Caldwell Jones

Caldwell "Pops" Jones Jr. was born on August 4, 1950, and left an indelible mark on the world of professional basketball. Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 14th pick in the 1973 NBA draft, he showcased his talents in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). Over the course of his career, Jones played three seasons in the ABA and an impressive fourteen seasons in the NBA, primarily with the 76ers.

During the 1973–74 season, Jones distinguished himself by leading the ABA in blocked shots, a testament to his defensive prowess. His skills earned him a spot in the 1975 ABA All-Star Game, and he shares the league's all-time record for blocked shots in a single game, achieving an incredible twelve blocks alongside Julius Keye.

Basketball talent ran in the family, as Jones' brothers—Charles, Wil, and Major—also played at Albany State College and made their mark in the NBA. Caldwell's dedication to the sport was evident as he played his final season at the age of thirty-nine, making him one of the oldest players in NBA history. By the end of his career, he had amassed a total of ten thousand two hundred forty-one points across one thousand two hundred ninety-nine games in both the NBA and ABA.