Darryl Dawkins
American basketball player-coach
Darryl Dawkins (January 11, 1957 – August 27, 2015) was an American professional basketball player. He was known for his days with the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets. He also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz late in his career. His nickname was "Chocolate Thunder". It was given to him by Stevie Wonder.[1] He was known for his powerful dunks, which led the NBA to adopt breakaway rims because he shattered the backboard two times in 1979.[2]
Dawkins in 2009 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Orlando, Florida, U.S. | January 11, 1957
Died | August 27, 2015 Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 58)
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
Listed weight | 251 lb (114 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Maynard Evans (Orlando, Florida) |
NBA draft | 1975 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall |
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
Playing career | 1975–2000 |
Position | Center |
Number | 53, 45, 50 |
Career history | |
1975–1982 | Philadelphia 76ers |
1982–1987 | New Jersey Nets |
1987 | Utah Jazz |
1987–1989 | Detroit Pistons |
1989–1991 | Auxilium Torino (Italy) |
1991–1992 | Olimpia Philips Milano (Italy) |
1992–1994 | Libertas Forlì (Italy) |
1994–1995 | Harlem Globetrotters |
1995–1996 | Sioux Falls Skyforce (CBA) |
1999–2000 | Winnipeg Cyclone (IBA) |
Career NBA statistics | |
Points | 8,733 (12.0 ppg) |
Rebounds | 4,432 (6.1 rpg) |
Blocks | 1,023 (1.4 bpg) |
Dawkins died on August 27, 2015 from a heart attack in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 58.[3]
References
change- ↑ "'Chocolate Thunder' name came from Stevie Wonder". Eye on Basketball. CBS Sports. August 6, 2011. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
- ↑ Broussard, Chris (February 15, 2004). "A Game Played Above the Rim, Above All Else". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Darryl Dawkins dies at age 58". ESPN.go.com. Retrieved August 27, 2015.