Larry Brown names the first GOAT before Michael Jordan and Dr. J: "The greatest individual player I have ever seen"
Apparently, one player already earned the GOAT title prior to Dr. J and MJ.
JUL 14, 2024 4:56 PM EDT
Hall of Fame NBA coach Larry Brown witnessed Connie Hawkins's greatness firsthand during his playing days in the ABA, and he often speaks highly of the Hawks' impact on the game. In fact, Brown strongly believes that Hawkins was the greatest individual player of all time before Julius Erving and later Michael Jordan.
"He was Julius before Julius. He was Elgin before Elgin. He was Michael before Michael. He was simply the greatest individual player I have ever seen," Brown once said on ESPN Classic's Sport Century profile of Connie Hawkins.
Connie was ahead of his time
Many may not have heard of Hawkins, but he was indeed a player like no other during his time. Known for his incredible athleticism and graceful playing style, Hawkins was, as Brown put it down, considered the predecessor of Dr. J and MJ and a true pioneer of the game.
Connie had the agility of a guard and the strength of a forward, which made him a nightmare for his matchups. However, it was his high-flying plays and electrifying dunks that convinced hoops fans, players, and sports media personalities alike that he was undeniably ahead of his time.
"He was the first guy on that Dr. J-Michael Jordan level," ABA legend Doug Moe said of Hawkins. "Nobody could match him."
A short yet legendary career
Hawkins played the best basketball of his career in the ABA. Though he did not get to enjoy a lengthy career like most NBA legends did, Hawk was phenomenal during his active years in the sport.
In 1968, Hawkins led the Pittsburgh Pipers to their first ABA championship in franchise history after securing the well-deserved MVP award in the regular season. A year later, Hawkins was signed by the Phoenix Suns and made his debut season in the NBA.
As expected, Hawk quickly made his presence felt in the NBA, having averaged a remarkable tally of 24.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per outing in his first 81 games in the league. He played his first four years in the NBA as an All-Star.
After short stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks, Hawkins called it a career and retired in 1976. A wide array of explosive scorers emerged shortly after Hawkins left the game, but it's safe to say he was one of the greats who paved the way for Dr. J and Jordan, as well as some of the legends we still idolize to this day.
John is a storyteller who has a penchant for old-school anecdotes and pretty much every unfathomable story waiting to be told. He has almost a decade of experience working as a sports writer and is focused on keeping the legacies of the old NBA eras alive.
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