Utah Basketball Officially Retires Jersey Of Legend Tom Chambers
Feb 5, 2022, 7:53 PM
(Photo courtesy of Utah Athletics)
(Photo courtesy of Utah Athletics)
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah basketball program officially retired the jersey of legend Tom Chambers on Saturday night against the Oregon Ducks.
Utah basketball put the jersey of Tom Chambers into the rafters at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. He becomes the ninth Runnin’ Utes player to have their jersey retired in program history.
This comes less than one month after Wat Misaka’s No. 20 jersey was honored and put in the rafters.
No. 42 hanging in the rafters at the Huntsman Center. #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/3xpafQe66s
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 6, 2022
Successful Career For Tom Chambers With Utah Basketball
Chambers was a two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection during his time with Utah from 1977-81. He helped the Runnin’ Utes to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a berth in the Sweet 16 in 1981 when Utah won the WAC title. After a successful career at Utah, Chambers was taken eighth overall in the 1981 NBA Draft by the San Diego Clippers.
Chambers led the team in scoring in his last three years and rebounds in the last two seasons with the program. He ranks ninth in career points with 1,698 and 10th with 876 rebounds, sixth in field goals made with 691 and 10th in field goals attempted with 1,249.
Tom Chambers with some words at his jersey retirement ceremony. #GoUtes 1/2 pic.twitter.com/hbCuNxWx9L
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 6, 2022
As a sophomore, Chambers averaged a team-best 16 points per game and helped Utah reach the NCAA Tournament as a WAC runner-up. As a junior, Chambers posted averages of 17.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. During his senior campaign, the Ogden, Utah native averaged 18.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, helping the Runnin’ Utes to a share of the WAC title and a spot in the Sweet 16.
More from Tom Chambers. #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/TG9A7NTCWe
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 6, 2022
In the NBA, Chambers was a four-time All-Star from 1981-97. He played 16 seasons for six different teams, including the San Diego Clippers (1981-83), Seattle SuperSonics (1983-88), Utah Jazz (1993-95), Charlotte Hornets (1997) and Philadelphia 76ers (1997). During his time in the NBA, Chambers scored 20,049 points, while averaging 18.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
He earned All-Star Game MVP honors in 1987 with 34 points and appeared in one NBA Finals in 1993 with the Suns.
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
