# Jim Rowinski > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jim_Rowinski > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jim_Rowinski.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Rowinski > Source revision: 1352832518 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American basketball player (1961–2024)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Jim Rowinski | image = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 8 | weight_lb = 260 | birth_date = {{birth date|1961|1|4}} | birth_place = [Long Island, New York](/source/Long_Island), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|2|1|1961|1|4}} | death_place = [Fort Lauderdale, Florida](/source/Fort_Lauderdale%2C_Florida), U.S. | highschool = [Syosset](/source/Syosset_High_School) ([Syosset, New York](/source/Syosset%2C_New_York)) | college = [Purdue](/source/Purdue_Boilermakers_men's_basketball) (1980–1984) | draft_year = 1984 | draft_round = 4 | draft_pick = 86 | draft_team = [Utah Jazz](/source/Utah_Jazz) | career_start = | career_end = | career_number = 41, 11, 50 | career_position = [Power forward](/source/Power_forward) / [center](/source/Center_(basketball)) | years1 = 1988 | team1 = [Long Island Knights](/source/Long_Island_Knights) | years2 = 1988–1989 | team2 = [Topeka Sizzlers](/source/Topeka_Sizzlers) | years3 = {{nbay|1988|end}} | team3 = [Detroit Pistons](/source/Detroit_Pistons) | years4 = {{nbay|1988|end}} | team4 = [Philadelphia 76ers](/source/Philadelphia_76ers) | years5 = 1989–1990 | team5 = Topeka Sizzlers | years6 = {{nbay|1989|end}} | team6 = [Miami Heat](/source/Miami_Heat) | years7 = 1990–1991 | team7 = [Yakima Sun Kings](/source/Yakima_Sun_Kings) | years8 = 1991 | team8 = [CB Breogán](/source/CB_Breog%C3%A1n) | years9 = 1991–1992 | team9 = [BC Castors Braine](/source/BC_Castors_Braine) | years10 = 1991–1992 | team10 = Yakima Sun Kings | years11 = 1992 | team11 = [Long Island Surf](/source/Long_Island_Surf) | years12 = 1992–1994 | team12 = [Karşıyaka](/source/P%C4%B1nar_Kar%C5%9F%C4%B1yaka) | years13 = 1995 | team13 = Long Island Surf | years14 = 1995 | team14 = [Miami Tropics](/source/Miami_Tropics) | years15 = 1995 | team15 = [Memphis Fire](/source/Memphis_Fire) | years16 = 1995–1996 | team16 = Yakima Sun Kings | years17 = 1997 | team17 = Long Island Surf | highlights = * 2× All-[CBA](/source/Continental_Basketball_Association) First Team (1990, 1991) * [CBA rebounding leader](/source/Continental_Basketball_Association_statistical_leaders) (1991) * [Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball](/source/Chicago_Tribune_Silver_Basketball) (1984) * First-team All-[Big Ten](/source/Big_Ten_Conference) (1984) }} '''James Rowinski''' (January 4, 1961 – February 1, 2024) was an American professional [basketball](/source/basketball) player. He played [college basketball](/source/college_basketball) for the [Purdue Boilermakers](/source/Purdue_Boilermakers_men's_basketball).{{cite news |author1=Phil Richards |title=Jim Rowinski a 'piece of work' who never once quit working |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-jim-rowinski-a-p/195995512/ |access-date=21 April 2026 |work=[The South Bend Tribune](/source/The_South_Bend_Tribune) |date=28 February 1984 |page=31|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}{{open access}} He later played professionally for almost two decades, including in Italy, Belgium, Spain, Turkey and the USA. ==College career== Rowinski, a 6'8" 260 lb [center](/source/center_(basketball)), attended [Purdue University](/source/Purdue_University).{{cite news |author1=Bill Travers |title=L.I. weakling is Purdue's 'Mr. Muscle' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-li-weakling-is-purdues-mr/195995430/ |access-date=21 April 2026 |work=[Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News) |date=11 March 1984 |page=74|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}{{open access}} Along with standout freshman and fellow center, [Russell Cross](/source/Russell_Cross), he helped lead the [Boilermakers](/source/Purdue_Boilermakers_men's_basketball) to a 21–11 record and to a third-place finish in the [NIT](/source/1981_National_Invitation_Tournament) under first year head coach, [Gene Keady](/source/Gene_Keady). During his sophomore season at Purdue, Jim helped them to an NIT Finals appearance. In his Junior season, he led Purdue to the second round of the [1983 NCAA Tournament](/source/1983_NCAA_Men's_Division_I_Basketball_Tournament). After Russell Cross left for the NBA after his junior season, Rowinski became the starting center for the Boilermakers. During his senior season, he led the Boilers to a Co-[Big Ten Conference](/source/Big_Ten_Conference) title, a berth in the [1984 NCAA Tournament](/source/1984_NCAA_Men's_Division_I_Basketball_Tournament) and an overall record of 22-7 for the season, averaging 15 points a game on the season. Jim was named ''First Team All-Big Ten'' and was also selected a team co-MVP with point guard, Ricky Hall.{{cite news |author1=Pamela J. Huey |title=Douglas, Rowinski UPI's co-Big Ten Players of the Year |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-douglas-rowinski-upis-co-bi/195995469/ |access-date=21 April 2026 |work=The Herald |date=13 March 1984 |page=32|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}{{open access}} He was rewarded the [Chicago Tribune Trophy](/source/Chicago_Tribune_Silver_Basketball), which is given the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player. He is one of three Purdue players to have been awarded this trophy; along with [Rick Mount](/source/Rick_Mount) (1969, 1970) and [Glenn Robinson](/source/Glenn_Robinson) (1994) were also recipients.{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pur/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/11-12MBBRecordBook.pdf |title=2011-12 Purdue Men's Basketball Information Guide |year=2011 |access-date=December 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220051915/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pur/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/11-12MBBRecordBook.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2011}} ==Professional career== Jim Rowinski was drafted by the [Utah Jazz](/source/Utah_Jazz) in the fourth round of the [1984 NBA draft](/source/1984_NBA_draft). He started his professional career playing in Europe and in the CBA.{{cite news |author1=Jon Marks |title=Rowinski gets his big chance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-rowinski-gets-his-big-chance/195995552/ |access-date=21 April 2026 |work=The Times |date=10 October 1989 |page=C10|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}{{open access}} He eventually began his NBA career in March 1989 with the [Detroit Pistons](/source/Detroit_Pistons){{cite news |author1=Dean Howe |title=Welcome, rookie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-welcome-rookie/195995698/ |access-date=21 April 2026 |work=The Flint Journal |date=2 March 1989 |page=D6|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}{{open access}} and on through to 1990 with the [Philadelphia 76ers](/source/Philadelphia_76ers) and the [Miami Heat](/source/Miami_Heat). His [NBA](/source/National_Basketball_Association) career lasted 23 games over two seasons, where he averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds a game, along with an 84.4 percent at the free throw line and a 41.7 field goal percentage. Rowinski played in the [Continental Basketball Association](/source/Continental_Basketball_Association) (CBA) for the [Topeka Sizzlers](/source/Topeka_Sizzlers) from 1988 to 1990 and the [Yakima Sun Kings](/source/Yakima_Sun_Kings) from 1990 to 1992 and during the 1995–96 season.{{cite web |title=Jim Rowinski minor league basketball statistics |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbasketball/stats/p-rowinjim001 |website=Stats Crew |access-date=February 24, 2025}} He was selected to the All-CBA First Team in 1990 and 1991. ==Death== Rowinski died on February 1, 2024, at the age of 63.{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Sam |title=Former Purdue basketball standout Jim Rowinski dies |url=https://www.jconline.com/story/sports/college/purdue/basketball/2024/02/02/jim-rowinski-leader-of-purdue-basketball-1984-big-ten-title-team-dies-obituary-nba-utah-jazz/72450406007/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |publisher=Journal & Courier |date=February 2, 2024}}[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/fort-lauderdale-fl/james-rowinski-11652327 James Rowinski] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rowinji01.html NBA statistics] @ basketballreference.com *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121014231013/http://www.acb.com/jugador.php?id=AKW Spanish League profile] {{DEFAULTSORT:Rowinski, Jim}} Category:1961 births Category:2024 deaths Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:American expatriate basketball people in Belgium Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain Category:American expatriate basketball people in Turkey Category:American men's basketball players Category:Basketball players from New York (state) Category:CB Breogán players Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Detroit Pistons players Category:Karşıyaka basketball players Category:Liga ACB players Category:Miami Heat players Category:People from Long Island Category:Philadelphia 76ers players Category:Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball players Category:Syosset High School alumni Category:Topeka Sizzlers players Category:United States Basketball League players Category:Utah Jazz draft picks Category:Yakima Sun Kings players {{1960s-US-basketball-bio-stub}} --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jim Rowinski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Rowinski) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Rowinski?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.