The NBA family lost one of its most colorful personalities and electrifying performers on Thursday. Darryl Dawkins, who had a brief stint with the Utah Jazz in addition to stops with Philadelphia, New Jersey and Detroit, has passed away at the age of 58. The official cause of death has not been released.
Known around the world as “Chocolate Thunder,” Dawkins was one of the league’s true showman, combining his gift of gab and large persona with some of the most powerful slam dunks the NBA has ever seen.
Dawkins made history when he became the second basketball player to be drafted out of high school in 1975 and the first for the NBA.