It’s finally official.
Bobby Jones, the Nuggets defensive lynchpin during their ABA days, was formally inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night. It’s just recognition for the power forward, largely considered to be one of the elite defenders during his 12-year professional career in the ABA and NBA.
Jones spent his first four years as a pro basketball player in the Mile High City before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the 1978-79 NBA season. The 6-foot-9 forward received back-to-back ABA All-Defensive First Team honors in the Nuggets’ final two years in the league and would then follow that up with NBA All-Defensive First Team honors for eight consecutive years from 1977-84.