By Derrel Jazz Johnson

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Brooklyn product Connie
Hawkins was honored at Barclays Center Monday night in a pregame
ceremony that united dozens of people, including basketball legends
Nate “Tiny” Archibald and Richard “Pee Wee” Kirkland, New York City
councilman Robert Cornegy, Pastor and activist Reverend Herbert
Daughtry, family members of the legendary Jackie Robinson and
relatives of Hawkins himself.

 

 

 

 

Hawkins, who won two PSAL championships at Boys High School and became
a playground legend, played for the Harlem Globetrotters, Harlem
Wizards, the NBA, ABA, ABL, won the 1968 ABA MVP Award and was an NBA
All-Star  from 1970-1973. A knee injury limited Hawkins to only seven
NBA seasons, but did not stop him for making his impact on the game.

Fellow Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and playground
legend Archibald talked of Hawkins exciting crowds before the
legendary Dr. J, imploring “you didn’t see the real Connie, we saw the
real Connie,” acknowledging the injuries that derailed his career.

Hawkins passed away in 2017 at the age of 75, but the event Monday
night showed that he is still remembered by the legends of the game
and his hometown of Brooklyn.