| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 17, 1933 Rankin, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | April 6, 1970 (aged 36) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 232 lb (105 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Westinghouse (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Saint Francis (PA) (1951–1955) |
| NBA draft | 1955: 1st round, 2nd overall pick |
| Selected by the Rochester Royals | |
| Playing career | 1955–1958 |
| Position | Power forward / center |
| Number | 12 |
| Career history | |
| 1955–1958 | Rochester / Cincinnati Royals |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 3,315 (16.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,492 (17.3 rpg) |
| Assists | 1,062 (5.3 apg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Basketball Hall of Fame as player | |
| College Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in 2006 | |
Maurice Stokes (June 17, 1933 – April 6, 1970) was an American professional basketball player. He played for the Cincinnati/Rochester Royals of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1955 to 1958. Stokes was a three-time NBA All-Star, a three-time All-NBA Second Team member and the 1956 NBA Rookie of the Year. His career – and later his life – was cut short by a debilitating brain injury and paralysis.[1][2]
Stokes is a namesake of the NBA's Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award alongside Jack Twyman, who served as Stokes' legal guardian during the final years of his life. Stokes was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.
- ^ Chace, John W. (April 7, 1970). "Long battle finally ends for Stokes". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 20.
- ^ "Tragic Stokes battle ends". Pittsburgh Press. April 7, 1970. p. 31.