James Edwards

He also contributed to the team having a 22–6 record, qualifying for the school's first NCAA basketball tournament appearance since 1953 and finishing the regular season ranked No. 11.

James Franklin Edwards (born November 22, 1955) is an American former professional basketball player who was a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Chicago Bulls during a career that spanned 19 seasons.

Though he never appeared in an All-Star Game, he was a reliable low-post scorer, averaging 12.7 points per game over his career.

He played college basketball at the University of Washington.

James Franklin Edwards was born on November 22, 1955, in Seattle, Washington.

Edwards starred at Roosevelt High School.

As a senior in 1973, he led the Roughriders to the big-school state basketball title, while receiving All-State and All-Metro honors at center.

He also practiced cross country running as a sophomore.

Edwards accepted a basketball scholarship from the hometown University of Washington, to play under coach Marv Harshman.

As a freshman, he took over the starting duties at center, averaging 6.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest.

As a sophomore, he registered 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

As a junior in the 1975–76 season, he averaged 17.6 points (led the team) and 7.1 rebounds (second on the team) per game.

As a senior in the 1976–1977 season, he led the team with 20.9 points and 10.4 rebounds, but the squad failed to qualify for the NCAA basketball tournament with a 17–10 overall record.

He received All-American honors.

He finished his college career with an average of 14.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Edwards was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 3rd round (46th overall) of the 1977 NBA draft.

As a rookie, he was forced to become the team's starting center just a few minutes into the season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks, when starter Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke his right hand in a fight with rookie Kent Benson.

He led the team with averages of 17.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, until Abdul-Jabbar returned after missing the first 21 contests of the season.

On December 13, the Lakers needed to find a replacement for suspended power forward Kermit Washington, so Edwards was traded along with shooting guard Earl Tatum and cash considerations to the Indiana Pacers, in exchange for small forward Adrian Dantley and center Dave Robisch.

Edwards enjoyed arguably his most productive years with the Indiana Pacers.

He became the franchise's highest-scoring center, averaging 15.9 points over four seasons and also posted 7.5 rebounds per contest.

The Pacers reached the playoffs for the first time in the 1980–81, under head coach Jack McKinney, and were swept 0–2 by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.

On May 26, 1981, he was signed as a veteran free agent by the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the Pacers receiving a 1981 second round draft pick (#36-Ray Blume) and a 1982 second round draft choice (#40-Guy Morgan) as compensation.

He spent parts of two seasons, averaging 16.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

On February 7, 1983, Cavaliers owner Ted Stepien desperately needed money to pay the team's payroll, so Edwards was traded along with a 1983 1st round draft pick (#21-Greg Kite) to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for power forward Jeff Cook, a 1983 1st round draft pick (#20-Roy Hinson), a 1983 3rd round draft choice (#67-Derrick Hord) and $425,000 dollars in cash.

Edwards was a key contributor with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 14.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

On February 24, 1988, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for center Ron Moore and a 1991 second-round draft pick (#46-Richard Dumas).

Edwards played four seasons with the Detroit Pistons.

He was a key reserve of the consecutive champion in 1989 and 1990 Detroit Pistons' Bad Boys squads, starting most of the team's games in 1990.

In 1990, he was inducted into the University of Washington Husky Hall of Fame.

On June 7 of that year, during Game 2 of the 1990 NBA Finals, Edwards scored a team-leading 26 points during a 105–106 loss to Portland.

The Pistons would go on to win the series in five games.

He averaged 11.2 points and 3.6 rebounds as a Piston.

His Fu Manchu mustache and stoic demeanor, inspired his nickname of Buddha.

On August 13, 1991, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for shooting guard Jeff Martin and a 1995 2nd round draft pick (#30-Lou Roe).

Edwards spent one season in the Clippers.

On August 13, 1992, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, spending two seasons with the team that drafted him.

On September 19, 1994, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers.

This was also the last team to defeat (103–81) a John Wooden squad, as the legendary coach would retire after the season, having won his 10th National Championship.

In 2015, he was inducted into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame.