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. I can't believe that you're gone. He was the head coach of the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs of the United States Basketball League until they folded. "But simply being an NBA player is not one of them.". 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 . The 58-year-old made history in 1975, when he became the first player ever drafted directly from high school to the NBA. Updated on: August 28, 2015 / 6:03 AM Darryl Dawkins was one of the most outrageous characters in NBA history. He was also known as Dr. Dunkenstein, Double D, or Sir Slam. He also coached at times, at both the minor league and junior college levels. But Dawkins did not have a university. 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. I thought, "Boy, I'd like to have a guy like that watching my back." "[26] He named other dunks as well: the Rim Wrecker, the Go-Rilla, the Look Out Below, the In-Your-Face Disgrace, the Cover Your Head, the Yo-Mama, the Spine-Chiller Supreme, and the Greyhound Special (for the rare occasions when he went coast to coast). But no. Sources: Bucks favored to sign veteran Dragic. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Mercer County, N.J., prosecutor . Darryl Dawkins, the legendary basketball player whose board-shattering dunks earned him the moniker "Chocolate Thunder", has died. Because the first dunk was done in Kansas City. Short on ego, long on kindness, Darryl always made time to speak with everyone . [13] The Nets playoff series win over the defending NBA champions was ranked as the seventh greatest playoff upset by Sports Illustrated. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. He said a construction worker recently came to his home to remove some debris and asked him, "Is this your play house?". 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. NBA Star Darryl Dawkins Died at 58 - inside Circumstances of His Sudden Death. 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. Silver wanted to know how close the union was to rolling out its initiative and how the league could help expedite the process. The club met the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and lost in seven games. "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. 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. "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. 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. . 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. There is no precedent for this. "A guy who never saw me," a beaming Dawkins said in a 2011 interview, "gave me the name 'Chocolate Thunder.'". 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. 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. Longtime 76ers center Darryl Dawkins died Thursday at the age of 58. This page was last edited on 27 November 2022, at 01:06. . This November 1979 file photo shows Kansas City Kings' Scott Wedman and Philadelphia 76ers' Julius Erving watching as Kings' Bill Robinzine, left, and 76ers' Darryl Dawkins run for cover after Dawkins shattered the glass backboard during a basketball game in Kansas City, Mo. I think he understands what we're dealing with here,'' Haywood said. 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. "I know things are evolving. "I don't believe it's out of malice. No cause of death was immediately announced and an autopsy was scheduled for Friday. [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]. He would coach there for five years before dying of a heart attack in 2015 at the age of just 58. 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.. 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. Currently Reading. He was then selected No. That can lead to hypertension and diabetes, which has proven to be prevalent among African-Americans. Darryl Dawkins, NBA Dunk Legend, Dead at 58, Welcome to the Squeal World: Why Pig Royalty Is the Prize Hog of Discovery+, O.J. He was 58, and even though officials said an autopsy would be performed on Friday . When Dawkins died suddenly from a heart attack in August at age 58, the news literally took Silver's breath away. Death. 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. Newly minted Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood said screening for retired players should not be limited to cardiac-related issues. You were the originator of the dunk. 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. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. But you are in a better place. 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 . The program also includes a routine physical, blood work and a profile of the player's family history. Dawkins averaged 14points and 7.2rebounds for the year, but Philadelphia failed to return to the Finals. Today, players regularly battle to see who can dunk the hardest, but the late 1970s when Chocolate Thunder roamed the courts, Dawkins was slamming the ball through rims in a way other players never dreamed. "We had some great conversations," Silver said. A cemetery posted a personal ad for a goose whose mate died. 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. You could just see it in wind up. 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. The Commissioner at the time was Larry OBrien. Kelly Barnes Dawkins, 28, died between midnight Saturday and 11:45 a.m. Sunday, police said. He made this decision because he wanted to make enough money to help his grandmother, mother and siblings to escape poverty. 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. So they traded Dawkins to the New Jersey Nets in order to create salary space to go after Malone, which they did. But you are in a better place. 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. 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. The 50s were also the beginning of the Space Race, Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. Sources: Bucks favored to sign veteran Dragic. Thoughts and prayers go out to Janice and the entire Dawkins family on the passing of a gentleman. Turkey-Syria earthquakes death toll passes 5,000 . "I'm just one of his sons.". The station did not report a cause of death. NBA commissioner Adam Silver loved seeing Darryl Dawkins in his official role as an NBA Legend. 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says. 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. 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. This was supposed to be the most impactful person of the previous 1000 years. You were very inspirational to a lot of young players. the cause of death was a heart attack. Darryl Dawkins, known for his thunderous dunks and flamboyant nickname, has died. Chocolate Thunder has gone back to Lovetron. But in a move that shocked everyone, he declared for the NBA draft. Dawkins, who had already been known to fans as Dr. Dawkins died Thursday at a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to the Lehigh County coroner's office. He died on Thursday at age 58. Bucks", "To the New Jersey Nets, there's no place like the road", "1984 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 6: Milwaukee Bucks at New Jersey Nets", "Utah Gets Dawkins and Turpin in a Three-Team Trade", "Jazz Trade Dawkins For Piston Draft Picks", "When "Chocolate Thunder" wore a Pistons uniform", "NBA's 'Chocolate Thunder' Darryl Dawkins dies at 58", "Magic Set 1st Game Pistons Will Be Foe In Arena On Oct. 13", NBA & ABA Single Season Leaders and Records for Personal Fouls, "Kelly Dawkins' Death Called Apparent Suicide", "Darryl Dawkins: To Lehigh Carbon Community College, by way of Planet Lovetron", "People of all levels remember 76ers legend Darryl Dawkins at viewing", Career Statistics at basketball-reference.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Darryl_Dawkins&oldid=1136782345, American Basketball Association (2000present) coaches, American expatriate basketball people in Italy, National Basketball Association high school draftees, Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball), Participants in American reality television series, Sportspeople from Allentown, Pennsylvania, 20th-century African-American sportspeople, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 February 2023, at 03:03. Injuries plagued Dawkins late in his NBA career, and he went overseas for several years to play in the Italian league. The commissioner realized that the rule may not be enough to stop players from doing this in the future. "I wish I could give you an exact timetable, but we have to make sure all the components are in place," Roberts said. He was the fifth overall pick in the draft that year and helped the Sixers make three NBA finals before his trade to New Jersey in 1982. 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. He was 58. According to his family,the cause of death was a heart attack. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Trending '', Haywood said one of the most frustrating misnomers is the supposition that all ex-NBA stars are wealthy. You have permission to edit this article. Ex-NBA player Darryl Dawkins was known for thunderous dunks. Bove said athletes generally enjoy a better survival rate than the general population, but when they stop playing they become prone to weight gain. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Dawkins took his anger out on the 76ers locker room by tearing a toilet out of the wall and dislodging a locker stall and barricading the door with it. TRENTON, N.J. Police were investigating the death Sunday morning of the estranged wife of professional basketball player Darryl Dawkins. There were also two rookies tearing up the league at the same time by the names of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. I just think we haven't been in the forefront of peoples' minds. Darryl Dawkins was one of the most outrageous characters in NBA history. A Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest spokesperson confirmed to Comcast SportsNet that Dawkins died there on Thursday. Remember, this is 1975. 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. "I really enjoyed getting to know Darryl.". Darryl Dawkins, the NBA's legendary 'Chocolate Thunder,' dies at 58. . 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His family said he a heart attack was the cause of death. . Winds may gust 30-40mph. Darryl Dawkins died on August 27, 2015, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 58. There will never be another Chocolate Thunder. 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. "LeBron said to me, '$50,000? R.I.P. The team was led by Dr. J, Julius Erving. 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. 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. We ask that the public please respect our privacy as we grieve his loss.". Dawkins played 13 seasons in the NBA after being drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia 76ers. Haywood said his prostate cancer was detected as part of routine blood work done during his yearly physical exam. And you would be right, except that he did not go straight to the NBA. The union's coffers will be replenished by a lucrative television deal with ESPN and TNT that kicks in for the 2016-17 season. Once he became a regular starter the home announcer in Philadelphia was in a bit of a dilemma because when the starters are announced in the NBA, they include which university the player came from. Players scattered in every direction to get away. Darryl Dawkins, seen here at the 2013 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, died Thursday at age 58. By Sarah Cassi 'He will be missed but not forgotten': Darryl . With the Nets looking to be a team on the rise led by Dawkins, they entered the 198485 with high expectations. So he convinced the announcer in Philadelphia to say that Dawkins was from the Planet Lovetron, wherein the offseason he would engage in interplanetary funkmanship. Ahh, you can not make this stuff up. 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. It was during those early years that Dawkins also displayed the power that would become his claim to fame: In the span of one month during the 1979 season, he threw down a pair of monstrous dunks that shattered backboards in Kansas City and Philadelphia plays that would become highlight-reel staples for decades to come and would lead the league to implement the use of so-called breakaway rims to limit the possibility of player injury. A similar program for retired players, said Dr. Tim Byrne, who is part of the Phoenix Suns medical staff, would be more than sufficient. In a statement his family said he died of a heart attack. Combien gagne t il d argent ? "We need to do some additional research on these guys," Rogowski said. And he included the name of the man he dunked on. 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. In the 198283 season, Dawkins averaged 12 points and shot .599 from the floor, ranking third in the league in field-goal percentage. 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. Telephone calls to the county medical examiner's . Dawkins died Aug. 27, 2015, at a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania at the age of 58. His endearing charm, infectious smile and unparalleled sense of humor will be sorely missed. In 2006, following the sudden death of 26-year-old Jason Collier of an enlarged heart, the NBA implemented a mandatory screening program for its players that includes three cardiac tests: an electrocardiogram, a resting echocardiogram and a stress echocardiogram. 'Chocolate Thunder,' dies at 58. Darryl Dawkins, the 14-year NBA vet . 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.