Darryl Dawkins: An Ode to Chocolate Thunder
Last Thursday, the NBA world mourned the loss of Darryl Dawkins — a former star for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets who was known for his imposing physique, earth-shattering dunks and larger than life personality. At the age of 58, Dawkins’ heart attack came far too early for a man who was known for his heart of gold.
As a 90s child, I’ll be perfectly honest: I never got to see Darryl Dawkins play for the Philadelphia 76ers or the New Jersey Nets. My earliest and fondest memories of him growing up came from NBA Street Vol. 2, marveling at all the NBA legends there were to learn about. But the player with the nickname “Chocolate Thunder” stuck with me, and prompted me to do a little more research.
Like most of the people who knew Dawkins, interacted with him on a daily basis or even got to be around him for one afternoon at a basketball camp, I couldn’t help but like him the more I got to know him.
The day of his death, the Brooklyn Nets ownership and management released this statement:
“The entire Brooklyn Nets organization is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of legendary player Darryl Dawkins. As a member of the Nets in the 1980’s, Darryl, aka Chocolate Thunder, entertained fans on the court with his powerful dunks and effervescent personality, and also made an enormous impact in the community. Following his playing career, Darryl remained part of the Nets and NBA family by serving as an ambassador and sharing his love of the game with countless fans. He had an amazing personality and touched everyone in a positive way. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Dawkins family and to all those who had the pleasure of knowing Darryl. He will be deeply missed.”
Dawkins, who spent 14 seasons in the NBA from the mid-1970s to the late 80s, is most remembered for his time with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets. In Philly, he was a raw 18-year-old prospect who was the first NBA player to come straight out of high school, much like Moses Malone did in the ABA the year before.
It wasn’t until the Sixers advanced to the 1977 NBA Finals in Dawkins’ second season that he began to earn the trust of the coaching staff, being called upon to help battle Bill Walton in the paint. Philadelphia lost that series, but Dawkins averaged a respectable 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the postseason.
The following year he began to break through, averaging 11.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 24.6 minutes per game. In 1979-80, Dawkins had his best season with the Sixers, posting then career-highs of 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in addition to 1.8 blocks per game. He helped Philly back to the NBA Finals that season, but they lost once again, this time to the Los Angeles Lakers.
During that 1979-80 season, Dawkins also had one of his most signature moments. In a game against the Kansas City Kings on Nov. 13, 1979, Chocolate Thunder threw down a monster jam that shattered the backboard and sent Bill Robinzine ducking away. Everyone remembers a young Shaquille O’Nealbreaking the backboard, but it started with Dawkins back in 1979.
Dawkins nicknamed it the “If You Ain’t Groovin’ Best Get Movin’, Chocolate Thunder Flyin’, Robinzine Cryin’, Teeth Shakin’, Glass Breakin’, Rump Roastin’, Bun Toastin’, Wham Bam Glass Breaker I Am Jam!” After breaking two backboards in a three-week span, the NBA was prompted to switch to breakaway rims the following season.
After losing in the Finals once again in 1982, the Sixers decided to shake things up and traded Dawkins — who had missed 34 games that season due to injury — to the New Jersey Nets. The following year, Philadelphia would finally capture the NBA crown thanks to the arrival of Moses Malone.
In New Jersey, Dawkins had a productive two seasons before injuries derailed the remainder of his career. In his second season with the Nets, Chocolate Thunder averaged a career high 16.8 points along with 6.7 rebounds per game. He spent the next five seasons trying to stay healthy, but back problems resulting from a slip in the bath tub prevented him from ever doing so.
True enough, Dawkins was never a “legendary” player. A few shattered backboards are impressive, but if you were to look solely at the stats (his career numbers other than his impressive 57.2 field goal percentage (12.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 1.4 BPG), even some his most impressive seasons would indicate that he was a role player, or a second or third option at best.
Fortunately, for our intents and purposes, looking back on a man’s life and basketball career entails so much more than raw statistics, and that’s when Dawkins’ status as an NBA legend becomes unmistakably clear.
At 6’11” and 275 pounds, Dawkins was a physical specimen that was a marvel to behold at the time. But it wasn’t just the power and physique of the man that made Darryl Dawkins stand out; it was his infectious personality, his sense of humor and his easygoing attitude that his former teammates remember now.
As you probably made out from that nickname for his own backboard-shattering dunk, Dawkins was a character. He famously claimed to be an alien from the planet Lovetron, he signed his first contract in a bright red suit with a top hat and his nicknames ranged from “Sir Slam” to “Double Stick of Dynamite” to “D Double D” to “Dr. Dunkenstein.”
He even nicknamed his dunks, with the “Look Out Below,” the “Yo Mama” and the “Rim Wrecker” being just a few of the creative brands he coined.
In his later years, Dawkins became respected for his charitable work just as much as his undeniable sense of humor, working with the Sixers and the NBA to help coach kids. According to ESPN, he spent one summer working 85 basketball camps.
Dawkins never lived up to his billing as the fifth overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft, but he still had a solid career that helped spread the popularity of the game through his eye-popping athleticism and strength alone.