Former NBA star Darryl Dawkins died at 58
Darryl Dawkins, amerceable dunks and whimsical ways helped buoy the NBA through a period of malaise in the late 1970s and early 1980s, has passed from a heart attack this morning according to WFMZ-TV in Allentown, Pa.
The NBA confirmed the sad news about NBA Legend, Dawkins died Thursday morning at an unnamed hospital in Lehigh County, Pa., It has been an autopsy scheduled for Friday.
Darryl Dawkins was an American professional basketball player, most noted for his days with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, although he also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz late in his career. His nickname, “Chocolate Thunder”, was bestowed upon him by Stevie Wonder. He was known for his powerful dunks, which notably led to the NBA adopting breakaway rims due to him shattering the backboard on two occasions in 1979.
Followed Malone’s footsteps, the 18-year-old Dawkins renounced his college eligibility and applied for the 1975 NBA draft as a hardship candidate. The Philadelphia 76ers made him the fifth overall pick, behind David Thompson, David Mayer’s, Marvin Webster, and Alan Adams.
According to the New York Daily News, when Dawkins made his debut with the 76ers, New York Knicks guard Walt Frazier took one look and said, “I bet his teachers called him ‘Mr. Darryl.'”
RIP NBA/Chocolate Thunder, Darryl has a great style into fashion, dress always great in amazing styles, will be missed, it’s heart breaking to all of us loosing to soon, the worldwide emotional message has been sent via social media.
https://twitter.com/Thunderdunk53
Happy National Pink Day! pic.twitter.com/oQVLTNicAp
— Darryl Dawkins (@Thunderdunk53) June 23, 2015
