Although he won't be inducted
into the Canadian Basketball and Naismith Hall of Fame and Museum this year, Mississauga's Jim Zoet considers it an honour
that he was named on the ballot of finalists this year.
But, it was a chance meeting with a former coach, a few years ago at a Toronto Raptors game, that was perhaps the most
compelling moment of his career. It was a turn of events that vindicated the 51-year-old former centre who had a cup of coffee
with the Detroit Pistons in 1982-'83 and played professionally in Holland, England, Argentina, the Philippines and Mexico.
Zoet had a falling out with former Kent State University coach Rex Hughes during his junior year in the 1975-'76 season,
and it ultimately led to him quitting the Golden Flashes. Zoet didn't agree with the coach on how he should be utilized.
"After my junior season (at Kent State) I was shooting the ball in the gym and the assistant coaches couldn't believe how
well I shot," said Zoet. "They said I should go make amends with Hughes, but I told them he should be the one apologizing
to me."
Zoet returned to Canada, where he enjoyed two fine seasons with Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, making the Canadian
Interuniversity Sport All-Canadian second team both years.
Flash forward about 20 years. Hughes is an assistant coach with the former Vancouver Grizzlies, who are at SkyDome to play
the Raptors.
Zoet was at the game and at one point made his way to courtside to visit with his buddy, former Canadian national teammate
Leo Rautins. Hughes caught a glimpse of his former college player.
"Leo said Hughes told him it was the biggest mistake, letting me go," said Zoet, a native of Uxbridge, Ont. who has been
living in Mississauga for nearly 20 years.
"I said, 'Come on, Leo, you're pulling my leg.' Leo said, come to the Raptors game (against Vancouver) if you don't believe
me.
"So, I'm at the game and Hughes comes up to me and, exactly like Leo said, he apologized and said it was the biggest mistake
he made."
Zoet said being a Canadian playing at a U.S. university during his era, his role was limited.
"You had to be an exceptionally good player to get significant playing time," said Zoet. "I was starting centre in my junior
year, but all I did was rebound, block shots and all the dirty work (he led the team in blocked shots with 33 and averaged
6.1 boards per game in the '75-76 campaign). I never got to be part of the offence. I had my falling out with the coach (Hughes)
with four games to go."
The 7-foot-1 Zoet, who resides in Meadowvale, was one of the last cuts at the Atlanta Hawks' training camp in 1982. He
went to Detroit for two months as a back-up when starter Bill Laimbeer went down with a broken hand.
Zoet got into seven games with the Pistons. He played 30 minutes, registering two points, eight rebounds, one assist, one
steal and three blocks.
"It was a good experience," Zoet said. "Unfortunately, I didn't play much. I was there for insurance."
He was also a member of the Canadian national team from 1977-'80 and 1990 and was on the 1980 Canadian Olympic squad that
qualified for the Games in Moscow, but did not attend due to a boycott.
Zoet was one of 16 individuals on the Hall of Fame ballot this year.
"It (being inducted) would be a huge honour," said Zoet who has a daughter Samantha, 17, and son Jackson, 10, with wife
Su, 44. "How many kids in Canada get to pursue basketball as far as I have. It's not the Hall of Fame in Springfield, MT but
it's still big."
Today Zoet is about 30 pounds heavier than his former playing weight of 240 pounds. But he still gets up and down the court
with reasonable alacrity, playing for the Thunderbirds over-45 and over-50 masters teams in Etobicoke.
Jim Zoet: Born in Uxbridge Ontario, Jim Zoet attended Port Perry High School. At 7-foot-1, 240 pounds he played at Kent
State in the NCAA and also Lakehead in the CIS. He was a second team CIS all-star in 1976-78. His pro career was a cup of
coffee with the Detroit Pistons in 1982-83 where he appeared in only seven games playing 30 minutes while scoring two points
and grabbing eight rebounds and blocking three shots. A member of the 1980 Canadian Olympic team. Wore No. 40 for the Pistons.
Was 9th tallest player in the NBA during the 1982-83 season.
Position: C
Height: 7'1" Weight:
240 lbs.
Born: December 20, 1953 in Uxbridge, Canada
College: Kent State University
Totals
Click on the Tm for team roster, statistics, and leaders.
Click on the Lg
for league statistics, leaders, and standings.
Glossary
Year Ag Tm Lg G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK
TO PF PTS
+---------------+----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+
1983 29 DET NBA 7 30 1 5 0 0 0 0 3 5 8 1 1 3 4 9 2
+---------------+----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+
1 Season 7 30 1 5 0 0 0 0 3 5 8 1
1 3 4 9 2
+---------------+----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+
82-Game Avg 351 12 59 0 0 0 0 35 59 94 12
12 35 47 105 23
Career High 7 30 1 5 0 0 0 0 3 5 8 1
1 3 4 9 2
+---------------+----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+-----+----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+----+----+-----+
Per Game
Glossary
Year Ag Tm Lg G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TO PF
PTS
+---------------+----+----+----+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+
1983 29 DET NBA 7 4.3 0.1 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.7 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.3 0.3
+---------------+----+----+----+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+
1 Season 7 4.3 0.1 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.7 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.6
1.3 0.3
+---------------+----+----+----+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+
Per 48 Minutes
Glossary
Year Ag Tm Lg G MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TO PF
PTS
+---------------+----+-----+----+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+
1983 29 DET NBA 7 30 1.6 8.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.8 8.0 12.8 1.6 1.6 4.8 6.4 14 3.2
+---------------+----+-----+----+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+
1 Season 7 30 1.6 8.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.8 8.0 12.8 1.6 1.6 4.8 6.4
14 3.2
+---------------+----+-----+----+----+---+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+
