Jim Eakins

James Scott Eakins, an American professional basketball player born May 24, 1946, played center over a ten-year career spanning the American Basketball Association and the National Basketball Association. A 6'11" center out of Brigham Young University, he was selected in the fifth round of the 1968 NBA draft by the San Francisco Warriors and in the 1968 ABA Draft by the Oakland Oaks. Known as "Jimbo," Eakins signed with the ABA and spent eight seasons there from 1968 to 1976, playing for the Oakland Oaks, Washington Caps, Virginia Squires, Utah Stars, and New York Nets. He won ABA championships in 1969 with the Oakland Oaks and again in 1976 with the New York Nets, and represented Virginia in the 1974 ABA All-Star Game. Following the ABA–NBA merger in 1976, Eakins continued in the NBA through 1978, suiting up for the Kansas City Kings, San Antonio Spurs, and Milwaukee Bucks. Across his combined ABA and NBA career he scored 8,255 points and pulled down 5,578 rebounds, finishing as a two-time ABA champion.