Playground legend Hawkins dies at 75
Connie Hawkins, the dazzling New York playground legend who soared and swooped his way to the Basketball Hall of Fame, has died. He was 75.
Hawkins’ death was announced Saturday by the Suns, the team with which he spent his most productive NBA seasons in a career delayed for years by a point- shaving scandal in 1961 that led to the league blackballing him, even though he never was linked directly to any wrongdoing.
The Suns didn’t disclose the cause of Hawkins’ death. He lived in the Phoenix area, had been in frail health for several years and was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2007.
‘‘ We lost a legend, a player I had a very deep affection for [ and] who kind of put us on the map,’’ said Jerry Colangelo, the Suns’ general manager when Hawkins played and later the owner of the franchise.
Hawkins, who didn’t play in the NBA until he was 27, averaged 18.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in seven seasons with the Suns, Lakers and Hawks. His best season came as a rookie in 1969- 70, when he averaged 24.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Mavericks guard Seth Curry is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left tibia. There is no timetable for his return, and the Mavericks said he will be re- evaluated weekly.
Curry, the younger brother of Warriors star Stephen Curry, averaged 12.8 points and shot 43 percent from three- point range in 70 games for the Mavericks last season.