NBA legend Connie "The Hawk" Hawkins has passed away at the age of 75. The former Suns forward died on Friday night when 12 News' Bruce Cooper confirmed it with his family.
Hawkins, a Brooklyn native, started his career at American Basketball League, playing with the Pittsburgh Pipers in 1967-68 and playing four seasons with the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1960s. Hawkins joined the NBA at the age of 27 and though many may have felt that was too old for an NBA player, Hawkins was deadly on the court and it was hard to play defense against him.
Hawkins played for the Phoenix Suns from 1969-1973 and he averaged 20.5 points, 9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the team. Hawkins also played the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks. In 1992, Basketball Hall of Fame made Hawkins the first Suns player to be enshrined.
The Suns released the following statement on Twitter:
"'The Hawk' revolutionized the game and remains to this day an icon of the sport and one of basketball's great innovators," the Suns said in a statement. "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." (See the image above)
"We will miss Hawk dearly," the team said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends as we mourn the passing of a true Suns legend."
Rest in Peace Connie "The Hawk" Hawkins.
Source: buff.ly
