New York basketball legend Connie Hawkins died at the age of 75 on Friday. NBC 12 News Arizona first reported Hawkins’ death.
Known as “The Hawk,” Hawkins was a legendary dunker whose college basketball gambling scandal delayed his appearance in the NBA after he was banned by the league. Hawkins played two seasons in the ABA, winning the league’s first title and MVP award with the Pittsburgh Pipers in 1968.
“Someone said if I didn’t break (the laws of gravity), I was slow to obey them,” Hawkins told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Hawkins finally played in the NBA in 1969 as a 27-year-old rookie with the Phoenix Suns. Hawkins finished his career with the Atlanta Hawks after the 1975–76 season.
Players and coaches raved about his abilities on the floor.
“He was Julius before Julius. He was Elgin before Elgin. He was Michael before Michael. He was simply the greatest individual player I have ever seen,” Larry Brown said about Hawkins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_r7scTKFL4
The Suns released a statement about Hawkins on Saturday morning.
“’The Hawk’ revolutionized the game and remains to this day an icon of the sport and one of basketball’s great innovators. His unique combination of size, grace and athleticism was well ahead of its time and his signature style of play is now a hallmark of the modern game.
The 6’8, 215-pound superstar also played as a Harlem Globetrotter, sued the NBA and once appeared on Saturday Night Live. He averaged 18.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his career.
