James Clifford Pollard (July 9, 1922 – January 22, 1993) was an American professional basketball player and coach.

As a player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), Pollard was considered one of the best forwards in the 1950s and was known for his leaping ability,[1] earning him the nickname "The Kangaroo Kid".

Pollard's college career was ended early due to World War II, and he served with the United States Coast Guard from 1942 to 1946.

It was there that Pollard famously "hit a ball that didn't stop until it got to Chicago", because it landed in a gondola car in a freight train passing by the ballpark.

Led by coach John Kundla, this core group of players have been called the "first legacy in the history of professional basketball".

[2] Pollard retired from playing basketball after eight seasons, and finished with career averages of 13.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

[7] He was named the head coach of the newly established Chicago Packers in 1961, and managed an 18–62 record in the team's first NBA season.