(RepublicanView.org) – Earl Cureton, an NBA legend who earned two championship titles across 12 seasons in the league, died Sunday, February 4 at the age of 66.
Cureton’s old team, the Detroit Pistons, announced they were heartbroken by his death. They described him as someone who meant a great deal to the team and his community. He was also praised for his passion and the work he did to support the city of Detroit.
Cureton was a Detroit native who was born in 1957. He played basketball during his youth at Finney High School during the city’s race riots in the 1960s.
He went on to play at Robert Morris College for two seasons, until 1977. Cureton’s second season coincided with the school’s first season as an NCAA Division I college. He scored 446 points during that season and recorded 274 rebounds. He also averaged 17.2 double-double points. He would later transfer to the University of Detroit Mercy.
However, his college career ended when he was drafted to the Philadelphia 76ers during his junior year in 1979. He was the 58th pick and signed on with the team the following year. Cureton made a hook-shot during a second game with the Lakers in 1983 while filling in for a teammate who was benched for a foul. He was credited with helping the team win that game.
He left the 76ers after three seasons, choosing instead to play professionally in Italy. However, he soon returned to the US and signed on with his hometown team, the Detroit Pistons, in 1983. He then spent the next several seasons with different teams, including the LA Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Rappers, and Charlotte Hornets.
He would later help coach the Los Angeles Stars in 2000-2001. He spent the next few years coaching several college teams, mostly in California. He also worked as an assistant coach for the WNBA teams Charlotte Sting and Phoenix Mercury.
After retiring from professional sports, Cureton decided to keep a promise he made to his mother and finish his degree at the University of Detroit. He then went on to work as a broadcaster for the Pistons. He also worked as a Community Ambassador for the team and helped coordinate their community outreach efforts.
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