Jim Tucker (basketball)
James D. Tucker was an American professional basketball player.
A 6'7" forward from Duquesne University, Tucker played three seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Syracuse Nationals. In his second season, he was known for recording the fastest triple-double in league at the time, completing the feat in 17 minutes of action. The record would not be beaten until 2018, when Nikola Jokić would break that record in 14 minutes and 33 seconds of playing time. He averaged 4.1 points per game in his career and won a league championship in 1955.
Tucker and teammate Earl Lloyd were also the first two African Americans to play on an NBA championship team.
In 2018, a short documentary titled "Let 'Em Know You're There" told the story of Jim's professional basketball career and eventual battle with Alzheimer's Disease. The documentary won a 2019 Mid-Atlantic Emmy.
Tucker died on May 14, 2020 from complications from Alzheimer’s disease at age 87.
