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SAD NEWS: Darryl Dawkins (1957-2015) One of the NBA's great dunkers, entertainers & characters passed away (age: 58). ", There's a surprisingly large population of ex-players, Haywood said, who refuse to go to the doctor because "they're afraid of what they'll find out.''. Most of our guys do not. We have very effective treatments available to us.". At the time of his death, he was 58 years old. He was the head coach of the American Basketball Association's Newark Express. The rim and backboard needed some beefing up. He was drafted behind David Thompson, David Meyers, Marvin Webster, and Alvan Adams. Pieces of glass rained down on the court. A similar program for retired players, said Dr. Tim Byrne, who is part of the Phoenix Suns medical staff, would be more than sufficient. He committed one more personal foul during his career than Michael Jordan, despite playing nearly 350 fewer games.[25]. Darryl Dawkins, one of the most colorful characters in NBA history, has died. He said a construction worker recently came to his home to remove some debris and asked him, "Is this your play house?". "LeBron said to me, '$50,000? Silver said the NBA is prepared to kick in both financial support and a vast array of medical resources, including a prodigious network of cardiologists that have been affiliated with the NBA for years. He would name his dunks - the "look out below," the "yo-mama" and the "rim wrecker" among them - and often boasted that he hailed from the "Planet Lovetron.". His family released a statement Thursday afternoon, indicating the former NBA great died of a heart attack. We want to hear it. A shaken Silver called Roberts the morning after Malone passed away. He was 58, and even though officials said an autopsy would be performed Friday, his family released a statement saying the cause of death was a heart attack. Dawkins played 13 seasons in the NBA after being drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia 76ers. Three weeks later he did it again, this time at home against the San Antonio Spurs at the Spectrum. 'I'm smelling something burning. Darryl Dawkins at the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown during the 2015 NBA All-Star weekend. It worked. Always told you I would make it to the NBA since I was little, I thank the man above for allowing me to come through on my promise to you. Roberts said action from the players' association on providing screening for their retired players is "imminent.''. Darryl Dawkins, NBA Dunk Legend, Dead at 58, Welcome to the Squeal World: Why Pig Royalty Is the Prize Hog of Discovery+, O.J. That bending motion is what keeps the backboard from shattering. "The Sixers family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of an absolute legend, Darryl Dawkins. 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Dawkins also wore gold chain necklaces during games until the end of the 1980 NBA Finals when the NBA banned players from wearing them on court. Dawkins leaves behindwife Janice, and four children. In his final season in the NBA, the Pistons won the NBA championship,[21] and Dawkins finally earned a championship ring.[22][23]. That was the hardest dunk anyone had ever seen at the time. Known for shattering two glass backboards in 1979 with explosive dunks, Dawkins, who got his nickname from musical great Stevie Wonder, averaged 12 points, 6.1 assists and 1.4 blocks per game . "You were one of my favorite players of all time," Houston center Dwight Howard posted Thursday on Instagram under a photo of Dawkins dunking in a game for the 76ers. Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum top NBA quotes of the week, Shaken by deaths, union to help retired players, MacMullan: How Moses Malone mentored a young Charles Barkley, Recipient of Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award. NBA commissioner Adam Silver loved seeing Darryl Dawkins in his official role as an NBA Legend. A Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest spokesperson confirmed to Comcast SportsNet that Dawkins died there on Thursday. He also had a similar necklace that has another nickname "Dr. Dunk" in gold script. They had been working on it for a few years and the breakaway rims made their debut at the 1978 Final Four. He played the game with passion, integrity and joy, never forgetting how great an influence he had on his legions of fans, young and old.". But first, let me give you some history on Chocolate Thunder. Former 76ers star Allen Iverson tweeted: Condolences to the family of Darryl Dawkins, a great man! [32] In 1988, Dawkins married a former Nets cheerleader, Robbin Thornton; they divorced after 10 years. On August 20, 2009 . Surely, a 19-year-old is not ready to walk into a grown mans world no matter how big and athletic he is. "A great man, entertainer, athlete and ferocious dunker," former NBA guard Kevin Johnson wrote on Twitter in tribute to Dawkins. Silver wanted to know how close the union was to rolling out its initiative and how the league could help expedite the process. . At 6 feet, 11 inches and more than 250 pounds, he broke two glass backboards in one month during the 1979 season prompting the NBA to adopt a new rule making it a finable offense to shatter a backboard. Karl Anthony-Towns, the No.1 pick in the NBA draft, tweeted: I'm going to miss you so much Uncle Darryl. Darryl Dawkins's ferocious dunks became his calling card . "Simply put, Darryl Dawkins was beloved -- by his family, friends, former teammates and his fans all over the globe," 76ers CEO Scott O'Neil said. Darryl Dawkins, the first NBA player ever to be drafted straight out of high school and a flamboyant personality and showman dunker, died at the age of 58, according to multiple reports. There is no precedent for this. He always seemed destined to either die early or live on forever. Dawkins was traded to the Utah Jazz in a seven-player, three-team trade during the 1987 offseason. "The cardiac issues our players have experienced are well known.". [33] Dawkins later remarried; he and his wife, Janice, had three children: Nick, Alexis, and Tabitha, a daughter from Janice's previous relationship [34] who has Down syndrome. "Win or lose, every night I could barely get to my locker.". Point Guard Candidates: The All-Time 0 & 00 Team, Chuck Taylor: The Greatest Shoe Salesman of All-Time, Super Bowl XVI (49ers vs. Bengals): An Ultimate Recount of the Game. Well, probably not the only thing. On April 7, 1986, he appeared at WrestleMania II as a guest judge for a boxing match between Mr. T (with Joe Frazier, The Haiti Kid) versus Roddy Piper (with Bob Orton and Lou Duva).[29][30]. Dunk, seized upon the moment, giving each of his signature slams unique, street-smart handles The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam, Glass-Breaker-I-Am-Jam being a particular standout. August 30, 2015. In 197980, he averaged 14.7 points and a career-high 8.7 rebounds, helping the Sixers back to the NBA Finals, which they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. The Lehigh County coroner's office announced that an autopsy would be performed on August 27; but according to a statement released by Dawkins' family, the cause of death was a heart attack. "I know things are evolving. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. 5 in the 1975 NBA draft by the 76ers. He saw the look in Dawkins eyes as he brought the ball behind his head with both hands and knew what was coming. More tributes poured in quickly from across the league, including from the 76ers. Officials said an autopsy was scheduled for Friday. Darryl Dawkins, whose backboard-shattering dunks earned him the moniker "Chocolate Thunder" and helped pave the way for breakaway rims, has died. He remained enormously popular after his playing days were done, even during his stint as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. And this is also true, but Willoughby was drafted in the 2nd round, after Dawkins. Date of death: August 27, 2015, Died Place: Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States: Nationality: . He would name his dunks -- the "Look Out Below," the "Yo-Mama" and the "Rim Wrecker" among them -- and often boasted that he hailed from the "Planet Lovetron.". But Dawkins did not have a university. With the fifth overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Dawkins. This is decades before Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, or LeBron James would make coming out of high school seem like a normal thing. Darryl Dawkins was not only a champion on the court but also in the community and local reaction to his death has been an outpouring of love. Darryl touched the hearts and spirits of so many with his big smile and personality, ferocious dunks, but more than anything, his huge, loving heart," the statement said. And you would be right, except that he did not go straight to the NBA. There will never be another Chocolate Thunder. Collins did not want to pick glass out of his hair. For the second straight year, the Sixers earned the top seed in the Eastern Division and advanced to the conference finals, but they were defeated by the Washington Bullets in six games. List of National Basketball Association career playoff blocks leaders, List of National Basketball Association players with most blocks in a game, "Stevie Wonder gave Darryl Dawkins his 'Chocolate Thunder' nickname", "A Game Played Above the Rim, Above All Else", "Dawkins Does Not Regret Heading To Nba 25 Years Ago He Left Maynard Evans High School In 1975 To Help His Family Make It Through Financial Difficulties", "Why Pros Spent 20 Years Shunning High Schoolers", "Philadelphia 76ers at New Jersey Nets Box Score, November 5, 1983", "Nets Franchise Single Game Record Blocks", "For the 76ers, it was almost a Net loss", "To the New Jersey Nets, there's no place like", "Mavericks defeat Lakers - 2011 (Western Conference semifinals) - Greatest NBA Playoff Upsets - Photos - SI.com", "1984 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Nets vs. Dawkins, still playing for Philadelphia, went up for a ferocious dunk against Bill Robenzine and shattered the glass backboard. So, once again, the game was delayed for over an hour as the arena crew had to completely replace the entire basket support. . Dawkins was always cool with us . After Philadelphia won the next two games, the Nets won a decisive game 5 when Dawkins' defense on reigning MVP Moses Malone helped New Jersey overcome a late deficit to win their first playoff series. Darryl R. Dawkins (January 11, 1957 August 27, 2015) was an American professional basketball player. [33], In 1999, Saturday Night Live named Dawkins the "Man of the Millennium" in a Weekend Update sketch. "It's the topic nobody wants to address. You were one of my favorite players of all time. Dawkins most recently was the former head coach of the Lehigh Carbon Community College men's basketball team. Each time he shattered the glass into little shards that looked like tiny bits of ice strewn around the court. Darryl Dawkins, the NBA's legendary 'Chocolate Thunder,' dies at 58. . You were very inspirational to a lot of young players. When he finally established himself, injuries kept him from basketball greatness. / CBS/AP. We want to shine a light on forgotten stories that need to be remembered again. The NBA soon went to breakaway rims and mandated that backboards be shatter-resistant. Prayers go up for the Dawkins family. So, getting back to my original question; what made Dawkins so famous? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead on sale for nearly $7 million. Dawkins appeared to return to form the following season averaging 15.3 points and shooting .644 from the floor, but an injury midway through the season kept him out of 31 of the team's final 32 games. "I feel badly these guys feel they are at risk for a shorter life span, but there are other factors that are leading to that.". "This is a new age in treating the heart. "I will tell you we hope to have something sooner than later. He remained enormously popular after his playing days were done, even during his stint as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. "If you were a writer, he was a delight because everything that came out of his mouth was shocking or entertaining," Spanarkel said. I can't believe that you're gone. The Lehigh County, Pennsylvania coroner's office confirmed that Dawkins died Thursday morning at a hospital. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve his loss. He was 58, and even though officials said an autopsy would be performed on Friday his family released a statement saying the cause of death was a heart attack. The names you came up with were creative and on point. Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum top NBA quotes of the week, When thinking about Dawkins, smiles won't end, NBA Players Pay Respect To The Late Darryl Dawkins. Dawkins was as revered off the court as he was on it. So, join us next time we answer the question, what does fashionable footwear from 100 years ago have to do with playing basketball. Doing a good deed is always a good thing. He also appears in NBA Live Mobile as a Legend based on his 19791980 season with the Sixers. In a statement his family said he died of a heart attack. Dawkins spent parts of 14 seasons in the NBA with Philadelphia, New Jersey, Utah and Detroit. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. This page was last edited on 27 November 2022, at 01:06. The following year the 76ers would celebrate their first championships since Wilt Chamberlain won it in 1967. Chocolate Thunder' will always have a special place in our hearts. Longtime NBA center Darryl Dawkins, perhaps best known for his emphatic slam dunks, died Thursday at the age of 58.. After WFMZ-TV initially reported the former Philadelphia 76ers star's death, a . Sources: Bucks favored to sign veteran Dragic. Over 600 people attended his public casket viewing. What are Darryl Dawkins' nicknames? The Mercer County, N.J., prosecutor . '', Haywood said one of the most frustrating misnomers is the supposition that all ex-NBA stars are wealthy. Jim Spanarkel played with Dawkins in Philadelphia during Spanarkel's rookie season in 1979-80. In 2005, Dawkins was one of several former NBA players to audition for an analyst position with ESPN, as part of the network's reality series Dream Job. Rest in peace OG. But, the real Larry OBrien was not happy with Dawkins. The nomenclature-obsessed basketball lifer known for his ferocious dunking ability and outsized personality was truly one of a kind. There you will see several highlight clips. Dawkins died Thursday at a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to the Lehigh County coroner's office. His final choices for college were Kentucky, Kansas, and Florida State. [35], Dawkins died on August 27, 2015, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 58. Dawkins died on August 27, 2015, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 58. He was also the player/coach of the Winnipeg Cyclone, a team in the short-lived International Basketball Association in 19992000. Decent numbers but not the kind of Hall of Fame career his immense talent said he should have had. In the second game of the series, Dawkins got into a fight with Maurice Lucas, resulting in both players being ejected. But unlike Shaq, Dawkins never claimed an NBA title. And Last September, former Sixer Caldwell . Darryl Dawkins of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks during a 1980 playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks. 1:45 PM PT -- Darryl's family says he died from a heart attack today. [10][11] In the first round of the playoffs, the sixth seeded Nets were matched up with Dawkins' former team, Philadelphia 76ers. You were the originator of the dunk. But we're still losing guys younger than we should.". Subsequent reports revealed Malone had complained of an irregular heartbeat and was wearing a heart monitor when he died. The news came weeks after the late-August death of former Sixer Darryl Dawkins, 58. Rest easy OG. Injuries plagued him late in his NBA career, and he went overseas for several more years to play primarily in the Italian league. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday. His two ferocious dunks in 1979 caused the league to switch over. He then tried to make an NBA comeback where he went to training camp with the Orlando Magic but didnt make the team. Injuries plagued Dawkins late in his NBA career, and he went overseas for several years to play in the Italian league. But the one thing he could always do from the beginning was to dunk with such ferocity that he left the backboard shaking after each one. hide caption. He was particularly known for his tenure with the National Basketball Association's Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, although he also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz late in his career. We remember fondly not only his thunderous dunks, but more importantly his powerful presence and personality. Among them were former boxing heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, former 76ers teammates Billy Cunningham (who also coached Dawkins for five of his seven seasons with the team), former New Jersey Net Tim Bassett, and modern NBA players Jason Thompson and Karl-Anthony Towns.[37]. "There are plenty of risk factors that contribute: increased body mass index, hypertension, family history. Mr. Dawkins was the fifth selection in the 1975 draft by the 76ers. Nobody had ever done that before. He was on everybodys recruiting list. He was also known as Dr. Dunkenstein, Double D, or Sir Slam. "We had some great conversations," Silver said. #chocolate thunder, A photo posted by Dwight Howard (@dwighthoward) on Aug 27, 2015 at 12:31pm PDT. Dawkins also had a penchant for naming his most memorable dunks. A man charged with possession of a firearm after a gun was found in the trunk of his car following a mass shooting at a Cumberland County birthday party held in his honor has been ordered jailed . Maurice Lucas of the Trail Blazers hauling down a rebound as Philadelphia's Darryl Dawkins battles for position during their NBA championship . The good-faith actions of current players were welcome news to retired veterans who have been rattled by the spate of cardiac-related deaths.
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