Jim Pollard

James Clifford Pollard


Born:
July 9, 1922
Oakland, CA

Died:
January 22, 1993
Lodi, CA


Career
1937-38 Oakland Technical - California (High School)
1938-39 Oakland Technical - California (High School)
1940-41 Stanford University (College)
1941-42 Stanford University (College)
1944-45 Coast Guard Cutters (Military)
1945-46 San Diego Dons (ABL-AAU)
1946-47 Oakland Bittners (ABL-AAU)
1947-48 Minneapolis Lakers (NBL)
1948-49 Minneapolis Lakers (BAA)
1949-50 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1950-51 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1952-53 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1954-55 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1955-56 La Salle University (College) Head Coach
1956-57 La Salle University (College) Head Coach
1957-58 La Salle University (College) Head Coach 
1959-60 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA) Head Coach
1961-62 Chicago Packers (NBA) Head Coach
1967-68 Minnesota Muskies (ABA) Head Coach
1968-69 Miami Floridians (ABA) Head Coach
1969-70 Miami Floridians (ABA) Head Coach
Florida Atlantic University (College) Head Coach


NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1978 


One of those most highly-touted high school athletes at his time, he graduated from Oakland Tech in January of 1940 but was not eligible to play for Tech in 1939-40. He went to Stanford for a few years before joining the U.S. Coast Guard. After his service to his country, he played professionally in the west coast's version of the American Basketball League before heading east to join the Lakers. With the Lakers, he became one of the best players in the NBA, before retiring to coach, both at the collegiate and professional level.

A lot of places say he coached at Florida Atlantic for a couple seasons after leaving the Floridians, but Florida Atlantic didn't field an intercollegiate basketball program until 1988.

He married Arilee Hansen (1923-2016) in 1944 and they had four children.

Source:
Oakland Tribune, March 1, 1939

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/p/pollaja01n.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pollaji01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=pollaji01