JAMES R. PETERSEN

St. Louis Park basketball player Jim Petersen was an outstanding athlete – at Park High, the University of Minnesota, and the NBA.

His achievements started at St. Louis Park High. In the 1978-79 school year, he was All Conference Center, All State Center, and the McDonald’s All American Center. He repeated his All Conference and All School honors in 1979-80, and was Parade Magazine’s All American Center. He served as team captain both years. In 1980 he was named “Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball.” A high point was in 1980 when he scored 36 points against Hopkins, with Park winning 86 to 69. He helped carry his team to the State tournament in 1979 and 1980.

Jim was a member of the Golden Gopher Basketball team at the U of M from 1980-84, serving as team captain in the 1983-84 year.

In 1984 he was selected by the Houston Rockets in the third round (51st overall) in the NBA draft. He played with the Rockets until 1988, when he became a member of the Sacramento Kings. From 1989 to 1992 he was a member of the Golden State Warriors.

Jim worked as a Timberwolves radio analyst from 1998 to 2000, then again from 2001 to 2002. In the 2000-2001 he served as a Timberwolves Television analyst and has continued in that position. He has also been a KFAN talk radio guest host on at least three occasions. Jim has spent much time as a volunteer coach.

Jim’s father was Bob Petersen, an outstanding basketball player for Minneapolis Vocational High who graduated in about 1950. Jim, his father Bob, and his brother Dave were all about 6’10.” Bob passed away in 1999.

Jim Petersen was in the inaugural group of inductees into the St. Louis Park Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.