Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information on Jim Cleamons:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: James Mitchell Cleamons
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born September 13, 1949
  • Hometown: Lincolnton, North Carolina, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters)
  • Weight: 185 pounds (84 kg) during his playing career
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 4 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 12 (US)
  • Number: Wore #6 and #8 during his NBA career
  • Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
  • High School: Linden-McKinley High School (Columbus, Ohio)
  • College: Ohio State University (1968–1971)
  • NBA Draft: 1971 NBA Draft, 1st Round, 13th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers
  • Teams Played For:
    • Los Angeles Lakers (1971–1974)
    • Cleveland Cavaliers (1974–1979)
    • New York Knicks (1979–1980)
    • Washington Bullets (1980)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972)
  • Kids: Not publicly documented
  • Siblings: Not publicly documented

Jim Cleamons’s player archetype was that of a defensive-minded point guard, a steady backcourt organizer who brought toughness, ball pressure, and enough offensive control to keep a team functioning without needing to dominate the scoring load. At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, he had solid size and strength for a lead guard, and his defensive role was clearly built around guarding opposing ball-handlers, disrupting actions at the point of attack, and adding perimeter resistance, which fits his All-Defensive Team recognition. Offensively, Cleamons projected more as a table-setter and secondary creator than a pure scorer, using composure, passing, and decision-making to guide possessions while still contributing when opportunities were there. His overall play style was disciplined, physical, and team-first, combining guard playmaking, backcourt defense, and a no-frills approach that made him a dependable two-way presence across multiple NBA stops.

Sources:
Basketball-Reference — Jim Cleamons Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Sports Reference CBB — Jim Cleamons College Stats
NBA.com — Jim Cleamons | Guard | Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers — Where Are They Now: Jim Cleamons