Sport: Basketball
Born: June 28, 1957
Town: Jersey City
James Gerard Spanarkel was born on June 28, 1957 in Jersey City. He spent much of his free time playing football, baseball and basketball in the park near his home. His father, a salesman for Kellogg’s, mentored his athletic progress and also imparted a solid business sense. Jim attended Hudson Catholic in Jersey City along with Mike O’Koren, who was a year younger. They would become ACC rivals after Jim accepted a scholarship from Duke and O’Koren became a star for the UNC Tar Heels.
Jim averaged 13.3 points as a freshman in 1975–76 to win the ACC Rookie of the Year award. He boosted his scoring to 19.2 and developed as a playmaker and rebounder in his sophomore season, and earned All-ACC honors.
Everything came together for the Blue Devils in 1977–78. Jim was the floor leader of a team that included center Mike Gminski, forwards Gene Banks and Kenny Dennard, and fellow guard Bob Bender, a transfer from Indiana. Duke won its first ACC Tournament since 1966 and Jim was named tournament MVP.
Under coach Bill Foster, the Blue Devils went all the way to the NCAA Final. Jim was named MVP of the East Region as Duke scored close victories over Rhode Island and Penn, and then defeated Villanova to reach the Final Four. After a 90–86 win over Notre Dame in the national semifinal, the great run ended against Kentucky when Jack Givens exploded for 41 points in a 94–88 victory. Jim was named to the All-Tournament Team.
With its nucleus intact, Duke was a favorite to reach the Final Four again in 1978– 79, but fell in the NCAA Tournament to St. John’s. That was Jim’s final college game. He finished his college career as the first Blue Devil to score 2,000 points. Although that record has since been eclipsed, he still holds the school record for steals in a season, with 92.
Jim was the first draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1979 NBA Draft, the 16th player selected overall. The lanky 6–5 frame that enabled him to twist his way to the basket in college was not as great an advantage in the pros. And although he had great coordination and court vision, it did not make up for his lack of quickness compared to other NBA guards. Still, Jim enjoyed considerable success in the pros. After one season in Philadelphia he joined the Dallas Mavericks and scored between 10 and 20 points a game as a starter in 1981–82. After Mark Aguirre, Jay Vincent and Rolando Blackman joined the team, he saw his minutes drop. He played his final season in 1983–84.
Jim was prepared to start his business career, but he wasn’t quite finished with basketball. Many thought he would get into coaching. Instead, over the next two decades he juggled his job as a TV analyst (mostly for the Nets) and financial analyst. Spanarkel worked 30 years as Nets television analyst (currently on the YES Network), both with Ian Eagle courtside as a color commentator and more recently as a studio host during pre and post-game.Spanarkel was terminated by YES prior to the 2020-21 season. Currently, he works CBS Sports' regular season and postseason coverage with Eagle. He previously was as a studio analyst for NBA TV. During his entire broadcasting career, he has provided basketball coverage on CBS Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports, and YES. In 2013, Spanarkel called the international telecasts of the 2013 NBA Finals alongside Eagle. He has also been chief commentator for the Travers Cups and various member guest tournaments at Upper Montclair.
Jim has been with Merrill Lynch since 1984. Jim is an accredited consultant with the Merrill Lynch Global Institutional Consulting Group. He is currently a First Vice President. In addition to his Financial Advisor position, Jim has also completed the necessary training requirements for the Certified Investment Analyst (CIMA) designation from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds the designation of Certified Financial Planner and Certified Financial Manager as well as Certified Investment Management Consultant (CIMC). Jim has served on The Merrill Lynch Trust Company Non-Profit Advisory Council, a group of the firm's most experienced advisors for nonprofit organizations.
Jim is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), NJ chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFPand also member of the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA). He is a board member of the Board of Trustees for the Independent College Fund of New Jersey as well as a Board of Trustees member for the Upper Montclair Country Club. In addition, Jim also serves as a member ofFairleigh Dickinson University Center for Excellence Advisory Board. Jim has been a member of Merrill Lynch's elite Chairman's Club, Charles E. Merrill Club & Circle of Excellence Club
Spanarkel is married to Janet, and the couple has four children, James, Bridget, Stephanie, and Andrew.
