Darryl Dawkins was regarded as one of the finest centres in the NBA, having played for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and Utah Jazz, among other teams. Darryl was also known as Chocolate Thunder because to his game style, which included destroying rims and boards on multiple occasions. He also coached basketball for a number of teams.
| Life & Career |
Darryl Dawkins was born on January 11th, 1957, in Orlando, Florida, and died on August 27th, 2015, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He attended Maynard Evans High School in Orlando throughout his childhood.
He initially demonstrated his basketball abilities when in high school, when he was a member of the school’s squad. He was one of the top players on the team, and he helped them win the state title in 1975.
As a result, he opted to forego further study and enter the NBA Draft that same year, marking the start of his professional basketball career. Darryl was the 5th overall choice in the NBA Draft, and he signed a rookie deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, boosting his net worth.
He continued with the organization until 1982, when he was transferred to the New Jersey Nets in a deal that also featured Moses Malone of the Houston Rockets, who joined the Philadelphia 76ers. Darryl only played 37 games for Philadelphia in his debut season, averaging 4.5 minutes per game.
Darryl improved his stats in the playoffs in his second season and helped his team reach the finals, where they were defeated by the Portland Trailblazers. Darryl, on the other hand, made a reputation for himself in the starting lineup and improved his game the next season. The 76ers made it to the finals once more, but this time they were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers.
His second season with the Nets was his finest, averaging 16.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Injury plagued him after that, and he was limited to no more than 30 games per season, prompting a trade to the Utah Jazz in 1987.
He left the NBA, but not basketball, after his contract ended, and went on to play for clubs including as Auxilium Torino in Italy and Olympia Philips Milano. He also played with the Harlem Globetrotters for a short time before finishing his career with the Winnipeg Cyclone in 2000.
| Personal Life & Relationships |
Darryl Dawkins was married three times in his personal life, the first to Kelly in 1986, who tragically committed suicide the following year. He married Robbin Thornton in 1988, but the couple separated in 1998.
In 2001, he married Janice Hoderman, with whom he had two children and a daughter from her previous marriage. At the age of 58, he died of a heart attack.
| Net Worth |
Darryl Dawkins has a net worth of $5 million dollars. He made his money not only as a pro basketball player, but also as a coach for various clubs.
Another source was his involvement in various entertainment industry endeavors, such as video games, as well as his autobiography titling, The Uncensored Life of Darryl Dawkins.