BIO: Bill Jones was born in Joliet, Illinois (USA).

NBL EXPERIENCE

Bill Jones made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 26 years of age. He scored 24 points in his first game.

In 1985, West Adelaide and Adelaide joined to form one NBL club for the South Australian fans to get behind. The team was built from a combination of both rosters, with the Bearcats head coach Ken Cole being selected over 36ers Mike Osborne to run the merged club. Darryl ‘Ice Man’ Pearce and ‘Mean’ Al Green, who had just gained Australian citizenship and qualify as a local player, would become the team’s starting guards, Moscow Olympian Peter Ali started at small forward and American centre Bill Jones was recruited to anchor the middle.

The season began with the backcourt duo of Green (31.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals) and Pearce (22.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals) leading the way in scoring but it wasn’t until the mid-season addition of import Mark Davis that the team started to look unbeatable. After Davis (27.9 points, 17.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 steals) was added to a side already bursting with depth after the sixth round, the 36ers stormed into the Grand Final. There, Adelaide fell short to Leroy Loggins and the Brisbane Bullets, with the championship being decided in a single game (121-95).

Green was selected to the All-NBL First Team while first-year guard Mike Mckay (12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists) was named Rookie Of The Year. Jones would appear in all 28 games and averaged 13.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.6 blocks for the season.

1986
After suffering a tough Grand Final loss to Brisbane in 1985, the Adelaide 36ers came back stronger in 1986, putting together what is widely regarded as the greatest season in NBL history. One of the key factors in Adelaide’s dominance that year was the consistent play of team captain Bill Jones, whose defensive presence and rebounding were essential in the 36ers’ regular-season success. The team made just one significant roster change, bringing in naturalised import Dwayne Nelson to replace Karl Luke, but the core group, including Jones, remained intact.

Jones (19.1 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks) anchored the 36ers’ frontcourt, providing leadership and physicality on both ends of the floor. Alongside Mark Davis (25.3 points, 16.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists), Al Green (19.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists), and Darryl Pearce (19.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists), Jones helped the team finish the regular season in first place with a (24-2) record. The team’s win-loss percentage of 92.3% remains unmatched to this day. Of their 27 total victories in 1986, 17 came by a margin of 20 points or more, showing just how dominant the 36ers were throughout the season. Their only two losses came in heartbreakers to West Sydney (87-89) and Coburg (114-116) on buzzer-beaters.

Defensively, Jones was the backbone of a team that allowed just (96.0 points) per game, while offensively, the 36ers averaged (117.3 points) per game, boasting a winning margin of over 21 points. Adelaide’s regular-season championship saw them finish five games clear of the second-placed Canberra Cannons (19-7).

The 36ers were particularly formidable at home, winning all 13 of their regular-season games at Apollo Stadium. This unbeaten streak extended to (14-0) in the playoffs after a convincing semi-final victory over Illawarra (116-92), where Pearce (28 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists) and Green (27 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the team. Including the home games from the 1985 season, Adelaide boasted a remarkable (20-0) record at Apollo Stadium by the time they reached the 1986 Grand Final.

In the Grand Final series, Adelaide faced off against Brisbane once again, with the NBL opting to extend the championship series from a single-game playoff to a best-of-three series. Adelaide took Game 1 in a thrilling (122-119) victory, with Mark Davis (38 points, 23 rebounds, and 5 assists) dominating, while Jones played a crucial role, contributing (30 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks). Pearce (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) also chipped in as the 36ers drew first blood.

However, in Game 2, Brisbane responded with a (104-84) blowout victory, as Cal Bruton (38 points) and Larry Sengstock (19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists) led the Bullets to a commanding win. Despite the loss, Jones put up strong numbers, finishing with (13 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks), but the team as a whole struggled in their largest defeat of the season.

Back on home court for the decisive Game 3, Adelaide bounced back with a (113-91) win, securing their second NBL Championship in five years. Jones delivered another standout performance, finishing with (16 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks). Cal Bruton (31 points) led Brisbane, but Pearce (27 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) top-scored for Adelaide. Green (22 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist) and Ali (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) helped the 36ers claim the championship and put an exclamation point on what was a remarkable season.

1987
The Adelaide 36ers entered the 1987 season with a strong core, including Bill Jones (14.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks), Mark Davis (26.1 points, 17.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals), Al Green (23.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists), Darryl Pearce (20.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists), and Mike McKay (14.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists). The team aimed to defend their title under new head coach Gary Fox, who replaced Ken Cole after a controversial offseason.

Adelaide started the season strong with a dominant victory over Westside Melbourne (131-105). However, they faced a tough stretch early in the season, enduring a three-game losing streak which started after losing to North Melbourne (103-106) and finished with a close defeat to Perth (104-106). Despite this, the 36ers quickly recovered, embarking on a five-game winning streak, starting with a win against Brisbane (127-111) and ending with a victory over Eastside (98-87).

Jones was a crucial part of the 36ers’ success during these runs, playing a pivotal role in the paint with his defensive presence and shot-blocking ability. The 36ers later went on an eight-game winning streak, starting with a close victory over Canberra (118-115) and concluding with a win over Sydney (108-103), before finally falling to Hobart (108-112).

The 36ers’ biggest win came in a blowout victory against West Sydney (147-99) on July 17, while their most disappointing loss was against Illawarra (108-90) on June 25. Bill Jones contributed consistently throughout the season, helping Adelaide secure the league’s best record at 21-5, finishing the regular season with a commanding win over Geelong (128-97).

Jones was a vital member of Adelaide’s frontcourt, forming a formidable partnership with Mark Davis, who led the team in scoring and rebounding. His shot-blocking and ability to control the boards played a crucial role in Adelaide’s dominance throughout the regular season.

In the playoffs, the 36ers earned a first-round bye and advanced to the semi-finals against Perth. In Game 1, Jones contributed to Adelaide’s narrow win (99-98) with a strong defensive performance. In Game 2, despite Jones’ efforts, Adelaide was narrowly defeated (99-101). In the decisive Game 3, Jones contributed (3 assists), but Adelaide fell short, losing the game (103-93) and the series 2-1.

1988
Darryl Pearce and Peter Ali would be named co-captains of the squad in 1988, the same year Adelaide born centre and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) attendee Mark Bradtke would make his NBL debut. Bradtke was signed by Ken Cole in 1986 when he was 16 years old and 203 cm tall but due to living in Brisbane at the time, he committed to the AIS for two years before joining Adelaide.

The Sixers had a great start to the season, kicking it off with a 4-1 start that included a 31-point win over Illawarra and had them picked as favourites to win the title in the early stages of the year. During the first month of the season, the 36ers were led by Darryl Peace, who exploded for 48 points, including 11 of 14 three-point attempts, against the Ken Cole coached Falcons in Newcastle in round two, a stat line that remains the highest scoring game in 36ers history.

Bradtke (7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks) came off the bench as a backup to Bill Jones (15.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks) and Mark Davis (25.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals). Darryl Pearce (20.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals) and Al Green (20 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.4 steals) would provide the offence from the perimeter, and Adelaide (19-5) finished the regular season in first place during for the third year in a row (second under coach Gary Fox). Adelaide would then lose to Canberra (0-2), falling short in the semifinals for the second year in a row.

Jones would appear in 26 games, and 15.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1989
The Falcons added import Bill Jones after he was squeezed out of the Adelaide 36ers rotation due to the emergence of Aussie big man Mark Bradtke. He joined his former 36ers coach Ken Cole in Newcastle and averaged 18.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Newcastle would finish the season in second last place (6-18), finishing one game above the Geelong Supercats (5-19).

GEELONG SUPERCATS
1992
After fighting to stay alive during the 1991 season, Geelong received a interest free loan from the NBL to help them remain in the competition. The influx of cash saw the Supercats able to return to the playoffs on the back great seasons from Shane Heal, Bobby Locke, Daren Rowe and Jim Bateman. Unfortunately another off-season of financial struggle resulted in the club again losing the unable to re-sign the majority of it’s roster.

Geelong was forced to replace coach Barry Barnes with former NBL player Steve Breheny and lose five of it’s top six players head to other clubs, Vince Hinchen (to Perth), Shane Heal (to Brisbane), Terry Dozier (to Newcastle) John Dorge (to South East Melbourne), Jim Bateman (to Gold Coast).

The Supercats made up for their loss by signing naturalised import Cecil Exum (via North Melbourne), Wayne Larkins (via South East Melbourne), rookie Matthew Alexander and import Lafester Rhodes and chose to play with a regular rotation of eight players.

Jones would appear in only two games for Geelong, who would finishing dead last (2-22), equalling the second fewest win total in a NBL season (Geelong’s zero win season in 1988 being the only one worse).

Bill Jones played six seasons across three NBL teams. This included the Adelaide 36ers, Newcastle Falcons and Geelong Supercats. He averaged 15.9 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 139 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 33rd in total blocks
– 29th in rebounds per game.
– 23rd in blocks per game.

Dan Boyce (823 Posts)

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.