Last Updated on April 3, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details for Jerry Chambers:

  • Full Name: Jerome Purcell Chambers
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born July 18, 1943
  • Hometown: Washington, D.C., USA
  • Height: 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters)
  • Weight: 185 pounds (84 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 6 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number: Wore #21 during his career
  • Position: Small Forward
  • High School: Spingarn High School (Washington, D.C.)
  • College: University of Utah
  • NBA Draft: 1966 NBA Draft, 1st round, 7th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers
  • Teams Played For:
    • Los Angeles Lakers (1966–1968)
    • Phoenix Suns (1968–1969)
    • Atlanta Hawks (1969–1970)
    • Buffalo Braves (1970–1971)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Not widely documented publicly
  • Siblings: Not publicly documented

Jerry Chambers’s player archetype was that of a versatile scoring forward, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound wing who could operate across positions and put real pressure on defenses with his athleticism and shot-making. At Utah he was described as an athletic guard who terrorized defenses, while later recollections from the 1966 Final Four framed him as the kind of forward-guard hybrid who “played everywhere,” which fits a defensive role built on mobility, matchup flexibility, and doing work on the wing rather than anchoring inside. Offensively, his role was clearly that of a primary scoring option, with enough rebounding and overall activity to impact the game beyond pure shot volume, and his broader play style comes across as aggressive, adaptable, and hard to slot neatly into one position because he blended wing skill with forward responsibilities. (Basketball Reference)

Fun Facts

  • Jerry Chambers was the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the 1966 NCAA Tournament, despite his team not winning the championship.
  • He was known for his scoring ability and athleticism during his college years and early professional career.

Sources:

Utah Communication History Encyclopedia — The 1965-66 Runnin’ Utes
Basketball-Reference — Jerry Chambers Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Utah Utes — Ute Legends | Utah Men’s Basketball
The Prospector — The Team That Made History