Jack Givens a Kentucky Basketball Hero
Jack Givens was raised in the state of Kentucky, played for the University of Kentucky and will always be a BBN fan favorite. In this article we want to provide Kentucky Fans past and present the history of Jack "Goose" Givens.
Jack was born on the 21st of September, 1956 . Jack Givens led the University of Kentucky to the 1978 NCAA basketball championship. If you have been around Kentucky basketball you have probably heard the phrase many times “The Goose
Got Lose” due to Jacks unforgettable individual performance in that Championship game against Duke.
He was named the 1978 Final Four’s most outstanding player in the championship game. Jack was unstoppable, dropping 41 points on Duke in the Wildcats 94-88 victory over now rival Duke in the championship game.
The older you are the more great Kentucky Basketball memories you have. Honestly, I am not sure if there is anything that can quite prepare to the magical performance Jack had against Duke in the championship game of the 1978 NCAA
tournament. Forty one points, this was before the 3 point shout and before Duke was Duke.
This video will share with you the highlights of one of, if not THE best moments in Kentucky basketball history.
After this game every Kentucky kid in Kentucky wanted number 21. Jack was from Lexington, Kentucky and played his High School basketball at Bryan Station High School. Jack was a silky smooth left hand shooter that was listed as six foot five 205 pounds. He played the small forward position.
JACK GIVENS BASKETBALL CAREER PROFILE
High school. —— Bryan Station ( Lexington, Kentucky. )
College. ——— Kentucky (1974-1978) Wildcats men’s basketball team
NBA draft. —— Jack was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round #16 over all
The Atlanta Hawks NBA
Total professional playing career. ——1978-1983
Position. —— Shooting guard/small forward
Jersey Number. —— 21
Teams played for —–Atlanta hawks (1978-1980) He played two years for the Hawks, scoring 1,040 points in 156 games
Jack played over sees in Japan for Akita Isuzu motors (1982-1983)
After his playing career, Givens was an NBA television color analyst for various networks and teams, most notably
with the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and the Orlando Magic for both the Sun Sports and FS Florida cable stations
from the team’s inception in 1990 to 2004.
Givens is the CEO and President of Orlando Comets, a basketball organization that has placed over 60 players into NCAA
basketball on full scholarships. In 2006, the Orlando Comets won the national AAU Championship in the 16 and under division.
Jack and his wife Linda have two children, Jeremy and Jaimie and they live in Georgetown, Kentucky.
JACK GIVENS UK/COLLEGIATE CAREER AND STATISTICS
Jack “Goose” Givens got national recognition while at Lexington’s Bryan station high school in 1974, that year he was honored with the Kentucky Mr. Basketball and parade all American honors. High School gyms around the state of Kentucky were packed whereever Jack played. Kentucky fans were hoping he and Henry Clay senior James Lee would end up becoming Wildcats. BBN’s dream came true when both Givens and James Lee signed with the University of Kentucky.
UK was national runners up in Jack Given’s freshmen season after being defeated by UCLA (university of California, Los Angeles) in 92-85 game in the 1975 final four championship game. Three years after, Jack Gvens and the Kentucky Wildcats returned to the final four at the checker dome in Saint Louis, Missouri. Jack given led Kentucky to a semi-finals victory over the university of Arkansas, after that he went on to score 41 points ( this was before the 3-Point Goal existed in college basketball) making 18 of 27 field goal attempts against Duke University to help Kentucky clinch their 5thNCAA mens basketball championship.
During his four years at Kentucky Jack score of 2038 points in 123 games ( averaging 16.6 points per game). Jack is ranked third on the
Wildcats all time scoring list and was named to the first team of All-south eastern conference, 3 times from 1976-1978 and was a consensus second team All-American in 1978.
The most respectful recognition given to a Kentucky Wildcat player was given to Jack when his UK Number 21 was retired and hung in Rupp Arena with many other Kentucky basketball legends.
Jack Givens career and season highlights while playing at the University of Kentucky Basketball Team:
- Mr basketball state of Kentucky 1974.
- Parade All-American
- Scholastic coach All-American
- Retired Jersey number 21
- 1975-1976 : All American (HELMS) ; All SEC (first team (coaches), second team (AP AND UPI) ).
- 1976-1977 : All American ( NABC (4th), HELMS ); All-NCAA regional team; All-SEC (first team (API, UPI and coaches) ).
- 1977-1978 : National player of the year (HELMS), All-American ( consensus (2nd), AP (2nd), UPI (2nd), NABC (2nd), USBWA (2ND), converse (1st), HELMS, wooden (1st); NCAA final four most outstanding player; NCAA regional most outstanding player; All SEC (first team ( AP, UPI and coaches).
Jack given’s POST University of Kentucky basketball career notes;
- State of Kentucky athletic Hall of Fame
- University of Kentucky athletic Hall of Fame
- Drafted number 16th overall in the first round of the 1978 NBA draft by Atlanta Hawks.
Table showing Jack Givens career statistics at the University of Kentucky
| Season | Games
Played |
Minutes | FG | FGA | % | FT | FTA | % | Total rebs | Assist | F | Total points |
| 1974-75 | 31 | 598 | 126 | 255 | 49.41 | 40 | 54 | 74.07 | 152 | 27 | 55 | 292 |
| 1975-76 | 30 | 1068 | 243 | 494 | 49.19 | 116 | 140 | 82.86 | 216 | 81 | 80 | 602 |
| 1976-77 | 30 | 1032 | 236 | 459 | 51.42 | 94 | 113 | 83.19 | 208 | 82 | 64 | 566 |
| 1977-78 | 32 | 1028 | 238 | 430 | 55.35 | 102 | 134 | 76.12 | 217 | 80 | 95 | 578 |
| TOTAL | 123 | 3726 | 843 | 1638 | 51.47 | 352 | 441 | 79.82 | 793 | 270 | 294 | 2038 |
Jack Givens was coached by Joe B. Hall.
A profile showing the 1977-78 Kentucky wildcats men’s basketball team that won the NCAA championship.
Conference. Southeast conference
Ranking.
Coaches. No. 1
1977-78 record. 30-2 (16 – 2 SEC )
Head coach. Joe B. Hall (6th season )
Assistant coach. Dick Parsons
Assistant coach. Leonard Hamilton
Assistant coach. Joe Dean, Jr.
Captains. Jack Givens & Rick Robey
Home arena. Rupp Arena
Given led the team to its 5th national championship and first in 20 years.
JACK GIVEN’S NBA CAREER
The Atlantic Hawks of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) drafted jack given with the 16th overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft following his collegiate career. He went on to play for just two years in the NBA with the Atlantic Hawks and within this short time, he was able to rack up 1040 points in 156 games, averaging (6.7 points per game).
JACK GIVENS NBA CAREER STATISTICS
Per game statistics
| Season | Age | Tm | LG | Pos | G | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 2p | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB |
| 1978-79 | 22 | ATL | NBA | SF | 74 | 18.2 | 3.2 | 7.6 | .415 | 3.2 | 7.6 | .415 | .415 | 1.4 | 1.8 | .756 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| 1979-80 | 23 | ATL | NBA | SF | 82 | 15.3 | 2.2 | 5.8 | .385 | 2.2 | 5.7 | .386 | .385 | 1.3 | 1.6 | .828 | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| Career | NBA | 156 | 16.7 | 2.7 | 6.6 | .401 | 2.7 | 6.6 | .402 | .401 | 1.3 | 1.7 | .791 | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
| 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 7.7 |
| 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 5.7 |
| 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 6.7 |
| Summary | G | PTS | TRB | AST | FG% | FG3% | FT% | eFG% |
| Career | 156 | 6.7 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 40.1 | 0.0 | 79.1 | 40.1 |
CAREER AVERAGE
| Career | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assist | Steals | Blocks |
| Season | 156 | 6.7 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
| Playoffs | 13 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
CAREER TOTALS
| Career | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assist | Steals | Blocks |
| Season | 156 | 1040 | 456 | 142 | 123 | 36 |
| Playoffs | 13 | 29 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
JACK GIVEN’S NBA STATISTICS SUMMARY:
- 1040 ( 6.7 ppg )
- 456 (2.9 rPG )
- 142 ( 0.9 apg )
JACK GIVEN’S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS
- JBL2 MVP (1982)
- JBL2 BEST 5 (1982)
- JBL2 SCORING LEADER (1982)
- NCAA CHAMPION (1978)
- NCAA FINAL FOUR MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER (1978)
- HELMS FOUNDATION PLAYER OF THE YEAR (1978)
- CONSENSUS SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN (1978)
- KENTUCKY’S MR BASKETBALL (1974)
- SEC MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (1978).
GIVENS LIFE AFTER PLAYING CAREER IN BASKETBALL
Jack “Goose” Givens became an NBA analyst for various networks and basketball teams, the most notable one with the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) and the Orlando Magic for both the Sun Sports and FS Florida cable stations from the team’s inception in 1990-2004.
Given became the CEO and President of the Orlando Comets, a basketball organisation which has helped over 60 players receive a NCAA basketball full scholarship. In 2006, the Orlando Comets won the national amateur athletic union (AAU) championship in the 16 and under 16 divisions. Jack and his wife, Linda have two children (Jeremy and Jaimie)
LIFE ADVISE FROM JACK GOOSE GIVENS
Goose Givens, was a silky-shooting Kentucky senior forward, held the college basketball world in thrall. In the NCAA championship games, Givens schooled
Duke for a game-high 41 points in a 94-88 win and earned the tournament’s MVP award.
“Everything was falling for me,” says Givens,, “It was the most special
night of my basketball career.”
The Goose’s gilded play that evening, and his 16.6-point career
scoring average as a Wildcat, led the Atlanta Hawks to choose him
in the first round of the 1978 NBA draft. Three seasons later the
Hawks declared the 6’5″ Givens and his 6.7-point average
expendable. “I think I would have blossomed if given another year
or two to adjust,” says Givens, who then played five seasons in
Japan while launching his broadcast career doing Kentucky high
school games in the off-season.
Givens shows empathy for struggling players as the father of two
young athletes and as the voice of the Magic, a job he held
since Orlando joined the league in 1989 until 2005.
Rather than harping and hanging on mistakes, parents need to
learn to encourage their kids. If you don’t you end up with kids
that play afraid to lose instead of having the desire to win.
When son Jeremy, and daughter Jaimie Lynne, had a sub par
performances Givens believes in reinforcing positive thought.
When having an off night, Magic marksmen are just as likely
to inspire a vintage Givens line like “got to like the effort” is about
as critical as Jack will ever get. “I had two coaches in my career
who verbally beat up guys all the time,” says Givens, who daylights as a
motivational speaker on the Orlando convention circuit. Probably
because that is how they were taught to coach by their mentors.
“That’s not my style.” I believe in the Power of Positive Thinking and
positive affirmation. He will, however, beat up his body playing
off-season pickup games with Darrell Armstrong, Bo Outlaw and
other Orlando players. “Luckily I’m comfortable up in the booth,” says Givens, who’s content to dine out on
his one magic moment. “Once the summer ends, I step aside and let the pros get down to business.”
For Big Blue Fans looking for Jack Givens Autographs and memorabilia here is the best place you can
find it on eBay. CLICK HERE.
