Jimmie Lee Ard (born September 19, 1948 in Seattle, Washington) is a retired American professional basketball player.
A 6'8" forward/center from the University of Cincinnati, Ard began his professional career in 1970 with the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association (ABA). He is best known for his three years (1974–77) with the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics, for whom he provided rebounding and hustle-play as a backup for Dave Cowens. He also played briefly for the Chicago Bulls.
Ard sank the go-ahead free throws in game five of the 1976 NBA Finals, a triple-overtime affair between the Celtics and the Phoenix Suns. These free throws have been described as "the two most historic free throws in both Celtics and NBA history." The Celtics went on to win that series for the 1976 NBA championship.
Famous quotes containing the word jim:
“Just kids! That’s about the craziest argument I’ve ever heard. Every criminal in the world was a kid once. What does it prove?”
—Theodore Simonson. Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr.. Jim Bird, The Blob, responding to the suggestion that they not lock up the teens pulling the alien “prank,” (1958)