Former NBA star Darryl Dawkins' family says he died of heart attack, The former Philadelphia 76er formerly coached the LCCC men's basketball team, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. The following year the 76ers would celebrate their first championships since Wilt Chamberlain won it in 1967. But for all the laughs and outlandish dunks Dawkins did not have the dominating career many assumed for him when he came to the league straight from high school in 1975. 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! Darryl Dawkins was once summoned in the Philadelphia 76ers' locker room to come meet a celebrity who wanted to meet the man known for dunking with backboard-breaking force. Darryl R. Dawkins (January 11, 1957 - August 27, 2015) was an American professional basketball player. Darryl Dawkins at the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown during the 2015 NBA All-Star weekend. But his most famous nickname was actually given to him by Stevie Wonder, and that nickname is Chocolate Thunder. Darryl Dawkins died on August 27, 2015, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 58. These new rims had a spring and a hinge in them so that when someone dunks really hard the rim bends from the force of the dunk and then snaps back into position as soon as the player lets go. The 50s were also the beginning of the Space Race, Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. Dawkins died Thursday in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania hospital. Not many. He remained enormously popular after his playing days were done, even during his stint as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. 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. Turkey-Syria earthquakes death toll passes 5,000 . Officials said an autopsy was scheduled for Friday. 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. Some of you might say that Wilt Chamberlain was the first player drafted from high school. They actually put in a rule to prevent anyone else in the league from getting the same idea. Darryl Dawkins' cause of death awaiting further tests. The cause of death is said to be a heart attack, according to Dawkins' family. By Comfort Omovre. 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 . [1] He was known for his powerful dunks, which led to the NBA adopting breakaway rims due to him shattering a backboard on two occasions in 1979.[2]. "A guy who never saw me," a beaming Dawkins said in a 2011 interview, "gave me the name 'Chocolate Thunder.'". [27], Stevie Wonder, who frequently attended Sixers games, gave Dawkins the nickname "Chocolate Thunder".[28]. "Win or lose, every night I could barely get to my locker.". His best scoring season was in 1985 when he averaged 16 points per game for the lowly New Jersey Nets. We remember fondly not only his thunderous dunks, but more importantly his powerful presence and personality. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In the second game of the series, Dawkins got into a fight with Maurice Lucas, resulting in both players being ejected. Roberts said action from the players' association on providing screening for their retired players is "imminent.''. He was 58. Thank u for the long talks and great memories. Longtime 76ers center Darryl Dawkins died Thursday at the age of 58. There was the Rim Wrecker, the Look Out Below, The In Your Face Disgrace, The Yo Mama, The Spine Chiller Supreme, and on the occasion that he went coast to coast for a dunk, well those were called the Greyhound Specials. Now others of you might say that Bill Willoughby was drafted out of high school the same year as Dawkins in 1975. During this season, the Skyforce's games against the Florida Beach Dogs were broadcast nationally by ESPN, as the Beach Dogs included another former NBA player, Manute Bol. 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. The deaths of Darryl Dawkins and Moses Malone raised red flags in league offices and among retirees, but specialists dismiss fears of higher risks for NBA players. Subsequent reports revealed Malone had complained of an irregular heartbeat and was wearing a heart monitor when he died. "It's too soon.". Basketball Manitoba paid tribute to Dawkins in a tweet posted shortly after news of his death broke. "There are plenty of risk factors that contribute: increased body mass index, hypertension, family history. If you really want to see him in action go to YouTube and search for Chocolate Thunder Dunking. Well, hes famous because of two dunks in late 1979. [17] For the playoffs, Dawkins averaged 18.4 points. And Ill get to that in a moment. And when he dunked basketballs he did so with a ferociousness few had ever seen. Maurice Lucas of the Trail Blazers hauling down a rebound as Philadelphia's Darryl Dawkins battles for position during their NBA championship . An autopsy was performed Friday and the cause as well as the manner of death are pending further forensic . "I said, 'C'mon now, I'm not on 'Ballers.' He was on everybodys recruiting list. His family released a statement Thursday afternoon, indicating the former NBA great died of a heart attack. "The cardiac issues our players have experienced are well known.". R.I.P. ", "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.". After his NBA career, Dawkins played several seasons in Italy before taking several coaching positions and serving as an ambassador for the NBA. 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. . And with that, he became the answer to a trivia question. He never made an all-star game. I can't believe that you're gone. You were the originator of the dunk. They exercise, they watch their nutrition, they try to limit the stress in their lives. We want to hear it. "One night, first time he broke a backboard, and I remember going back to the locker room because there was a delay," Spanarkel said. Karl Anthony-Towns, the No.1 pick in the NBA draft, tweeted: I'm going to miss you so much Uncle Darryl. "When I heard about Darryl, I thought, 'That's not supposed to happen,' Roberts said. The situation was far worse. "I'm the lucky one," Haywood said. but according to a statement released by Dawkins' family, the cause of death was a heart attack. Dawkins' shows of force unquestionably changed the game. The station did not report a cause of death. 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. 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. A few days after that the NBA created a new rule that breaking a backboard was an offense that would result in a fine and suspension. Sometimes, Dawkins would also shave his head and have it oiled along with wearing an earring. 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. 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. But unlike Shaq, Dawkins never claimed an NBA title. And he included the name of the man he dunked on. Longtime 76ers center Darryl Dawkins died Thursday at the age of 58. 5 overall in the NBA draft by the . That's because people [my size] don't live that long. 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. ILLUSTRATION: Associated Press. . Yes, the answer is Darryl Dawkins. According to his family,the cause of death was a heart attack. Dawkins was known as much for his dunks as his playing career. Dawkins most recently was the former head coach of the Lehigh Carbon Community College men's basketball team. He committed one more personal foul during his career than Michael Jordan, despite playing nearly 350 fewer games.[25]. Dawkins leaves behindwife Janice, and four children. "Darryl touched the hearts and . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Yet Malone, 60, was found dead in a Norfolk, Va., hotel room Sept. 13. And seriously, go to YouTube and search for Darryl Dawkins or Chocolate Thunder if you want to see some of his amazing dunks. No cause of death was immediately announced and an autopsy was scheduled for Friday. In a statement his family said he died of a heart attack. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Decent numbers but not the kind of Hall of Fame career his immense talent said he should have had. A native of Orlando, Fla., Dawkins was part of the 76ers' playoff teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s, alongside Julius Erving and World B. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. He was also 611 and had really filled out at around 230 lbs. He also appears in NBA Live Mobile as a Legend based on his 19791980 season with the Sixers. DECISION AND ORDER BRENDA K. SANNES Chief District Judge. Because his condition was detected early, Haywood said, he's expected to enjoy a full recovery. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. "LeBron said to me, '$50,000? No cause of death has been determined; an . Johnny Earl Dawkins Jr. (born September 28, 1963) is an American basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the UCF men's basketball team.From 2008 to 2016, he was the head coach of Stanford.He was a two-time All-American and national player of the year as a senior in 1986 while at Duke from 1982 to 1986. Darryl Dawkins, a high-scoring, big-dunking center who played the bulk of his 15-year NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, has died at the age of 58 . No cause of death was immediately announced; an autopsy was scheduled for Friday. 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. Darryl Dawkins, the legendary basketball player whose board-shattering dunks earned him the moniker "Chocolate Thunder", has died. Rainfall up to 1". Darryl Dawkins, seen here at the 2013 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, died Thursday at age 58. 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. The union's coffers will be replenished by a lucrative television deal with ESPN and TNT that kicks in for the 2016-17 season. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve his loss. [19], Dawkins' personality was a natural fit on the "Bad Boys" Pistons team, and despite being limited to 14 games over two seasons, he was considered to be one of the leaders of the team. With the Nets looking to be a team on the rise led by Dawkins, they entered the 198485 with high expectations. But they lost the Finals in 1977 to the TrailBlazers. Being a bunch of comedians, the folks at Saturday Night Live announced their selection for the Man of the Millennium as none other than Darryl Dawkins. "Darryl Dawkins is the father of power dunking," Shaquille O'Neal once said. Those close to Malone say the 60-year-old exercised regularly after his NBA career and eschewed drugs and alcohol. How many people have we seen in our lifetime who are big and really tall and are 70-something years old? Over 600 people attended his public casket viewing. 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. He averaged double digits in nine consecutive NBA seasons, with his best year likely being the 1983-84 campaign for New Jersey. The rim and backboard needed some beefing up. O'Keefe acknowledged that larger, huskier people do experience "some added cardiac risk," but that can be combatted, he said, with a "healthy heart lifestyle" and regular screening. Dawkins would end up playing five years for the Nets before playing just a handful of games for both the Jazz and the Pistons. [32] In 1988, Dawkins married a former Nets cheerleader, Robbin Thornton; they divorced after 10 years. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. The names you came up with were creative and on point. "We will always remember Darryl for his incredible talent, his infectious enthusiasm and his boundless generosity. 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. He died on Thursday at age 58. [36], Over 600 people attended his public casket viewing. Darryl Dawkins, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, died Thursday of currently unknown causes, as confirmed by the Lehigh Valley County Coroner's office. #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. I thought, "Boy, I'd like to have a guy like that watching my back." 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.