James Edwards

Who is James Edwards?

James Franklin Edwards is a retired American professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Buddha" for his appearance and stoic demeanor, the 7' 0" Edwards played 19 years in the NBA, playing both the center and power forward positions. Edwards was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers on June 10, 1977 and made his NBA debut on October 18. Edwards played for eight teams: the Los Angeles Lakers, the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Phoenix Suns, the Detroit Pistons, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Chicago Bulls. Born in Seattle, Washington, Edwards starred at Roosevelt High School and the University of Washington.

Edwards was known for his turn-around fadeaway jump shot that was difficult to block. Though he never appeared in an All-Star Game, Edwards was a reliable low-post scorer, averaging 12.7 points per game over his career. He was a key member of the 1989 and 1990 NBA champion Detroit Pistons, starting most of the team's games in 1990. He won a third championship in the final season of his career, with the 1996 Chicago Bulls, where he saw limited playing time.

He retired with 14,862 career points and 6,004 career rebounds.