Maurice Cheeks
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Maurice "Mo" Edward Cheeks (born September 8, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American former professional basketball player. He is the 21st current head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, having been hired on May 23, 2005. He was head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers from the start of the 2001-02 season until March 2, 2005, when he was fired from the position.
[edit] Biography
Cheeks attended West Texas State University from 1975 to 1978. After college, he was selected as the 36th pick in the second round of the 1978 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Cheeks played 15 years as a point guard in the NBA (11 with the 76ers), earning four trips to the All-Star Game. He helped the 76ers earn three trips to the NBA Finals in a four-year span in the early 1980s (1980, 1982, and 1983), including one NBA championship in 1983.
In NBA history he ranks third all-time in steals and eighth all-time in assists.
On April 25, 2003, during a playoff game between the Trail Blazers and the Dallas Mavericks, Cheeks aided Natalie Gilbert in singing the National anthem. After Gilbert forgot the words at "At the twilight's last gleaming", Cheeks rushed over to help her. Cheeks received a standing ovation after the song was over. Unfortunately, Portland would go on to lose to the Mavericks that night.
There is a photo of Cheeks on the last page of the NBA Live 2004 instruction manual for Hardwood Classics jerseys. His jersey is also in the EA Sports Hall Of Fame feature.
[edit] Coaching Career
His career record as a head coach of the Blazers and Sixers, as of March 1, 2007 is 220-221 (49.9%). His best coaching year was the 2002-2003 season with the Portland Trailblazers, enjoying a 50-32 season (.610), but is suffering his worst season with the Philadelphia 76ers, recording just a 20-38 season (as of March 1st).
Cheeks is also known to be a laid back coach. Former Sixers players Allen Iverson and Chris Webber said that they took advantage of Cheeks laid back personality and did not work hard during the 2005-06 NBA season.
[edit] External links
- Maurice Cheeks' career statistics
- Video of Maurice Cheeks helping Natalie Gilbert sing the national anthem on April 25, 2003
- Maurice Cheeks InsideHoops.com profile
- [1] ESPN Recap of the Sixers 99-94 win over the Suns
| Preceded by Mike Dunleavy |
Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach 2001–2005 |
Succeeded by Kevin Pritchard (interim) |
| Preceded by Jim O'Brien |
Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach 2005– |
Succeeded by N/A |
Cheeks | Cureton | Edwards | Erving | Iavaroni | C. Johnson | R. Johnson | Jones | Malone | McNamara | Richardson | Toney | Coach Cunningham
 |
This biographical article relating to a U.S. basketball player, coach, or other figure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Categories: 1956 births | Living people | American basketball coaches | American basketball players | African American basketball players | People from Chicago | Atlanta Hawks players | New Jersey Nets players | New York Knicks players | Philadelphia 76ers players | San Antonio Spurs players | Portland Trail Blazers coaches | Philadelphia 76ers coaches | West Texas A&M University alumni | United States basketball biography stubs
