Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s information about Jim Paxson:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: James Joseph Paxson Jr.
  • Nickname: Jim Paxson
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: July 9, 1957
  • Hometown: Kettering, Ohio, United States
  • Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
  • Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Jersey Number: No. 4 — Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics; college number not reliably documented in strong public sources
  • Position: Shooting guard / small forward
  • High School: Archbishop Alter High School (Kettering, Ohio)
  • College: Dayton (1975–1979)
  • NBA Draft: Portland Trail Blazers, 1979 NBA Draft, Round 1, Pick 12
  • Player Archetype: Smooth scoring wing
  • Primary Offensive Role: Mid-range scorer and secondary shot creator
  • Defensive Role: Positional wing defender
  • Play Style: Polished, controlled, skill-based perimeter game built on shooting touch, timing, and efficient movement rather than overpowering burst
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed
  • Athletic Profile: Good fluidity and coordination with solid NBA wing size, but more finesse-driven than explosive
  • Recruiting Status: High-level Ohio guard prospect for his era, though modern recruiting rankings did not exist
  • Draft Status Detail: First-round pick and established college star coming off an All-American senior season at Dayton
  • Injury Status Category: Had durability dips later in career, but not widely defined by one major long-term injury in public historical profiles
  • Career Stage: Retired former NBA player and longtime basketball executive
  • Comparison Style: A technical, efficient scoring wing in the mold of a less explosive but highly polished off-ball shot-maker
  • Teams Played For:
    • Portland Trail Blazers (1979–1988)
    • Boston Celtics (1988–1990)
  • Championship Rings: 0 NBA championships
  • Parents: Father — Jim Paxson Sr.; mother not readily documented in strong public sources
  • Children: Not readily documented in strong public sources
  • Siblings: John Paxson
  • Athlete Relatives: Father Jim Paxson Sr. played in the NBA; brother John Paxson played in the NBA
  • Retirment Age: 32–33
  • Retirement Year: 1990

Player Archetype / Play Style

Jim Paxson’s player archetype was that of a smooth scoring wing: a polished perimeter shooter who could operate as a secondary creator, defend his position, and score without needing a hyper-athletic style. Offensively, he thrived on jump shooting, timing, and composed reads, while defensively he handled wing assignments with sound positioning rather than gambling. At 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, Paxson had ideal size for a two-guard and played with a controlled, technically refined rhythm that made him one of Portland’s most reliable offensive players during his peak years.

Fun Facts

  • He is the older brother of John Paxson, who won championships with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

Sources:
NBA.com — Jim Paxson
Basketball-Reference — Jim Paxson
Dayton Flyers — Jim Paxson Jr. (1985) – Hall of Fame
NBA.com — Year-by-year All-NBA Teams
NBA.com — 1984 NBA All-Star recap