Daryl Dawkins epitomized an NBA fondly remembered. A Philadelphia 76er through and through, his love of the game was only bested by his love for the city. Philadelphia 76ers will honor the man who loved to entertain on Saturday, February 6, 2016.
If you have never smiled watching a basketball games, it’s likely because you were born too late. You see, before shot analysis, small ball, Bigs, there was only one game in town, and that was when the Philadelphia 76ers arrived led by “Chocolate Thunder” Daryl Dawkins. Dawkins was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers fifth in the 1975 NBA draft, a time when young men could and were drafted straight out of high school. Perhaps it was that fact that led Dawkins to play with such boyish enthusiasm and charm. He carried that boyish enthusiasm with him his entire life, until he was taken from us when he passed away on August 27, 2015.
Dawkins was born and raised with in Orlando Florida, and played in the NBA for 14 years. But it is the seven year span he had played as a Philadelphia 76ers that has truly anchored his career in the NBA history books. His flamboyant showmanship was never more on display than when the man dunked the ball. His dunks became part of the legend, and he had names for them drawn up as colorful as the shots themselves.
From PhillySportsHistory.com, they have a listing of Dawkins most memorable dunks:
"1. “Your Mama” When the “Master of Disaster” first broke into the league and was practicing with guys like Dr. J., Jellybean Bryant, World B. Free and Doug Collins, he wanted to show everyone he was a player. After his first powerful dunk, he turned to the guy who attempted to play defense and said “Your Mama.” When the rest of the players asked him what the hell he was talking about, he said “That’s my ‘Your Mama’ dunk.” 2. “The Heart-Stopper” At 6’11” and 250 lbs., “King Kong” was an imposing presence to say the least. So when he froze defenders in the lane with powerful drives to the hoop, he would call those dunks “Heart-Stoppers” because it looked like they made the defender’s heart stop. 3. “The Greyhound Bus” Greyhound Bus described when he would go coast to coast and finish with a dunk. 4. “Left-Handed, Spine-Chiller Supreme” Although “Charming Chocolate” was right-handed, he often dunked lefty. 5. “Turbo Sexophonic Delight” Makes sense when you consider he was an alien from the planet Lovetron who spent the offseason practicing interplanetary funkmanship. 6. (my favorite) “Chocolate Thunder Flyin’, Glass Flyin’, Robizine Cryin’, Parents Cryin’, Babies Cryin’, Glass Still Flyin’, Rump Roasting, Bun Toasting, Thank You Wham Ma’am I Am’ Jam” His first backboard shattering slam. (right) 7. “The Chocolate Thunder Ain’t Playin’, Get Out The Wayin’, Backboard Swayin’, Game Delayin’, Super Spike” And his second backboard shattering slam, after which the NBA forever changed to collapsible rims.Honorable Mention Dunks: “Dunk You Very Much,” “The Rim-Wrecker,” “The Gorilla, “The In Your Face Disgrace,” “If You Ain’t Groovin’ You Best Get Movin’ Dunk.” – excerpt from Mr. Nickname Daryl Dawkins"
Darryl Dawkins Tribute Night will be held when the Philadelphia 76ers host the Brooklyn Nets at 7:30 PM and will showcase a special halftime ceremony featuring live interviews with Dawkins’ former Sixers teammates Bobby Jones and World B. Free. In addition, the first 15,000 fans to enter the arena will receive double-sided Darryl Dawkins posters, presented by XFINITY. Sixers players will wear ‘Chocolate Thunder’ shooting shirts during pregame warm-ups, and Sixers players, Sixers Dancers and Sixers Phlight Squa will all wear custom-made Darryl Dawkins socks. Prominent NBA personalities will deliver special in-arena video messages and a 6-11 life-sized Dawkins cutout will be displayed on the concourse along with a memory wall for fans to share their personal tributes.
This man was one of the most infectious entertainers of the game. Philadelphia 76ers CEO has this to say about Dawkins:
"“Those of us fortunate enough to have known Darryl remember his open heart, generous nature, and insatiable appetite for life and laughter. For his larger than life personality, game-changing style of play, and thunderous dunks, he was the epitome of a Sixers player. We pay tribute to both the dominating player on the court, and the lighthearted spirit that created ‘The Planet Lovetron’ – we are so proud to call him a Sixer.”"
The Sixer Sense would like to add our voices to those of all fans of the Philadelphia 76ers. He touched us in a special way, and an article by George Kondoleon speaks to that special place he has in our hearts. If there are people who have embedded a love of basketball, and a respect for the pure enjoyment of life, then Daryl Dawkins has certainly written the checks of laughter and fun to deposit into our hearts for life.
May God Bless you, Daryl Dawkins. For throughout your life, you had so generously blessed us.