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More than anything Darryl accomplished in his basketball career as the inimitable 'Chocolate Thunder,' he was most proud of his role and responsibility as a husband and father. His final choices for college were Kentucky, Kansas, and Florida State. Darryl Dawkins, the NBA's legendary 'Chocolate Thunder,' dies at 58. . An autopsy was performed Friday and the cause as well as the manner of death are pending further forensic . "I think both Adam and I feel the urgency. So, once again, the game was delayed for over an hour as the arena crew had to completely replace the entire basket support. At the time of his death, he was 58 years old. "I'd like to be able to answer the question, 'What does a retired basketball player's heart look like?'". His family said the cause of death was a heart attack. Twice, he broke backboards dunking in games. "If you were a writer, he was a delight because everything that came out of his mouth was shocking or entertaining," Spanarkel said. We remember fondly not only his thunderous dunks, but more importantly his powerful presence and personality. The Associated Press, ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk and ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report. 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. 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 NBA introduced collapsible rims not long after that, leaving Dr Dunkenstein to perform more traditional assaults on basketball rims. And you would be right, except that he did not go straight to the NBA. "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. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. 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. Most of our guys do not. Darryl Dawkins's ferocious dunks became his calling card . I can't believe that you're gone. "We need to do some additional research on these guys," Rogowski said. The players' association was working on a program that would fund cardiac screening and supplemental health insurance for its retired players. Longtime 76ers center Darryl Dawkins died Thursday at the age of 58. The first of Dawkins famous two dunks happened on November 13, 1979, in the Municipal Auditorium which was home to the Kansas City Kings. Who was the first player to enter the NBA straight from high school? Dawkins resided along Glacier Court in South Whitehall Township. Simply put, Darryl Dawkins was belovedby his family, friends, former teammates and his fans all over the globe. [27], Stevie Wonder, who frequently attended Sixers games, gave Dawkins the nickname "Chocolate Thunder".[28]. 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. 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. Dawkins died Aug. 27, 2015, at a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania at the age of 58. Inside Jim Jordan's Disastrous Search for a 'Deep State' Whistleblower For weeks it was the only thing that basketball writers could talk about. 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. His first two seasons with the Nets were successful for both sides, as Dawkins experienced a career renaissance of sorts[7] and the Nets had their most successful seasons to that point. But in a move that shocked everyone, he declared for the NBA draft. 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 . Darryl Dawkins, seen here at the 2013 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, died Thursday at age 58. Darryl Dawkins, former NBA player and Winnipeg Cyclone Basketball Coach passes away at age 58. Karl Anthony-Towns, the No.1 pick in the NBA draft, tweeted: I'm going to miss you so much Uncle Darryl. Dawkins appears in NBA Ballers and the NBA 2K video games as a reserve member of the 1980s Legends East Team. We ask that the public please respect our privacy as we grieve his loss.". Dawkins set an NBA record by committing 386 personal fouls during the 19831984 season. 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. We want to shine a light on forgotten stories that need to be remembered again. TRENTON, N.J. Police were investigating the death Sunday morning of the estranged wife of professional basketball player Darryl Dawkins. You could just see it in wind up. Just to show how big he was, back in 1999 as the millennium was ending Saturday Night Live was doing a Weekend Update segment where they were naming their Man of the Millennium. More tributes poured in quickly from across the league, including from the 76ers. If you really want to see him in action go to YouTube and search for Chocolate Thunder Dunking. You were the originator of the dunk. He was 58. That's because people [my size] don't live that long. 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. He tried again with the Celtics and did not make that team, either. 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. [3], In a surprise move, Dawkins opted to directly enter the NBA draft out of high school instead of attending college. But they lost the Finals in 1977 to the TrailBlazers. Yet Malone, 60, was found dead in a Norfolk, Va., hotel room Sept. 13. Darryl Dawkins' cause of death awaiting further tests. Dawkins was as revered off the court as he was on it. "The Sixers family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of an absolute legend, Darryl Dawkins. He claimed to have come from a planet called Lovetron and called named himself Chocolate Thunder, claiming the nickname was given him by Stevie Wonder. Darryl Dawkins died on August 27, 2015, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 58. The Nets' 4933 record that year was their best record since the ABANBA merger, and remained their best record until the 200102 season.[8]. [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. 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. "I have health insurance through my wife's job. 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. Who could forget the In-Your-Face-Disgrace? Jeff Green, Ronny Turiaf and Channing Frye are among the players who were diagnosed with serious heart issues through routine screening. But you are in a better place. His endearing charm, infectious smile and unparalleled sense of humor will be sorely missed. In 1979, Dawkins shattered two backboards in separate games. The Commissioner at the time was Larry OBrien. Doing a good deed is always a good thing. He was born and raised in Orlando, FL. Subsequent reports revealed Malone had complained of an irregular heartbeat and was wearing a heart monitor when he died. Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead on sale for nearly $7 million. 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. Lehigh Carbon Community College, where Dawkins coached for two seasons, says: "LCCC community is saddened by the passing of Philadelphia 76er legend and former LCCC basketball coach Darryl Dawkins. They could have selected Leonardo DaVinci, Mozart, Einstein, Galileo, or George Washington. The news came weeks after the late-August death of former Sixer Darryl Dawkins, 58. Dawkins died Thursday in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania hospital. Pieces of glass rained down on the court. He would coach there for five years before dying of a heart attack in 2015 at the age of just 58. Darryl Dawkins, seen here at the 2013 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, died Thursday at age 58. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Mercer Medical Center. An autoposy will be conducted on . At that meeting, according to union sources, the players voted to set aside funds to implement screening, with the larger (and more costly) issue of supplementing health insurance to be readdressed at their February meetings, when a more comprehensive blueprint would be available. I would argue that Dawkins cultural impact was greater than his basketball impact. He went to college first and joined the NBA four years later. "I said, 'C'mon now, I'm not on 'Ballers.' "I will tell you we hope to have something sooner than later. DECISION AND ORDER BRENDA K. SANNES Chief District Judge. In a completely separate story, a guy named Arthur Ehrat and his nephew, who was an assistant coach at St. Louis University had an idea for a breakaway rim that could handle all of the hard dunking that you saw in the ABA and NBA. "This is a new age in treating the heart. "Darryl touched the hearts and . 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. Roberts said action from the players' association on providing screening for their retired players is "imminent.''. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dawkins family. It took the arena crew over an hour to clean everything up and bring out a whole new basket support. Love you so much and going to miss you so much.. Some of you might say that Wilt Chamberlain was the first player drafted from high school. 5 in the 1975 draft by the 76ers. I never made that kind of money,'" Haywood said. Current and former NBA players took to social media to respond to Dawkins' death. The program could cost more than $17 million, according to league sources. But his most famous nickname was actually given to him by Stevie Wonder, and that nickname is Chocolate Thunder. TRENTON, N.J. (AP) _ Police were investigating the death Sunday of the estranged wife of professional basketball player Darryl Dawkins. This guy was a monster on the court. Death. Steeped in his Chocolate Thunder persona, the indestructible dunking force that earned cult status in the late '70s and early '80s, Dawkins toured the country in recent years to entertain league sponsors. [citation needed], At one point, Dawkins claimed to be an alien from the planet Lovetron, where he spent the off-season practicing "interplanetary funkmanship" where his girlfriend Juicy Lucy lived. Dawkins languished on the Sixers' bench for his first two seasons. SAD NEWS: Darryl Dawkins (1957-2015) One of the NBA's great dunkers, entertainers & characters passed away (age: 58). Short on ego, long on kindness, Darryl always made time to speak with everyone . They actually put in a rule to prevent anyone else in the league from getting the same idea. Dawkins spent parts of 14 seasons in the NBA with Philadelphia, New Jersey, Utah and Detroit. Those close to Malone say the 60-year-old exercised regularly after his NBA career and eschewed drugs and alcohol. 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. Lanier believes those concerns can be rectified with the support of the current union leadership. 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]. No cause of death was immediately announced and an autopsy was scheduled for Friday. So, Dawkins is the first player to enter the NBA straight from high school. 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. But when you are the first person to do something, like Dawkins, you have to get creative. Police said no other details of the death were available. People are taking better care of themselves. He was 58. 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. The cause of death remains unknown and investigators did not say if the mix of drugs was a factor. "Win or lose, every night I could barely get to my locker.". 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. Dawkins died Thursday at a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to the Lehigh County coroner's office. 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]. Dawkins died Thursday in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania hospital. Snubbing the King: Why Don't Big Stars Want to Perform at Charles' Coronation? 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. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. tyson jost dad; sean penn parkinson's disease; mockingbirds attacking my cat Dawkins subsequently played nine seasons in the National Basketball . We've lost a dear friend and an iconic figure, both on and off the court. "When I heard about Darryl, I thought, 'That's not supposed to happen,' Roberts said. Aug 27, 2015 at 5:58 pm. I thought, "Boy, I'd like to have a guy like that watching my back." He called Dawkins into his office in New York to tell him in no uncertain terms that he was never to break the backboard again or else he would be fined and suspended. But Dawkins did not have a university. 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. We went up for the dunk and Doug Collins, his point guard, was already running away before the dunk was even completed. The NBA had completely switched to the new rims by the Fall of 1981 and now they are standard across the world at the professional and collegiate levels. ' ". Darryl Dawkins, who in 1975 became the second man, after Moses Malone, to jump directly from high school to the pro basketball, has died. Discover what happened on this day. The cause of death is said to be a heart attack, according to Dawkins' family. Free. . #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. Your smile personality and energy will truly be missed!!! Then the team had an opportunity to upgrade at the center position. "I understand why the players feel the way they do," Byrne said. "I remember him yelling that he broke a backboard and that he wanted to renegotiate his contract because he could break a backboard.". His two ferocious dunks in 1979 caused the league to switch over. While there was an obvious benefit to exercising, there was also data, according to O'Keefe, that showed some marathoners who engaged in "extreme" exercise over many years developed enlarged hearts and scarring from tearing of tiny heart muscles. Then they lost again in 1980 to the Lakers. And when he dunked basketballs he did so with a ferociousness few had ever seen. On August 27, 2015, Darryl Dawkins died of non-communicable disease. 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. "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. [17] For the playoffs, Dawkins averaged 18.4 points. He briefly had stints in the Continental Basketball Association and the International Basketball Association. [6] At age 25, Dawkins joined a Nets club that included Albert King, Buck Williams, and Otis Birdsong. 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! You were the originator of the dunk. Chocolate Thunder' will always have a special place in our hearts. This page was last edited on 27 November 2022, at 01:06. Others were comparatively subtle even if they seemed just as ridiculous. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. The team had been to the NBA Finals three times while Dawkins played on the team. 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. Thoughts and prayers go out to Janice and the entire Dawkins family on the passing of a gentleman. That bending motion is what keeps the backboard from shattering. Chocolate Thunder has gone back to Lovetron.