James Alan Les (born August 18, 1963) is an American basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the UC Davis Aggies men's team. A former point guard, Les played seven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) after his college career at Bradley University.
In 2011, he was hired as the head coach of the UC Davis Aggies men's basketball team.
College career
Les began his collegiate basketball career playing at Cleveland State University, but transferred after the 1981–82 season to Bradley. When he left college in 1986, he had compiled the second most assists in NCAA history in a combined playing career with Cleveland State and Bradley. However, the Hawks waived Les in July 1986. Two months later, Les signed with the Philadelphia 76ers but was waived in December without playing a game. In the summer of 1988, Les signed with the Chicago Express of the World Basketball League (WBL).
Les signed with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks on October 19, 1988, but was waived the next day. He then signed with the Utah Jazz and made his NBA debut on November 4, 1988. Les played all 82 games of the season. Les averaged 9.5 minutes, 1.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. After playing one game in the beginning of the season, Les was waived by the Jazz on November 6, 1989. Les returned to the NBA on February 6, 1990, with the Los Angeles Clippers and was waived on February 27 after playing 6 games.
Les signed with the NBA's Charlotte Hornets on August 29, 1990, but was waived before the regular season on October 23, 1990. On December 31, Les signed with the Sacramento Kings. Following two ten-day contracts, Les signed with the Kings for the rest of the season on January 20, 1991. Les played over 200 games for the Kings over 4 seasons before the team waived him on January 9, 1994. With 20.2 points per game, Les was the Racers' leading scorer in the playoffs, and the Racers advanced to the 1994 CBA Finals.
On August 9, 1994, Les signed with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. In 24 games, Les averaged 2.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
Coaching career
thumb|Jim Les in the huddle with UC Davis
Following his NBA career, Les was an assistant coach for the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs from 1999 to 2001. Les was on the staff of Monarchs head coach Sonny Allen in 1999 and 2000 and Maura McHugh in 2001. In all three seasons with Les as an assistant coach, the Monarchs made the WNBA Playoffs and advanced to the 2001 WNBA Conference Finals.
In 2002, he returned to his alma mater Bradley University as head coach, where he led Bradley to an improved record in each of his first two seasons. The Bradley Braves advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament in 2006. The following year the Braves exceeded expectations to make it to the NIT. In 2008, the Braves participated in their third consecutive postseason tournament when they were invited to the first annual College Basketball Invitational tournament. The Braves advanced to the CBI finals, defeating Cincinnati, Ohio University and Virginia, while losing two games to one to Tulsa in the CBI championship round.
In 2009, the Braves participated in their fourth consecutive postseason tournament when they were invited to the first annual CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The Braves beat Austin Peay 81–74 in the first round of the tournament, and then went on to beat Oakland University 76–75 on a miracle 70-foot shot by Chris Roberts at the buzzer to earn Les his fourth consecutive 20-win season. The Braves advanced to the CIT finals with a win over Pacific, while losing to Old Dominion 66–62 in the CIT championship game. Bradley finished the 2010–11 season tied for ninth place at 4–14 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Professional basketball players who played at Bradley under Les include Zach Andrews, Danny Granger, and Patrick O'Bryant.
Les was relieved of his duties on March 6, 2011, after the Braves finished a disappointing 12–20 campaign.
Les was hired as head coach of the UC Davis Aggies in 2011. He led Davis to its first conference regular season title and postseason appearance at the Division I level in 2015, and its first Division I NCAA Tournament two years later. He followed that up with another Big West regular season title and second NIT appearance the following year. He led the Aggies to five 20-win seasons in his first 13 years at the helm.
Personal
Les' older brother Tom played for the Bradley Braves from 1972 to 1975 and is the school's all-time assists leader. Their father, Richard Les, died of Parkinson's disease in 2011. Les has three children, including Tyler, who played basketball at UC Davis under him.
Career playing statistics
NBA
Source