopment of their personal
faith.
The Financial Solutions Networkis an independently owned and
managed wealth advisory firmbased in Wordington Ohio.
Owned and managed wealthadvisory firm based in
Worthington Ohio.
We are a multi-generationalprofessional team of advisors
with a combined 83 years ofexperience teaching and managing
(19:30):
financial strategies forindividuals, families,
businesses and institutions.
We would be honored to help youplan your financial journey.
Contact us at 614-505-3025 orvisit our website at tfsnnet.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
We know that you have a heart for young people and
serving the community as well.
You know you've been seen inthe classroom occasionally as a
substitute teacher.
Why is that so important to you?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
You know, when I look back, coming up as a young
person myself, it's almost likeyou try to pay back and I look
at it.
Maybe I could say something.
Talking to kids could make adifference in their life and I
always felt like that wasimportant for somebody to have
interest in you and some of thethings I would think.
(20:23):
I was blessed to play pro ball,but when I would go in the
classroom, you know it's alwaysan issue being a sub because
most of the time you have adifficult time getting kids'
attention, but for me it helpedme because I would say why I'm
there, trying to make adifference in their life, and I
said indicate that I play probasketball and that
(20:45):
automatically gets yourattention.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, okay.
So it was the icebreaker for me.
Now you got to work it Right,but I would share my experience
playing pro ball while I'm doingthe school thing, trying to
make a difference in somebodyelse's life, and I think when I
look at children today, man,it's tough being a kid today.
There's so much out there todaythat wasn't there when I was
(21:08):
coming up and you're a littleyounger than me so you can
relate to that, but I mean a lotof times.
I just think.
Sometimes, when I look atchildren, you need someone to be
encouraging and believe in them.
Believe in them.
Believe in them.
I mean a lot of times one'sself-esteem could be low and
sometimes you can save somethingthat can help raise a person's
(21:31):
self-esteem.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
You know, as we come around the corner, this is a
legacy podcast.
Think about that word legacyTwo things.
What does that mean to you andwhat is the legacy of Larry
Jones?
Speaker 1 (21:42):
You know, and I often think about that, even though I
did a lot in basketball, I liketo feel like when people look
at me, saying that he was a goodperson, loved the Lord and was
willing to give back to try tomake a difference with young
people's lives, with youngpeople's lives, and I was a good
(22:03):
husband, a good father, I mean,and you know, the older I get,
the more I feel like I've beenblessed by God man, because a
whole lot of other things.
When I think about some of thethings, some of the choices I
made coming up, if it wasn't forthe grace of God, I could have
been in trouble.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Well, larry, I want to thank you for being a part of
this podcast, but most of all,I want to thank you for your
commitment to making adifference, you know, for
sharing your wisdom and sharingthose life lessons that you
learned both on the court andoff the court.
And I want you to know thatyoung people are truly inspired,
and every time I see you share,I can just see how attentive
they are.
You know, just hanging on everyword.
(22:44):
So I appreciate this, youcoming in the studio today.
This brings us to the end ofthis episode.
Thanks to our special guest,larry Jones, for sharing his
wisdom of life lessons learnedon the basketball court and in
life.
Thank you, larry, for beingcommitted to encouraging and
inspiring the next generation.
Thank you for having me on.
It's a blessing.
Thank you for joining us duringthis enlightening and
(23:05):
informative discussion onbuilding a legacy in sports.
Hope this episode wasbeneficial to you all and, as
always, thanks for listening toBe A Baller Podcast.
Thank you, great job, great job.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
If you enjoyed our show, please share this podcast
with family and friends.
Be A Baller podcast isavailable on all major podcast
stations.
Be sure to come back next weekas we continue to discuss on how
to build a lifelong legacy.
Until then, don't forget to bea baller.
This podcast was created byCoach Tim Brown and produced and
edited by the video productionclass of Worthington Christian
(23:41):
High School.
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