H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m
<<1955 1956 1957 >> -------------------- September 15, 2004 Maurice Stokes: 1955-56 Rookie of the year
Born - June 17, 1933, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA College - St Francis, Pennsylvania NBA start - 1955, drafted by Rochester in the first round 2nd pick overall. Size - height:6'7" - weight:232lbs Stats - gp:67 - mpg:34.7 - ppg:16.8 - rpg:16.3 - apg:4.9 - fg%:35.4 - ft%:71.4 Team standing - Cincinatti 31-41 4th (last) in Western Division Comments - His team's shortcomings did not take the spotlight away from his solid rookie campaign, and promising career. Yet his NBA stay was short lived. The day after the first game of the 1958 playoffs against Detroit (Detroit won 100-93), he collapsed and fell into a coma and was later dignosed with encephalitis. During the last game of the regular season he had struck his head on the hardwood. His coma and paralysis were later attributed to severe head injury sustained from the hit. He became permanently disabled and never played in the NBA again. In 3 seasons his career averages were 16.4 ppg and 17.3 rpg, with 2 rebounding titles. He was an All-Star in each of his 3 NBA seasons. He died at the age of 36 (April 6, 1970). On September 10, 2004 he's inducted into the basketball hall of fame, with his former teammate and care-taker Jack Twyman accepting the honor in his place. -------------------- <<1955 1956 1957 >> Back to rookies list Back to NBA almanac |
|
|