Photo by: Marquette University
Photo by: NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by: NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by: NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by: NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by: Getty Images
Photo by: Getty Images
Photo by: Getty Images
Photo by: Getty Images
Photo by: NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by: Marquette University
Photo by: Marquette University
Photo by: Milwaukee Journal
Jim Chones To Have #MUBB Jersey Retired On Feb. 18
2/16/2025 3:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Consensus All-America selection in 1971-72 is 10th player to be honored
Former Marquette University men's basketball player Jim Chones will have his No. 22 jersey retired, the team announced Friday morning.
Chones, who will be the 10th player to be recognized and first since Dwyane Wade in 2007, will be honored at the Feb. 18, 2025 game against Seton Hall at 8 p.m. Central time at Fiserv Forum. Moving forward, Marquette will recognize its all-time greats by retiring jerseys, but not numbers.
"We are excited about the opportunity to honor one of the greatest players in the program's storied history," Vice President & Director of Athletics Bill Scholl said. "He was dominant on the court during his tenure at Marquette and has been a tremendous ambassador for the program and university throughout his career."
A consensus Associated Press, Converse and UPI All-American in 1972, he amassed 952 points and 583 rebounds during his 50-game Marquette playing career (Marquette was 49-1 in those games).
Considered by many to be the most complete big man in the country entering his junior season, Chones ranks among Marquette's all-time leaders in scoring average (19.0 ppg.), rebounding average (11.7 rpg.), and field-goal percentage (54.7 percent).
"Jim Chones has exemplified excellence, on and off the court, both during his Marquette career and in the decades that followed," head coach Shaka Smart said. "What a fabulous testament to Relationships, Growth, and Victory."
In 1971, he helped lead Marquette to a 28-1 record and a berth in the NCAA tournament. The following season, Chones led Marquette to a perfect 21-0 start by averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds before being selected in the first round of the 1972 ABA Draft by the New York Nets.
Chones went on to enjoy a 10-year professional playing career with five different teams and in 1980 won an NBA Championship as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers along with former Marquette star Butch Lee. He currently works as an analyst on the Cleveland Cavaliers Radio Network.
Marquette Retired Jerseys
Chones, who will be the 10th player to be recognized and first since Dwyane Wade in 2007, will be honored at the Feb. 18, 2025 game against Seton Hall at 8 p.m. Central time at Fiserv Forum. Moving forward, Marquette will recognize its all-time greats by retiring jerseys, but not numbers.
"We are excited about the opportunity to honor one of the greatest players in the program's storied history," Vice President & Director of Athletics Bill Scholl said. "He was dominant on the court during his tenure at Marquette and has been a tremendous ambassador for the program and university throughout his career."
A consensus Associated Press, Converse and UPI All-American in 1972, he amassed 952 points and 583 rebounds during his 50-game Marquette playing career (Marquette was 49-1 in those games).
Considered by many to be the most complete big man in the country entering his junior season, Chones ranks among Marquette's all-time leaders in scoring average (19.0 ppg.), rebounding average (11.7 rpg.), and field-goal percentage (54.7 percent).
"Jim Chones has exemplified excellence, on and off the court, both during his Marquette career and in the decades that followed," head coach Shaka Smart said. "What a fabulous testament to Relationships, Growth, and Victory."
In 1971, he helped lead Marquette to a 28-1 record and a berth in the NCAA tournament. The following season, Chones led Marquette to a perfect 21-0 start by averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds before being selected in the first round of the 1972 ABA Draft by the New York Nets.
Chones went on to enjoy a 10-year professional playing career with five different teams and in 1980 won an NBA Championship as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers along with former Marquette star Butch Lee. He currently works as an analyst on the Cleveland Cavaliers Radio Network.
Marquette Retired Jerseys
- 44 – Don Kojis (1959-61)
- 43 – Earl Tatum (1973-76)
- 31 – Doc Rivers (1981-83)
- 31 – Bo Ellis (1974-77)
- 24 – George Thompson (1967-69)
- 22 – Jim Chones (1970-72)
- 20 – Maurice Lucas (1973-74)
- 15 – Butch Lee (1975-78)
- 14 – Dean Meminger (1969-71)
- 3 – Dwyane Wade (2001-03)
- Played two varsity seasons at Marquette (1970-71 and 1971-72)
- 49-1 varsity record
- 1971-72 Consensus All-American (first team honors from the Associated Press, UPI and Converse Yearbook)
- Second Consensus All-American in program history, following teammate Dean Meminger
- One of only eight individuals to earn Consensus All-America honors in MU history
- Tenth former MU player to have jersey retired
- 2022 Marquette University Alumni Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award
- Averaged 19.0 points and 11.7 rebounds to rank fourth in each category in MU history
- Field goal percentage of 54.7% ranks eighth all-time at MU
- Leading rebounder (11.5) on 1970-71 team that went 28-1
- MU's original 'Aircraft Carrier'
- NBA Champion with 1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers
- Played 10 seasons in the ABA/NBA
- First round selection by the New York Nets in the 1972 ABA Draft
- Selected by Los Angeles in the second round of the 1973 NBA Draft
- Averaged over 12 points and eight rebounds in 788 game professional career
- Played at least 82 games in eight of first nine pro seasons
- Finished in the top 20 of MVP voting during each of his first two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers (1974-75 and 1975-76)
- Member of the ABA's All-Rookie First Team during the 1972-73 season
- Freshmen were ineligible in 1969-70 during his first year at MU
- Completed bachelor's degree at Marquette in 2000
- Graduate of St. Catherine's High School in Racine, Wisconsin
- Radio analyst for the Cleveland Cavaliers Radio Network since 2010
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