Jim Pollard

Who was Jim Pollard?

James Clifford "Jim" Pollard was an American basketball player and coach.

In college, Pollard played for Stanford and was a key member of Stanford's 1942 national championship team. During World War II, he starred in Coast Guard teams from Alameda to Honolulu. Following World War II, Pollard played for the San Diego Dons and the Oakland Bittners, making four trips to Denver for AAU playoffs. In the NBA, Pollard was considered one of the best forwards in the 1940s and 1950s, and was known for his leaping ability earning him the nickname "The Kangaroo Kid".

In 1952, players who had performed in the NBA since its inception selected Pollard as the best player of the period. Pollard teamed with George Mikan and Vern Mikkelsen for the Minneapolis Lakers, forming one of the best front courts in basketball history. The Lakers won six professional basketball titles: 1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954.

Pollard ended his career after eight seasons, beginning in the NBL in 1947 and ending in the NBA in 1955. He went on to coach La Salle University men's basketball for three seasons from 1955–1958, compiling a record of 48-28.