Darnell Hillman facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 29, 1949 Sacramento, California |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Hiram W. Johnson (Sacramento, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | San Jose State (1968–1969) |
| NBA Draft | 1971 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Pro career | 1971–1980 |
| Career history | |
| 1971–1977 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1977–1978 | New Jersey Nets |
| 1978 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1978–1979 | Kansas City Kings |
| 1979–1980 | Golden State Warriors |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 7,339 (9.8 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,187 (7.6 rpg) |
| Blocks | 782 (1.3 bpg) |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
Darnell "Dr. Dunk" Hillman, born on August 29, 1949, is a famous former professional basketball player. He was known for his amazing dunks!
Hillman went to Hiram W. Johnson High School. He then played college basketball at San Jose State University. He was very tall, standing 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) as a forward.
In 1971, the Golden State Warriors picked him in the first round of the 1971 NBA draft. But Hillman chose to play for the Indiana Pacers in a different league called the American Basketball Association (ABA). While at San Jose State, he was also great at track and field. He could high jump an amazing 6 feet 11.5 inches!
Contents
Playing for the Pacers and Beyond
Darnell Hillman played for the Indiana Pacers for six seasons. The Pacers later joined the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1976. This happened when the ABA and NBA leagues merged.
Hillman became famous for his cool slam dunks. He also had a very large afro hairstyle, which made him stand out.
Winning the Slam Dunk Contest
In the 1976–77 season, Hillman won the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest. This was a very early version of the famous contest we know today. He didn't get a trophy right away, but he finally received one on March 8, 2017.
The final part of the contest happened during halftime of Game 5 of the 1977 NBA Finals. Hillman beat Larry McNeill of the Golden State Warriors. At that time, Hillman was not officially on any NBA team. So, he competed in a plain white tank top instead of a team jersey.
After winning, he wore a shirt that said "Bottle Shoppe." This was the name of a store that sponsored a softball team he played for.
Later Career and Total Stats
After playing for the Pacers, Hillman played for several other NBA teams. These included the New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Kansas City Kings, and the Golden State Warriors.
He finished his basketball career in 1980. If you add up his points and rebounds from both the ABA and NBA regular seasons, he scored 6,666 points and grabbed 5,187 rebounds. Including playoff games, he had 7,339 points and 5,809 rebounds.
International Play and Special Moments
Hillman also played for the United States men's national basketball team. He represented his country in the 1970 FIBA World Championship.
His Amazing Jumping Ability
People often talked about how high Darnell Hillman could jump. A reporter once asked him if it was true he could jump high enough to grab a quarter off the top of the basketball backboard. Hillman famously replied, "Put a $100 bill up there and see." The reporter, knowing how good Hillman was, decided not to take him up on the offer!
Recognitions and Current Role
At an ABA reunion in 1997, Hillman won the "Biggest ABA Afro" Award.
Today, Darnell Hillman works for the Indiana Pacers. He helps with their camps, clinics, and alumni relations.
On February 4, 2012, San Jose State University honored Hillman by retiring his jersey number, #45. This means no other player at San Jose State will wear that number again. He is one of only three Spartans to have their jerseys retired.
See also
In Spanish: Darnell Hillman para niños
