"I don't enjoy all those names like Lovetron and this Chocolate Thunder" - Larry Brown on expectations from Darryl Dawkins
darryl-dawkins
Each time Darryl Dawkins is mentioned, one immediately recalls his vicious dunks. But in addition to his high-flying skills, the NBA legend was known for his series of nicknames.
The fifth overall pick of the 1975 Draft had a hulking presence that could be imposing if Dawkins used this advantage inside the paint. After years of failing to live up to that billing with the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Nets were next to give “Chocolate Thunder” a chance.
Dawkins was sent to the Nets during the 1982 offseason in exchange for a first-round pick. Then-coach Larry Brown was aware of the hype surrounding Darryl. However, he stressed that the flare of the 6-foot-11 big man did not impress him.
“I don’t enjoy all those names like Lovetron and this Chocolate Thunder. My main concern is that we have a good team, and we want Darryl to be part of it. If he does nothing more than play the way he has up until now, we have benefited. If he plays up to his potentials, we have stumbled onto something,” Brown said, per New York Times.
Enough Showboating
Although “Double B” loved to entertain fans, winning mattered the most. As a Sixer, Dawkins averaged 11.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 448 regular-season games. There was no doubt that “Candy Slam” could do much more.
“What they wanted to see was Darryl perform on the court. He’s paid to perform and not provide people with all that Lovetron talk,” Sixers owner Harold Katz said about Dawkins.
The Nets could have gotten Darryl earlier had they agreed to include players in the trade. But Brown did not want to go that route, which is why a future pick was sent instead.
“I had to go to Mr. [Joe] Taub and I had to talk him out of it. I was not in favor of having to give up any of our players,” Brown explained.
Fitting in Perfectly
The Nets desperately needed someone at the center position. The team was looking for a proven big man, and Dawkins seemed a good fit. “Sir Slam” responded to the challenge and had a career renaissance of sorts with the Nets.
When injuries started to hound Dawkins, the Nets’ campaigns would also take a hit. As a result, he was traded to the Utah Jazz after five seasons, but at that point, his career was already on the decline. Dawkins averaged 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.4 assists in 258 regular-season games as a New Jersey Net.
“Sweet D’s” NBA career would tumble after the 1985-86 season. He played only four games with the Jazz and 16 with his last team, the Detroit Pistons.