Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details for Jim Krebs:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: James Edward Krebs
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Deceased (born May 27, 1935 – died May 6, 1965, at age 29)
  • Hometown: Webster Groves, Missouri, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters)
  • Weight: 230 pounds (104 kg) during his playing career
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 9 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: Wore 32 during his NBA career
  • Position: Center / Power Forward
  • High School: Webster Groves High School in Webster Groves, Missouri
  • College: Southern Methodist University (SMU)
  • NBA Draft: 1957 NBA Draft, 3rd overall pick by the Minneapolis Lakers
  • Teams Played For:
    • Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers (1957–1964)
  • Championship Rings: 0 (He did not win an NBA Championship)
  • Kids: Krebs had three children
  • Siblings: Information on siblings is not widely documented

Player Archetype / Play Style

Jim Krebs’ player archetype was that of a rugged interior big who blended old-school rebounding, low-post scoring, and physical frontcourt play. Defensively, he worked as a bruising paint presence who battled for position, cleaned the glass, and leaned into contact rather than playing a finesse style. Offensively, Krebs operated mainly as a back-to-the-basket scorer and secondary inside option, using his size, touch, and hook shot to finish around the lane. At 6-foot-8 and about 230 pounds, he had the sturdy build of a classic mid-century center-forward, and his overall play style was built on toughness, rebounding, interior efficiency, and a willingness to do the dirty work against bigger matchups. (Basketball Reference)

Sources:

Basketball-Reference — Jim Krebs Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More
SMU Mustangs — Jim Krebs (2009) – Hall of Fame
Sports Reference CBB — Jim Krebs College Stats