Darryl Dawkins dies of heart attack at 58

Darryl Dawkins, the NBA star known as "Chocolate Thunder" because of his powerful dunks, died of a heart attack Thursday.

WFMZ-TV in Pennsylvania first reported the death, and his family confirmed it Thursday afternoon. Dawkins was 58.

In a statement, the family said, "It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Darryl Dawkins, who succumbed today to a heart attack.

"Darryl touched the hearts and spirits of so many with his big smile and personality, ferocious dunks, but more than anything, his huge, loving heart. His family -- wife Janice, children Dara, Tabitha, Nicholas and Alexis, along with countless family, friends and fans -- all mourn his loss.

"More than anything Darryl accomplished in his basketball career as the inimitable 'Chocolate Thunder,' he was most proud of his role and responsibility as a husband and father. We ask that the public please respect our privacy as we grieve his loss."

In 1975, Dawkins was the first player drafted out of high school into the NBA -- as the fifth overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. He went on to play 15 seasons with four teams: the Sixers (1975-82), the New Jersey Nets (1982-87), the Utah Jazz (1988) and the Detroit Pistons (1988-89).

Dawkins shot 57.2 percent during his career, scored 8,733 points and blocked 1,023 shots.

His dunks were so powerful that he shattered two backboards in 1979 and singer Stevie Wonder nicknamed him "Chocolate Thunder."

After his NBA career, he coached the American Basketball Association's Newark Express and the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs of the United States Basketball League. He most recently had coached at Lehigh Carbon Community College.