Jack Nichols (basketball)

Jack Nichols
Personal information
Born(1926-04-09)April 9, 1926
DiedDecember 24, 1992(1992-12-24) (aged 66)
Palm Springs, California
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight222 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High schoolEverett (Everett, Washington)
College
  • Washington (1943–1944)
  • USC (1944–1946)
  • Washington (1946–1948)
BAA draft1948: 1st round, 12th overall pick
Selected by the Washington Capitols
Playing career1948–1958
PositionPower forward / center
Number15, 5, 16
Career history
19481950Washington Capitols
19501954Tri-Cities Blackhawks / Milwaukee Hawks
19541958Boston Celtics
Career highlights and awards
Career BAA and NBA statistics
Points5,245 (10.4 ppg)
Rebounds2,782 (6.9 rpg)
Assists964 (1.9 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference

Jack Edward Nichols (April 9, 1926 – December 24, 1992) was an American professional basketball player.

A 6'7" power forward who attended the University of Washington and the University of Southern California, Nichols played nine seasons (1948–1951;1952–1958) in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Washington Capitols, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Milwaukee Hawks, and Boston Celtics. He scored 5,245 points in his career and was a contributor to the Celtics' 1957 NBA championship team, who was coached by his former Washington Capitol coach, Red Auerbach. During his last 3 years with the Celtics, he attended Tufts Dental School full-time, earning his doctor of dentistry in 1958.

During his collegiate career, Nichols was named an all-conference player in five different seasons, twice with USC, and three times at UW (only player ever to achieve this). In 1948 he set the single game (39 points vs. Idaho) and single season scoring records for the Pacific Coast Conference. He was named a Helms Foundation All-American, and led the Huskies to the 1948 NCAA tournament by Beating Cal in a 3-game series.

Upon his retirement from professional basketball, Nichols served as the team dentist for the University of Washington and for the Seattle SuperSonics. Nichols has been inducted into the University of Washington Hall of Fame, the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame, and the Pac-12 Conference Hall of Honor.