Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: NBA center from 1975-1989 for Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons.
Ht: 6-11 Wt: 260
DOB: January 11, 1957 In: Orlando, FL
First Basketball Memory: “Was getting beat one-on-one by my mother. And she taught me how to play basketball. So my first memory was getting one at age 12 – a rim for Christmas, my mother putting it up and beating me.”
Basketball Inspirations: “I like Oscar Robertson but I was a bigger fan of Wilt Chamberlain. And I liked Jerry West too. But Wilt Chamberlain – there was no other like him.”
Nicknames: “Chocolate Thunder was given to me by Stevie Wonder, a man who never saw me. I like Dr. Dunkenstein. I liked Pure Pleasure. Sir Slam. Ice Man was my favorite nickname – and that was for George Gervin.”
Last Book Read: “Harry Potter.”
Favorite Movie: “League of Extraordinary Gentleman.”
First Job: “Elmon Tire Service. Putting acid in the batteries. In Orlando, Florida.”
First Car: “Was a ’67 Caddy (Cadillac). It was in ’75. It was raggedy as all, but it was mine [laughs].” (Color?) Blue and green.”
Current Car: “You would not believe it so I’ll tell you…I mostly drive a minivan. Because if I drive another car, I’m stopped all the time. I have a car from Muhammad Ali – called a Stutz Blackhawk – that I don’t drive.”
Favorite Meal: “Without a doubt is fried chicken [smiles].”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Strawberry.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Getting my first paycheck from the Sixers (1975).”
Most Painful Moment: “Was getting my first divorce.”
Favorite Uniforms: “I like the first uniforms the Sixers had because it had the Liberty Bell on them, Ben Franklin and everybody. They weighed about 20 pounds. Those were my favorite ones.”
Favorite Arena: “Houston. Because the rims were like bigger than a truck tire. You couldn’t miss. Couldn’t miss.”
Closest NBA Friends: “World B. Free and Earl Cureton.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Bobby Jones [laughs]. Bobby Jones was a Christian and everything he said was dry humor that you had to understand.”
Toughest Competitor Encountered: “Bob Lanier. (Why him?) 22 shoe. Left hand. I couldn’t guard him no matter what.”
Funny Basketball Memory: “They told us if you ever get hit in the lower extremities, grab your foot, the trainer will come out. I got hit by Dave Cowens. I grabbed my lower extremity. And the next day in the paper it said: ‘Dawkins worried about balls, not ball [laughs].’”
Strangest Game: “We played a game in Philadelphia – and the Nets protested. By the time we played the Nets again, they had traded three players to us. So we had to play the last three minutes and change uniforms.”
Favorite Sports Outside Basketball: “Bowling. And girl watching [smiles].”
Favorite Players To Watch: “I like to watch Jason Kidd, because he still makes everything go. Kevin Durant. Kobe Bryant. I like KG. I just like team players.”
Embarrassing Basketball Memory: “I played without a jock on [laughs]. And everything came out one night. That was embarrassing.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I like people who give back.”
Career Accomplishments: 8,733 total points scored (12 Points per game), 4,432 rebounds (6.1), 1,023 blocks (1.4).
