Jim Loscutoff

Jim Loscutoff
Personal information
Born (1930-02-04)February 4, 1930
San Francisco, California
Died December 1, 2015(2015-12-01) (aged 85)
Naples, Florida
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school Palo Alto (Palo Alto, California)
College
  • Grant Tech (1948–1950)
  • Oregon (1950–1951, 1954–1955)
NBA draft 1955 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Playing career 1955–1964
Position Power forward
Number 18
Career history
1955–1964 Boston Celtics
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points 3,156 (6.2 ppg)
Rebounds 2,848 (5.6 rpg)
Assists 353 (0.7 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

James Loscutoff Jr (February 4, 1930 – December 1, 2015) was a professional basketball player for the NBA's Boston Celtics. A forward, Loscutoff played on seven Celtics championship teams between 1956 and 1964.[1]

Life and career

The Celtics honored Loscutoff by having his nickname "Loscy" hang from the rafters.

Loscutoff was born in San Francisco, California, the son of Nellie George (Ramzoff)[2] and James Loscutoff. His parents were Russian.[3][4] He starred in basketball at Palo Alto High School, graduating in 1948. Loscutoff then attended Grant Technical College, a two-year college near Sacramento, California before proceeding to the University of Oregon. In his final season at Oregon, Loscutoff led the team in scoring and rebounding with 19.6 points per game and 17.2 rebounds per game.[5] He still holds the Oregon school record for rebounds in a game with 32.[6]

Standing 6'5", Loscutoff was selected with the third non-territorial pick of the first round in the 1955 NBA draft. He was originally drafted by coach Red Auerbach to provide some much-needed defensive nerve for the Celtics team, which (despite becoming the first team to average 100 points per game in the 1954–55 season) had one of the worst defensive records in the league.

During his rookie year, Loscutoff set a then-record for the Celtics with 26 rebounds in a game.[5] In 1957, he sank the final two free throws of a 125-123 double overtime victory over the St. Louis Hawks that gave the Celtics their first NBA championship.[6] In nine seasons from 1955 to 1964, he played forward and won seven championships as part of the legendary Celtics teams of the 1960s. Loscutoff was described by one player as a hatchet-man, and his defense and strength were part of the defensive greatness of the 1960s Celtics, alongside Hall-of-Famer Bill Russell.

Loscutoff's nicknames included Jungle Jim and Loscy. The organization wished to honor Loscutoff, but he asked that his jersey number (18) not be retired, so that a future Celtic could wear it. Instead, the Celtics added a banner with his nickname "Loscy" to the retired number banners hanging from the rafters of their arenas. The number was later retired in honor of another Celtic great, Dave Cowens.

Loscutoff lived in Florida and Andover, Massachusetts, where his family owns a day camp for children.[7] His wife was artist Lynn Loscutoff.[8] He died in Naples, Florida on December 1, 2015 from complications of Parkinson's disease and pneumonia.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ Team Statement on Celtics Legend Jim Loscutoff
  2. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGF7-XQN
  3. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC6L-3Q3
  4. ↑ "James George Loscutoff, Sr (1904 - 1985)". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  5. 1 2 Pave, Marvin (December 3, 2015), "Jim Loscutoff, at 85; forward on seven Celtics title teams", The Boston Globe
  6. 1 2 Schudel, Matt (December 2, 2015), "Jim Loscutoff, brawny forward for Celtics dynasty, dies at 85", The Washington Post
  7. ↑ Twiss, Jeff. "Legal Timeout with Jim Loscutoff". Retrieved 2007-10-11.
  8. ↑ Singlelais, Neil (February 17, 1957). "The Wives Get Along Together". The Boston Globe.
  9. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/jim-loscutoff-brawny-forward-for-celtics-dynasty-dies-at-85/2015/12/02/d8e9e212-9940-11e5-94f0-9eeaff906ef3_story.html
  10. ↑ https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/12/03/jungle-jim-loscutoff-was-fearsome-but-fun-loving/NVV7Pl7WXKVD8LST8242ON/story.html
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