Mark Wright
July 23, 2020
Jim Foster
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth:
- Place of Birth: Greenville, South Carolina (USA)
- Position: FRD
- Height (CM): 203
- Weight (KG): 100
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: South Carolina (1980-84)
- NBL DEBUT: 27/04/86
- AGE AT DEBUT: 0
- LAST NBL GAME: 28/09/86
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 0
- NBL History: Coburg 1986
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Jim Foster was born in Greenville, South Carolina (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Jim Foster made his NBL debut with the Coburg Giants on 27/4/1986. He scored 43 points in his first game.
After Foster was released by the Kansas City Kings he played briefly in France before landing in Australia, where he signed with the Coburg Giants for the 1986 season.
Foster played at a high level during his only full professional season. In his first game, he scored 43 points and collected 11 rebounds. During another, he scored a career high 50 points, and added 13 rebounds.
In Australia his game evolved, and he showed improved range away from the basket, including the occasional three point shot. His season average of 32.2 points and 11 rebounds per game earned him All-NBL First Team recognition.
Much like his final college season, team success did not follow with the Giants finishing 14-12 and missing the postseason.
“Australia was good, but I had too much free time, which isn’t good for Jimmy Foster. I liked the fact that in college, our schedules were very regulated. There wasn’t a lot of time and that was good, at least for me,” Foster said. “Our home arena in Australia was next to a bar, and post-game meetings were held there. Teammates were smoking, drinking beers. It probably wasn’t conducive to what I needed at the time. That’s when I knew I was in a different place.” Foster said.
Foster called it quits after a highly successful, if unsatisfying professional season.
Jim Foster played one season in the NBL. He averaged 32.2 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 26 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 3rd in points per game.
– 40th in rebounds per game.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 0 | Coburg | 14-12 (8) | 26 | 0.0 | 838 | 287 | 49 | 144 | 143 | 40 | 15 | 73 | 94 | 341 | 616 | 55% | 14 | 52 | 27% | 142 | 256 | 55% | 57% | 56% | 50 | Totals | 26 | 0 | 838 | 287 | 49 | 144 | 143 | 40 | 15 | 73 | 94 | 341 | 616 | 55.4% | 14 | 52 | 26.9% | 142 | 256 | 55.5% | 58% | 56% | 50 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 0 | Coburg | 14-12 (8) | 26 | 0.0 | 32.2 | 11.0 | 1.9 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 13.1 | 23.7 | 55% | 0.5 | 2.0 | 27% | 5.5 | 9.8 | 55% | 57% | 56% | 50 | Total | 26 | 0.0 | 32.2 | 11.0 | 1.9 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 13.1 | 23.7 | 55.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 26.9% | 0.5 | 2.0 | 55.5% | 58% | 56% | 50 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 50 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Jim Foster was drafted by the Kansas City Kings with pick #102 in the 1984 NBA Draft.
The Kansas City (now Sacramento) Kings selected Foster in the fifth round of the 1984 NBA draft with The Sporting News comparing him to the Lakers’ Kurt Rambis, the scrappy, blue-collar counterpoint to Magic Johnson in Los Angeles.
COLLEGE
During Foster’s senior season he provided a number of highlights for the South Carolina Gamecocks but team wins were rare. The Gamecocks struggled to a 12-16 record on the season, going 5-9 in Metro Conference play. After 15 consecutive winning seasons, the program had now suffered its second losing season in three years.
During the team's final home game the team delivered a 70-62 win in a 'blue-collar scrap of a game' over Southern Mississippi. With five seconds remaining in regulation and the Gamecocks comfortably ahead, Foster took a half court pass from fellow senior Scott Sanderson and went for a dunk attempt before being hammered by the Golden Eagles’ Kenny Siler. A melee ensued between Foster and Southern Mississippi’s James Williams, which spilled over into press row. Both benches cleared before Coliseum security eventually managed to break up the fight. As officials did their best to restore order, the pep band broke into a raucous war chant, shouting rhythmically, “Don't mess with Jimmy, Don't mess with Jimmy!”
Paramedics took one spectator away after she was pressed against her seat by fans leaning forward to see the fight. Security ushered Siler to the visiting locker room as boos rained down, while Foster’s exit elicited a rafter rattling, minutes-long standing ovation. It was drama fit for a Foster finale. He finished with 19 points and eight rebounds in another lunch pail performance. South Carolina and Foster would lose their final two games: a nine-point loss at DePaul and a narrow seven-point defeat to Florida State in South Carolina’s first conference tournament since winning the ACC in 1971.
Foster finished the season averaging a career-high 18.5 points while adding 9.4 rebounds per game. He finished his career third in program history with 1,745 points and also recorded 1,000 career rebounds, one of only five Gamecocks to achieve that milestone. His .596 career field goal percentage still ranks as the best mark in program history.
AWARDS
- 1x All-NBL First Team
Related
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