NEW YORK – Former Columbia University men's basketball standout and nine-year NBA veteran Jim McMillian '70CC has passed away at the age of 68.
"Jim was a quiet and powerful leader,” said Jonathan Schiller '69CC, Chair of Columbia University's Board of Trustees, and former teammate of McMillian. “Jim was a supportive and close friend to each of his teammates. For those who had the pleasure of watching him play basketball and those who had the privileged of playing the game with him, we know well that Jim was and will always be remembered as one of the most gifted student-athletes to attend Columbia University."
“We are saddened to hear the news about the great Jim McMillian,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education Peter Pilling said. “He was, and always will be, a Columbia icon. His legacy has been part of the fabric of our men's basketball program for nearly 50 years. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones.”
Born in North Carolina, but raised in Brooklyn, McMillian was All-City and a high school All-American at Thomas Jefferson High. A highly sought-after talent, he received offers from regional powers St. John's and Providence, among many other schools, but chose to attend Columbia – where he would make Ivy League history.
In his sophomore season of 1967-68, McMillian was the star of the Lions team which went 23-5 and won the Ivy League Championship. He guided Columbia to the Holiday Festival title in Madison Square Garden, defeating West Virginia, Louisville and St. John's on successive days, and was named tournament MVP.
Helping lead the Lions to the No. 6 ranking in the Associated Press polls and a 16-game winning streak, McMillian was the Lions' key player during their 12-2 Ivy League campaign, which tied perennial champions Princeton for the conference's best record. And on March 5, 1968, in front of a sellout crowd at St. John's Alumni Hall (now Carnesecca Arena), McMillian put on perhaps his greatest performance in Columbia Blue and White – scoring 37 points as the Lions routed Princeton 92-74 to win the Ivy League playoff and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
In the NCAA tournament, McMillian and the Lions defeated LaSalle in the first round and advanced to the regional semifinal – where they would lose to Davidson in a heartbreaking game, 61-59. Heavily guarded by all opponents as the Lions primary threat, McMillian averaged a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) during Columbia's three-game tournament run, which included a consolation round victory over St. Bonaventure.
Established as the Lions' star, McMillian's success continued during his junior and senior seasons, as Columbia posted 20-4 and 20-5 records in 1968-69 and 1969-70, narrowly missing Ancient Eight titles each year.
In leading Columbia to a three-year record of 63-14, McMillian not only was a three-time All-Ivy Leaguer and All-American each year, he became the first person ever to earn the Haggerty Award, given to the top Division I player in the New York City Metropolitan area, three times.
At the conclusion of his Columbia career, McMillian had scored 1,758 points, a school record, since broken by Buck Jenkins '93CC, who played four varsity seasons. His scoring average of 22.9 points per game is second-best in Lions' history behind fellow Columbia All-American Chet Forte '57CC. McMillian still holds the season records for field goals in a season (253) and career (677) and is second all-time in career rebounds (743) at Columbia.
Drafted in the first round by both the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA and New York Nets of the ABA, McMillian chose the Lakers and spent three years in L.A., scoring 3,714 points, an average of 15.3 per game, and winning an NBA title in 1972.
McMillian was a tremendous contributor to the Lakers success during that championship season. On November 4, 1971, Laker and NBA legend Elgin Baylor announced his retirement. The next night, McMillian stepped into his starting position at forward and provided a 22-point, 13-rebound performance to lead a win over Baltimore. It was the first of a 33-game win streak, still the longest in pro basketball history, and McMillian starred throughout it.
After the Lakers, the Columbia star played three seasons for the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers), averaging 16.4 points per game, two years with his hometown Knicks, and completed his career in 1978-79 with the Portland Trailblazers. He retired with 8,736 points and 3,319 rebounds in 631 games, for averages of 13.8 and 5.3 per game. His .832 career free throw percentage (1448-1741) ranks among the NBA's best.
Following his NBA career, McMillian played in Italy for two years and then returned home to work in a wholesale-retail business. He went on to own his own clothing business, and then to work for a large clothing manufacturing company.
In 2006, McMillian was inducted in the inaugural class of the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame, as an individual, and as a member of the 1967-68 men's basketball team.
McMillian is survived by his wife Alexis, son Aron and his daughter Emon.
