DENVER (KDVR) — Before there was Nikola Jokić or Jamal Murray, before there was Carmelo Anthony or David Thompson — even before there was the Denver Nuggets, there was the Denver Rockets and Larry R. Jones.

A family member confirmed to FOX31 in an email that Jones passed away on Aug. 16 at the age of 83 — but his legacy in basketball will live on for generations, just as it has in decades past.

Jones’ story doesn’t begin like a typical professional basketball player’s story. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, the future icon was cut from his junior high team multiple times, struggled for game time in his early high school years, before making a breakthrough in his senior year.

“I got cut in the seventh grade, eighth grade and made the team in ninth grade, but never played a game,” Jones was quoted as saying in a media release from the family’s chosen funeral service. “But that summer before my senior year, the light came on — or the Lord showed me ‘You can do this.’ Then I came back and I dominated everybody.”

His strong play caught the eye of the University of Toledo, which offered him a scholarship, and in return, Jones became one of the most decorated athletes in the university’s history.

He was a three-time Mid-American Conference scoring leader and a unanimous 1962 All-MAC First Teamer. Jones finished his collegiate career with 1,315 points scored and averaged 23.3 points per game as a senior, once scoring 35 points on a broken wrist, according to the press release.

Taken in the 1964 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, he played limited minutes in two years before he switched to the ABA’s Denver Rockets in 1967.

Jones took the opportunity and ran with it, becoming a star in the ABA after averaging 28.4 points in his second season, and becoming the first player to score at least 2,000 points in a single season, the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame reports.

His career record of scoring 30 or more points in 23 consecutive games was brought up in recent years when James Harden was going on his own scoring tear.

“When they were talking about James Harden’s streak, I got a few calls,” Jones was quoted as saying. “I never really thought about it that much, but you know, 30 points in 23 straight games — that wasn’t bad.”

Basketball Reference reported that he became a four-time ABA All-Star, three-time All-ABA First Team selection and played for teams, including:

Denver Rockets

The Floridians

Utah Stars

Dallas Chaparrals

He returned to the 76ers in 1973 and this time was selected as a starter.

Off the court, Jones was just as impactful. He became the first president of the ABA Players Association. He held a master’s degree and pursued a PhD, which he used to help call for the fair treatment of his fellow players.

“I wasn’t knocking the other guys, but that line about us working in factories didn’t work with me,” Jones said. “So, I kept organizing.”

Jones’ efforts for union recognition were successful after players threatened to sit out the 1971 ABA All-Star game, said the release.

He was elected to the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Following his retirement, he returned to Columbus, where he worked as a youth basketball coach and substitute teacher.