Darryl Dawkins

Darryl Dawkins
Dawkins in 2009
Personal information
Born(1957-01-11)January 11, 1957
DiedAugust 27, 2015(2015-08-27) (aged 58)
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight251 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High schoolMaynard Evans (Orlando, Florida)
NBA draft1975: 1st round, 5th overall pick
Drafted byPhiladelphia 76ers
Playing career1975–1996, 1999–2000
PositionCenter
Number53, 45, 50
Coaching career1998–2006, 2009–2011
Career history
Playing
19751982Philadelphia 76ers
19821987New Jersey Nets
1987Utah Jazz
19871989Detroit Pistons
1989–1991Auxilium Torino
1991–1992Philips Milano
1992–1994Libertas Forlì
1995Harlem Globetrotters
1995–1996Sioux Falls Skyforce
1999–2000Winnipeg Cyclone
2000Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
Coaching
1998–2000Winnipeg Cyclone
1999–2006Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs
2005–2006Newark Express
2009–2011Lehigh Carbon CC
Career highlights
As player:

As coach:

  • USBL champion (2001, 2004)
  • IBA Coach of the Year (1999)
  • USBL Coach of the Year (1999)
Career NBA statistics
Points8,733 (12.0 ppg)
Rebounds4,432 (6.1 rpg)
Blocks1,023 (1.4 bpg)
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference

Darryl R. Dawkins (January 11, 1957 – August 27, 2015) was an American professional basketball player and coach. A three-time NBA finalist center, he most notably played for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets with brief tenures at the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz later on. His powerful dunks, which shattered two backboards in 1979, led the NBA to adopt breakaway rims.

Dawkins averaged double figures in scoring nine times in his 14-year NBA career, often ranking among the league leaders in field-goal percentage, and set an NBA record for fouls in a season (386) in 1983–84. Stevie Wonder gave him the nickname Chocolate Thunder.