Darryl Dawkins was an American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1975 to 1989. He was born on January 11, 1957 in Orlando, Florida and passed away on August 27, 2015 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Dawkins was a center known for his incredible athleticism and powerful dunks, which earned him the nickname “Chocolate Thunder”. He was the first player to be drafted directly out of high school into the NBA and is considered one of the pioneers of the modern style of play in the league.
Throughout his career, Dawkins played for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, and Detroit Pistons. He was a two-time NBA All-Star and is remembered for his flamboyant personality and his contributions to the sport, including his famous self-given nicknames for his powerful dunks, such as “The Rim Wrecker” and “The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam, Glass-Breaker-I-Am Jam”.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in August of 2020.