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
- 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.
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.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Foster joined a team in France after his release by the Kansas City Kings in 1985.
COLLEGE
Foster played college basketball at South Carolina, As a freshman he stepped straight into Bill E. Foster’s lineup in the 1980-81 season and helped the independent Gamecocks finish 17-10 while averaging 14.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game across 27 games and 27 starts.
He logged 864 minutes as a freshman, which worked out to 32.0 minutes per game, and he shot 58.0 percent from the field and 49.7 percent at the free throw line.
His 1980-81 season totals were 149 field goals on 257 attempts, 86 free throws on 173 attempts, 384 points, 296 rebounds, 38 assists, 19 steals, 24 blocks, 82 turnovers, and 92 personal fouls.
His 11.0 rebounds per game ranked among the national leaders and placed him 20th in Division I that season.
One of his early standout performances came in South Carolina’s 74-70 win over Texas on December 23, 1980 when he had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and in his first college game he finished with 9 points and 12 rebounds.
He played that first season with Zam Fredrick, Kevin Darmody, Kenny Holmes, Melvin Watson, and Tom Riker on a South Carolina team that ranked among the nation’s better scoring teams at 81.5 points per game.
As a sophomore in 1981-82, Foster again played for Bill E. Foster and South Carolina remained independent, finishing 14-15 with Foster appearing in 20 games and starting 17 while averaging 15.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
His sophomore totals were 566 minutes, 126 field goals on 213 attempts, 56 free throws on 116 attempts, 308 points, 166 rebounds, 22 assists, 6 steals, 44 turnovers, and 56 personal fouls while shooting 59.2 percent from the field and 48.3 percent at the line.
That season he ranked among the national leaders in field goal percentage, placing 31st in Division I at 59.2 percent.
Foster’s junior season in 1982-83 was his most successful team year at South Carolina as the Gamecocks went 22-9 as an independent under Bill E. Foster and reached the NIT after posting the program’s highest win total since 1973-74.
He played 31 games and started 25 in 1982-83, averaging 17.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 32.1 minutes per game.
His junior totals were 996 minutes, 203 field goals on 332 attempts, 129 free throws on 242 attempts, 535 points, 275 rebounds, 27 assists, 23 steals, 4 blocks, 61 turnovers, and 104 personal fouls while shooting 61.1 percent from the field and 53.3 percent at the line.
He led South Carolina in both scoring and rebounding in 1982-83 and ranked 14th nationally in field goal percentage.
South Carolina beat Old Dominion 100-90 and Virginia Tech 75-68 in the 1983 NIT before losing 78-61 to Wake Forest, and Foster was the leading frontcourt scorer on a team that also featured Gerald Peacock, Kenny Holmes, Scott Sanderson, and Brad Jergenson.
The 1982-83 team also made a habit of winning close games, with South Carolina recording five victories on last-second shots and beating four eventual NCAA tournament teams during the season.
As a senior in 1983-84, Foster moved into Metro Conference play with South Carolina for the program’s first season in a league since leaving the ACC, and he averaged a career-high 18.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game in 28 games and 27 starts.
He played 931 minutes as a senior, or 33.3 minutes per game, and totaled 200 field goals on 336 attempts, 118 free throws on 239 attempts, 518 points, 263 rebounds, 21 assists, 37 steals, 5 blocks, 65 turnovers, and 99 personal fouls.
His senior shooting line was 59.5 percent from the field and 49.4 percent from the free throw line.
South Carolina finished 12-16 overall and 5-9 in Metro Conference play, good for sixth place, with Bill E. Foster still in charge.
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.
He also finished his South Carolina career with 106 games played, 96 starts, 3,357 minutes, 678 field goals on 1,138 attempts, 389 free throws on 770 attempts, 1,745 points, 1,000 rebounds, 108 assists, 85 steals, 33 blocks, 252 turnovers, and 351 personal fouls.
Those career numbers worked out to 16.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game across four varsity seasons.
Within the South Carolina record book his 1,745 points rank sixth all-time, his 1,000 rebounds rank fifth, his 678 field goals made rank third, his 389 free throws made rank seventh, and his 770 free throw attempts rank fourth.
Foster led South Carolina in scoring and rebounding in each of his final three seasons and remained the program’s benchmark for career field goal accuracy decades after leaving Columbia.
His college career ended with selection by the Kansas City Kings in the fifth round of the 1984 NBA draft after four seasons as one of the most productive interior players in South Carolina history.
AWARDS
- 1x All-NBL First Team
Related
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com