Caldwell Jones: The Doctor of Defense

Caldwell Jones was known for his work on the glass and his elite rim protection, but a lot of people tend to forget how good he was offensively. In the more free-flowing ABA, he was comfortable with his back to the basket, plus he had a consistent 15 foot jumper. He could pass out of the high post, and he had a decent handle, being able to take his man off the dribble and slash to the rim. Unlike most centers of his time, he was also a reliable free throw shooter. But once he got to the NBA, he became a defensive specialist, even earning a couple All-Defensive Selections in the process. He stuck around for another 13 years after the merger, serving as a solid reserve into his late 30’s. Another interesting part about Caldwell was that his 5 brothers Wil, Charles, Melvin, Major,& Oliver all went to Albany State and all had successful pro careers. He could’ve easily complained when his role changed in the NBA, but he prided himself on doing the dirty work, and that’s why he stuck around so long. https://www.basketball-reference.com/...