RIP Darryl Dawkins

Embiid P · Post #1 » by **Embiid P** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:15 pm

RIP to a Philly legend. :cry:

http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/former-nba-star-darryl-dawkins-dead/34950546

Sixersftw · Post #2 » by **Sixersftw** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:24 pm

Holy crap that sucks. Apparently, My dad used to live around the corner from him.

R.I.P.

Post #3 » by **CoreyGallagher** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:33 pm

Was only 58, shame, RIP.

Skates · Post #4 » by **Skates** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:57 pm

The man knew how to live life, just far too short of one. RIP, Big Fella.

Ericb5 · Post #5 » by **Ericb5** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:11 pm

Sad news indeed. One of the great Sixer organization ambassadors...

GoSixersBro · Post #6 » by **GoSixersBro** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:32 pm

58 is so young. I'm only 24 so I never saw him play, but RIP.

rzzzzz · Post #7 » by **rzzzzz** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:53 pm

hope the party is going strong on Lovetron tonite. RIP big guy.

Lovetron Joe · Post #8 » by **Lovetron Joe** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 9:05 pm

He was my favorite player. This is truly a sad day. The first time I saw him play was straight out out of Maynard Evans High School in the Baker league. When he stepped out onto the floor the crowd went wild. Just an incredible physical presence even then.

His fist fight with the late Maurice Lucas was memorable. Suspect they are having a cold one as we speak. RIP

sixerkitty · Post #9 » by **sixerkitty** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:18 pm

Not the greatest NBA player ever...that's for sure. But, he had the greatest NBA Personality ever...and that was a fact. Just a fun-loving, fan-loving type of guy who was always a great teammate. Sorry to hear this news. God speed Chocolate Thunder, and my best wishes to his family.

Eyeamok · Post #10 » by **Eyeamok** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:19 pm

Sad sad news. RIP Chocolate Thunder.

thenbaman · Post #11 » by **thenbaman** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 10:35 pm

Thanks for all the memories big fella.

guitarpath · Post #12 » by **guitarpath** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 12:57 am

Huge loss. A Darryl Dawkins was an enormous presence. A 76er for life.

Darryl was one of those rare people who were just naturally and genuinely funny. He loved to make people laugh and he was damn good at it. Nobody nicknamed their dunks back in the 1970's. He was a free spirit and a good person. He was always a kid at heart. "Chocolate Thunder" was the perfect nickname for him (bestowed by Stevie Wonder). It perfectly captured him: Light-hearted, funny, and powerful.

RIP Mr. Dawkins. Long may you run, #53.

ryst · Post #13 » by **ryst** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:06 am

sixerkitty wrote:Not the greatest NBA player ever...that's for sure. But, he had the greatest NBA Personality ever...and that was a fact. Just a fun-loving, fan-loving type of guy who was always a great teammate. Sorry to hear this news. God speed Chocolate Thunder, and my best wishes to his family.

WTF is that? only ONE player is the greatest NBA player ever , no need to add that

RIP Dawkins , will never forget his slam that broke the back board

James40 · Post #14 » by **James40** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:30 pm

ryst wrote:
sixerkitty wrote:Not the greatest NBA player ever...that's for sure. But, he had the greatest NBA Personality ever...and that was a fact. Just a fun-loving, fan-loving type of guy who was always a great teammate. Sorry to hear this news. God speed Chocolate Thunder, and my best wishes to his family.

WTF is that? only ONE player is the greatest NBA player ever , no need to add that

RIP Dawkins , will never forget his slam that broke the back board

Early in his career Philly fans were hoping he was going to be the next Wilt, who IMHO is the best ever, anyway, having met Thunder many times, he used to say, "if Wilt was 7'1", then I'm 6'2". He was a great ambassador for the league and the Sixers, funny and quick witted, he will truly be missed. Next to Larry Holmes, he was the funniest pro athlete I have ever met.

jsa · Post #15 » by **jsa** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 8:47 pm

He was THE Manchild, one of a kind. I remember the 76ers had a rookie around one summer who claimed to be a great dunker. DD challenged him to a dunk-off, maybe in the Baker League, I can't remember. The kid did a couple of decent dunks, then DD picks up two balls, runs from the corner and SMASHES them down. The rookie looked like a scared puppy.

Basketball wise he needed the discipline of a great college coach and a few years, but the high school signing limited his skill set. The new NBA suffers from this all the time now.

76ers 2020 · Post #16 » by **76ers 2020** » Sun Aug 30, 2015 1:16 am

The thing I hate about the dunk contest now is the complete lack of appreciation for power dunks. Dawkins brutality was a thing of beauty. Instead of just giving the dunk a rating of 1-10 I would like to see it something like 1-10 for power, 1-10 for agility and 1-10 for difficulty. Maybe not that exactly but something to bring back some appreciation, or at least consideration, for power dunks.