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James Bailey (basketball)

James Bailey
Personal information
Born (1957-05-02) May 2, 1957 (age 60)
Dublin, Georgia
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school Xaverian Brothers
(Westwood, Massachusetts)
College Rutgers (1975–1979)
NBA draft 1979 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall
Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics
Playing career 1979–1990
Position Power forward / Center
Number 20, 33, 2, 6, 54, 27
Career history
19791981 Seattle SuperSonics
19811982 New Jersey Nets
19821984 Houston Rockets
19841986 New York Knicks
1986–1987 New Jersey Nets
1987–1988 Phoenix Suns
1988–1989 Glaxo Verona
1990 Turboair Fabriano
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 5,246 (8.8 ppg)
Rebounds 2,988 (5.0 rpg)
Blocks 521 (0.9 bpg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

James L. Bailey (born May 21, 1957) is a retired American professional basketball player. A 6'9" (2.06 m) forward/center from Rutgers University, he was selected with the 6th pick of the 1979 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. Nicknamed "Jammin' James," he spent 9 seasons (1979–1988) in the National Basketball Association (NBA), playing for the Sonics as well as the New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Phoenix Suns. He ended his NBA career with 5,246 total points.

While at Rutgers, Bailey was a formidable player, displaying a strong inside presence in addition to possessing great leaping ability. He was famous for his conversion of "alley oop" passes into slam dunks. The rule allowing dunking was re-instituted in college basketball beginning with the 1976-77 season, Bailey's sophomore year. Bailey's slam dunks were an immediate sensation at Rutgers, and Bailey led the team with 88 dunks as a sophomore. He increased this number to 116 as a junior. However, as a senior, he was met with constant double and triple teaming, and Rutgers' opponents "held" him to 79 dunks as a senior.

The Scarlet Knights advanced to the NCAA basketball Final Four in 1976, Bailey's freshman year, arriving with a 31-0 record. However, they were defeated by Michigan in the national semi finals, and then lost to UCLA in the 3rd place (consolation) game.

Bailey is number three on the Rutgers all-time scoring list (2,034 points), and second in career rebounds behind Phil Sellers (1,047). He is also the second leading shot-blocker in Rutgers history behind Roy Hinson.

Bailey went on to capture All-America honors from UPI and The Sporting News in 1978.


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