He only played six games in the 198687 season, after a second back surgery in less than two years. That study, O'Keefe said, is not applicable to basketball players. For his NBA career he averaged 12.0 points and 6.1 rebounds a game. RIP to Darryl Dawkins aka "Chocolate Thunder" - a great man, entertainer, athlete and ferocious dunker. He was also known as Dr. Dunkenstein, Double D, or Sir Slam. Nicknamed "Chocolate Thunder," Dawkins played 13 seasons in the NBA after being drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1975. 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.". Increasingly rainy and windy with a brief wintry mix this evening changing to rain; wintry mix lasting longer in the Poconos, where 1-3" of snow and sleet plus a glaze of ice possible. Darryl Dawkins Death: and Cause of Death. It needed to become Dawkins proof. Darryl Dawkins, who became famous for backboard-shattering dunks after he was the first NBA player to skip college altogether, has died at age 58. Thoughts and prayers go out to Janice and the entire Dawkins family on the passing of a gentleman. That's because people [my size] don't live that long. 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. The world of basketball lost one of its most colorful characters with the death of Darryl Dawkins on Thursday. Date of death: August 27, 2015, Died Place: Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States: Nationality: . This one was called the Chocolate Thunder Flying, Robenzine Crying, Teeth Shaking, Glass Breaking, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting, Wham Bam, Glass Breaker, I am Jam.. A spokesperson for Lehigh Valley . In 1982 they lost to the Lakers again. Lanier said many retired players recognize the formula for healthy living, but the pounding of a long NBA career has left many of them hobbled and, in some cases, incapacitated, thus unable to exercise at all. One gold chain had a cross while the other featured one of his nicknames "Sir Slam" in gold script. He then tried to make an NBA comeback where he went to training camp with the Orlando Magic but didnt make the team. Haywood attended the union meetings in Vegas and informed Paul and James that elite players of his generation made no more than $50,000 or $75,000 at the height of their careers. The man known as 'Chocolate Thunder' threw it down like few before him, and his impact on above-the-rim play can be felt to this day. His death came less than three weeks before the Sixers community lost another former center in Moses Malone, who died Sept. 13, 2015, at age 60. "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.". "The cardiac issues our players have experienced are well known.". That's per diem money.' With the Nets looking to be a team on the rise led by Dawkins, they entered the 198485 with high expectations. Richardson had just received a message that good friend and former teammate Darryl Dawkins, the first player ever drafted directly out of high school into the NBA, was . The NBA introduced collapsible rims not long after that, leaving Dr Dunkenstein to perform more traditional assaults on basketball rims. Dawkins, who had already been known to fans as Dr. Some of you might say that Moses Malone was drafted out of high school a year before Dawkins. At 20 years old, Dawkins averaged 11.7 points and 7.9 rebounds in nearly 25 minutes per game, while ranked second in the league in field goal percentage at .575. But, to go from high school directly to the NBA? but according to a statement released by Dawkins' family, the cause of death was a heart attack. "If you are a big dog, you don't live as long as a little dog, but I'm not convinced that's how it works with humans. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead on sale for nearly $7 million. And that is also true, except that Malone went to the ABA, which was still a completely separate league. : Made in America: Inside ESPNs Definitive Simpson Doc, Skrillex and Martin Garrix Prepare to Party at the Indy 500 Snake Pit, plays that would become highlight-reel staples, She Used the Bathroom And Became a Target of the Culture War, Here's How LaRussell and Intuit are Helping Independent Artists Understand How to Achieve Their Financial Ambitions, Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Wife and Son, Alex Murdaugh Found Guilty of Murdering Wife and Son, Tennessee Enacts Nations First Law Restricting Drag Shows, David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist Who Shaped the Sound of Soft Rock, Dead at 78, Suki Waterhouse Won't Take Romance For Granted on New Single 'To Love', Travis Barker Says His Finger Ligament Surgery Was a 'Success' After Postponing Blink-182 Tour, DeSantis Disney Appointee Said Tap Water Might Be Turning People Gay. #chocolate thunder, A photo posted by Dwight Howard (@dwighthoward) on Aug 27, 2015 at 12:31pm PDT. Sixers Darryl Dawkins hammers another dunk shot through the net to score against the Atlanta Hawks in an NBA playoff game, Tuesday, April 15, 1980, Philadelphia, Pa. Dawkins was a co-high scorer . He was also known as Dr. Dunkenstein, Double D, or Sir Slam. In his final season in the NBA, the Pistons won the NBA championship,[21] and Dawkins finally earned a championship ring.[22][23]. From the start of his pro career, Dawkins was capable of soaring above other players and arriving at the rim with unstoppable force. Following his professional playing career, Dawkins made his home in the Lehigh Valley. "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," his family said. His first backboard-breaking dunk deserved an outrageous nickname, therefore he called it: The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam, Glass-Breaker-I-Am-Jam. Police said no other details of the death were available. 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. Dawkins was traded to the Nets during the 1982 off-season in exchange for a first-round draft pick. Darryl Dawkins in 1980 with the Philadelphia 76ers. He died on Thursday at age 58. The Orlando native played 15 seasons in the NBA, spending the majority of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets. I know. The 58-year-old NBA star, who lived in the Allentown area, died Thursday. "I don't believe it's out of malice. Then they lost again in 1980 to the Lakers. The former basketball star was pronounced dead at 11:19 a.m. Thursday in Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, according to Lehigh County Chief Deputy Coroner Andrew Kehm. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. The Associated Press contributed to this report. No cause was of death was given, an inglorious end to an oversized life. But you are in a better place. On Thursday afternoon his family released a statement about his passing: "It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Darryl Dawkins, who succumbed today to a heart attack. A proper diet, routine exercise, limiting alcohol, eliminating smoking and undergoing regular screening, Bove said, are steps that should alleviate the players' fears. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sports History Network is not affiliated with, licensed, sponsored, authorized, or endorsed by any college, university, team, league, artist, athlete, venue, other brand, or any licensing entity. At the time of his death he survived by his large extended friends and family. Free. Dawkins spent parts of 14 seasons in the NBA with Philadelphia, New Jersey, Utah and Detroit. Darryl Dawkins was once summoned in the Philadelphia 76ers' locker room to meet a celebrity who wanted to meet the man known for dunking with backboard-breaking force. Dawkins grew up in Orlando, Florida and made history as the first player to be drafted to the NBA directly out of high school, after applying for the 1975 Draft as a financial hardship case (a 1971 Supreme Court decision allowed players to go pro without waiting the league-mandated four years after graduating high school, provided they could give evidence of hardship). #chocolate thunder, A photo posted by Dwight Howard (@dwighthoward) on Aug 27, 2015 at 12:31pm PDT, First published on August 27, 2015 / 4:07 PM. While union officers (among them president Chris Paul and vice president LeBron James) were keenly receptive, they pressed for more specifics and wanted assurances the program would be sustainable. Decent numbers but not the kind of Hall of Fame career his immense talent said he should have had. Darryl Dawkins, seen here at the 2013 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, died Thursday at age 58. The nicknames forever changed depending on how he felt. Dawkins' role in helping the Sixers win the Eastern Conference championship established him as one of Philadelphia's top players, on a team that included Julius Erving, George McGinnis, Lloyd Free, and Doug Collins. The 76ers suffered another postseason disappointment in 1982 when they reached the Finals but lost again to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. Dawkins so loved his dunks that he often named them. He only averaged 2 points per game his rookie year coming off the bench. With his ferociously powerful play in the lane and a flair for outlandish outfits, creative nicknames ("Sir Slam," "Dr. Dunkenstein"), and wild theories ("I'm from Lovetron," he often said, claiming otherworldly status), Dawkins can in some ways be seen as an early version of Shaquille O'Neal. Dawkins, still playing for Philadelphia, went up for a ferocious dunk against Bill Robenzine and shattered the glass backboard. Inside Jim Jordan's Disastrous Search for a 'Deep State' Whistleblower Sources: Bucks favored to sign veteran Dragic. "I remember him yelling that he broke a backboard and that he wanted to renegotiate his contract because he could break a backboard.". The spring absorbs most of the force and not the backboard. Today, that is no big deal because guys like LeBron are announced as being from their high school. I. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Mercer Medical Center. We were lucky that Dawkins came along before sports was ruined by image-makers and professional basketball athletes dared to show personality. In 1979, Dawkins shattered two backboards in separate games. They cheered at the site of the rim sitting on the court. Darryl Dawkins death. Darryl Dawkins, a.k.a. Yes, the answer is Darryl Dawkins. An autopsy was performed Friday and the cause as well as the manner of death are pending further forensic studies. ", 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.''. The 1950s is often viewed as "baby boom" and a period of conformity, when young and old alike followed group norms rather than striking out on their own. He drifted for several years, floating through Italy and the Continental Basketball Association and even had a brief run with the Harlem Globetrotters, not fully retiring from basketball until 2000. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, They said it! Instead, he had to learn as a pro, struggling through his first few seasons. 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. "When we have this type of thing -- two former players dying back-to-back just weeks apart -- they see themselves as this select little group. What are Darryl Dawkins' nicknames? The Commissioner at the time was Larry OBrien. He was the first high school player to be taken in the first round of the draft. A similar program for retired players, said Dr. Tim Byrne, who is part of the Phoenix Suns medical staff, would be more than sufficient. "I have health insurance through my wife's job. In a statement his family said he died of a heart attack. Dr. Alfred Bove, physician emeritus at Temple University School of Medicine and a former Philadelphia 76ers team doctor, dismissed the notion that NBA stars are at higher risk for cardiac-related deaths than the general population. Combien gagne t il d argent ? ", "Dawkins, who had many ties to the Lehigh Valley, was pronounced dead at 11:19 a.m. Thursday at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, the Lehigh County Coroner's Office said.". He was heavily recruited by Division I colleges across the country, and he narrowed his choices to Florida State, Kansas, and Kentucky. Dawkins was selected No. Your smile personality and energy will truly be missed!!! Updated on: August 28, 2015 / 6:03 AM No immediate cause of death has yet been announced . NBA commissioner Adam Silver loved seeing Darryl Dawkins in his official role as an NBA Legend. 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. He was taken fifth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers, and with his speed and imposing physical presence, Dawkins was expected to make an immediate impact and though started slow during his first few seasons, he eventually became a key contributor to Sixers squads that battled for Eastern Conference superiority in the late Seventies and early Eighties. Darryl Dawkins died on August 27, 2015, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 58. Who could forget the In-Your-Face-Disgrace? Ex-NBA player Darryl Dawkins was known for thunderous dunks. And Dawkins is definitely a noteworthy player. 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. He was 58, and even though officials said an autopsy would be performed on Friday . "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. That was the hardest dunk anyone had ever seen at the time. The Lehigh County, Pennsylvania coroner's office confirmed that Dawkins died Thursday morning at a hospital. and just last year explained how Stevie Wonder gave him his famous nickname. The Associated Press, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk and ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report. In a game against the Kansas City Kings at Municipal Auditorium on November 13, 1979, Dawkins broke the backboard, sending the Kings' Bill Robinzine ducking. Trending [18] His tenure with Utah lasted just four games before the Jazz traded him to the Detroit Pistons for a pair of second-round draft picks and an undisclosed amount of cash. I can't tell you why that is. But we're still losing guys younger than we should.". The first of Dawkins famous two dunks happened on November 13, 1979, in the Municipal Auditorium which was home to the Kansas City Kings. Dawkins most recently was the former head coach of the Lehigh Carbon Community College men's basketball team. Chocolate Thunder, Double D, Dawk, Dr. Dunk, Sir Slam, Zandokan the Mad Dunker, Dunk You Very Much, Candy Slam, Sweet D, Big Dawk, Master of Disaster, Squawkin' Dawkin, Double D Dunk, Sir Dunk, Dunk It, Pure Pleasure, Cool Breeze, Dr. Jam, Demon of Destin are nicknames for Darryl Dawkins. That fateful year saw the deaths of Moses Malone, Dolph Schayes, Daryl Dawkins, Rod "Hot Rod" Hundley, Earl Lloyd, Roy Tarpley, Anthony Mason, Jerome Kersey, Harry . He averaged 12 points and 6.1 rebounds in 726 career regular-season games. Frustrated with the team's inability to handle Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sixers management traded Dawkins to the New Jersey Nets and Caldwell Jones to the Houston Rockets for Moses Malone, who helped Philadelphia win the NBA championship the following year. (Reuters) - Former National Basketball Association star Darryl Dawkins, known as "Chocolate Thunder" for his powerful dunks and flamboyant play, died at 58 on Thursday. He was also 611 and had really filled out at around 230 lbs. NBA Star Darryl Dawkins Died at 58 - inside Circumstances of His Sudden Death. Snubbing the King: Why Don't Big Stars Want to Perform at Charles' Coronation? Darryl Dawkins, the 14-year NBA vet whose powerful dunks and off-court flash earned him the nickname Chocolate Thunder, died Thursday at the age of 58. Nobody had ever done that before. He saw the look in Dawkins eyes as he brought the ball behind his head with both hands and knew what was coming. Dawkins set an NBA record for fouls in a season (386 in 198384). That bending motion is what keeps the backboard from shattering. No cause of death has been determined; an autopsy is scheduled for Friday. Matched up against Portland's Bill Walton, Dawkins helped the Sixers take the first two games before the Trail Blazers won the next four to win the series in six games. Dawkins would end up playing five years for the Nets before playing just a handful of games for both the Jazz and the Pistons. He also had a similar necklace that has another nickname "Dr. Dunk" in gold script. Silver wanted to know how close the union was to rolling out its initiative and how the league could help expedite the process. Currently Reading. He was raised mostly by his mother, the former Harriet James, though Mr. Tyler, his friend, said he remained close to his father, Frank Dawkins. Dawkins also had a penchant for naming his most memorable dunks. He seemed a player who should have gone to college, maybe maturing before coming to the NBA. Who was the first player to enter the NBA straight from high school? A player who brought incredible raw power into the league as a teenager, Dawkins has been the subject of many stories among NBA players. "But simply being an NBA player is not one of them.". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. And with that, he became the answer to a trivia question. Love you so much and going to miss you so much.. Darryl Dawkins in 1995 AP There is no precedent for this. Collins did not want to pick glass out of his hair. Rest in peace OG. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. [3], In a surprise move, Dawkins opted to directly enter the NBA draft out of high school instead of attending college. With the fifth overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Dawkins. "Darryl touched the hearts and . His sudden death in 2015 due to a heart attack was a sad day for lovers of the game and caused ripples . Turkey-Syria earthquakes death toll passes 5,000 . "We need to do some additional research on these guys," Rogowski said. Darryl Dawkins, the first high school player to go straight to the National Basketball Association when he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1975, died Thursday at a hospital in Allentown, Pa. [27], Stevie Wonder, who frequently attended Sixers games, gave Dawkins the nickname "Chocolate Thunder".[28]. You were the originator of the dunk. "Being tall does increase the risk for atrial fibrillation, but that is not a fatal condition and can be treated with medication," O'Keefe said. Not bad for a kid from Lovetron who never went to college. The biggest surprise about Darryl Dawkinss death on Thursday is that it came at age 58. But he was traded to the New Jersey Nets after six seasons and one year before Philadelphia broke through to win the NBA championship in 1983. He said it was because he wanted to take care of his family financially and you cant blame him for that. But otherwise, this story got a lot of ink. Dr. James H. O'Keefe, a sports cardiologist at Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, has lectured on a study that measured marathoners who engaged in vigorous exercise over a prolonged period. "It's an extremely high priority for us," Silver said. The NBA soon went to breakaway rims and mandated that backboards be shatter-resistant. As a 6ft 10in (2.08m) senior at Maynard Evans High School in Orlando, Florida, Dawkins averaged 32 points and 21 rebounds to lead his team to the state championship. Winds may gust 30-40mph. Former National Basketball Association star Darryl Dawkins, known as "Chocolate Thunder" for his powerful dunks and flamboyant play, died at 58 on Thursday. He was selected No. We have very effective treatments available to us.". The 50s were also the beginning of the Space Race, Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. He will be missed but not forgotten. "Simply put, Darryl Dawkins was beloved-by his family, friends . Then the team had an opportunity to upgrade at the center position. ILLUSTRATION: Associated Press. Darryl Dawkins was one of the most outrageous characters in NBA history. 'Chocolate Thunder' will always have a special place in our hearts.". Dawkins' autobiography Chocolate Thunder: The Uncensored Life and Times of Darryl Dawkins (co-authored with Charley Rosen)[31] chronicles his on- and off-the-court life as an NBA star. Darryl Dawkins was selected with the 5th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1975 NBA draft. The nets weren't on fire or anything, but as I looked up there, because of the friction his dunk had caused, I could see these tiny little silk strands sort of drifting through the air. Darryl Dawkins was born in 1950s. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday. "I wish I could give you an exact timetable, but we have to make sure all the components are in place," Roberts said. Players scattered in every direction to get away. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Dawkins averaged double figures in scoring nine times in his 14 years in the NBA, often ranking among the league leaders in field-goal percentage. Not many. He was 58. Simply put, Darryl Dawkins was belovedby his family, friends, former teammates and his fans all over the globe. This page was last edited on 27 November 2022, at 01:06. The names you came up with were creative and on point. "I'm just one of his sons.". Sometimes, Dawkins would also shave his head and have it oiled along with wearing an earring. Darryl Dawkins, known for his thunderous dunks and flamboyant nickname, has died. ' ". DECISION AND ORDER BRENDA K. SANNES Chief District Judge. "Darryl touched the hearts and . [17] For the playoffs, Dawkins averaged 18.4 points. The Lehigh County, Pennsylvania coroner's office said Dawkins died Thursday morning at a hospital. The cause of death remains unknown and investigators did not say if the mix of drugs was a factor. I think he understands what we're dealing with here,'' Haywood said. You could just see it in wind up. He was 58. "It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Darryl Dawkins, who succumbed today to a heart attack. In the book, Dawkins chronicled some of the racism he encountered during his NBA career, playing alongside 76ers superstar Julius Erving, and his off-the-court experiences with drugs, partying, and women. "Darryl Dawkins is the father of power dunking," Shaquille O'Neal once said. By Sarah Cassi 'He will be missed but not forgotten': Darryl . Because the first dunk was done in Kansas City. 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. 5 in the 1975 draft by the 76ers. Mr. Dawkins was the fifth selection in the 1975 draft by the 76ers. As I mentioned, it was two dunks. The Sixers won both playoff series and advanced to the NBA Finals. "I understand why the players feel the way they do," Byrne said. The names you came up with were creative and on point. Dawkins died Aug. 27, 2015, at a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania at the age of 58. "He will be missed but not forgotten.". 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. "Darryl touched the hearts and . As promised Dawkins was fined and suspended. The Houston Rockets were looking to move the reigning League MVP, Moses Malone, and Philadelphia had a chance to get him. Now others of you might say that Bill Willoughby was drafted out of high school the same year as Dawkins in 1975. Pieces of glass rained down on the court. Dawkins set an NBA record by committing 386 personal fouls during the 19831984 season. He averaged a career-best 16.8 points per game that season, with only foul trouble -- 386 that season, still a league record -- holding him back. / CBS/AP. 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. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? Dawkins' shows of force unquestionably changed the game. And Last September, former Sixer Caldwell . A spokesperson for Lehigh . Darryl Dawkins, the 14-year NBA vet . Prayers go up for the Dawkins family. How many people have we seen in our lifetime who are big and really tall and are 70-something years old? Dawkins was known as much for his dunks as his playing career. "Darryl touched the hearts and . He said a construction worker recently came to his home to remove some debris and asked him, "Is this your play house?". He also coached at times, at both the minor league and junior college levels. He tried again with the Celtics and did not make that team, either. Darryl Dawkins was born in Orlando on Jan. 11, 1957. 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. Aug 27, 2015 at 5:58 pm. He would coach there for five years before dying of a heart attack in 2015 at the age of just 58.