NB70s: Earl "The Pearl" Monroe (1969-73)

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2 жыл бұрын

After the 1970-1971 season, Earl Monroe's agent Larry Fleisher informed the Bullets of Monroe's wishes to be traded to the Lakers, Chicago Bulls or his hometown Philadelphia 76ers. After four games into the 1971-1972 season, he traveled to Indianapolis to discuss a transfer to the American Basketball Association's Indiana Pacers. He had begun the campaign without having signed a contract due to a salary dispute with Bullets management. When his trade request turned into an ultimatum, he was suspended by the team on October 22. He eventually signed a contract immediately after being sent from the Bullets to the New York Knicks for Mike Riordan, Dave Stallworth and an undisclosed amount of cash twenty days later on November 11, 1971.
Upon his arrival with the Knicks, Monroe formed what was known as the "Rolls Royce backcourt" with the equally flamboyant Walt Frazier. While there were initial questions as to whether Monroe and Frazier could coexist as teammates, the duo eventually meshed to become one of the most effective guard combinations of all time.
In 1971-1972, Monroe averaged 21.7 points in his three games with the Bullets before the trade and he struggled to adjust after the trade, averaging 11.4 points, 2.2 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 60 games with the Knicks. However, the Knicks defeated the Bullets 4-2 and the Boston Celtics 4-1 to reach the 1972 NBA Finals. Monroe averaged 15.8 points and 3.3 assists in the Bullets' series against his former teammates. In the Celtics series he averaged 13.6 points and 3.8 assists.
In the 1972 NBA Finals, the Knicks were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers with Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain 4-1, losing four straight after winning Game 1. Monroe averaged 6.8 points and 2.6 assists in the series.
In 1972-1973, Frazier and Monroe led the Knicks, under future Hall of Fame Coach Red Holtzman to the 1973 NBA Championship, along with future Hall of Fame teammates Bill Bradley, Jerry Lucas and Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere and Phil Jackson.
After a 57-25 regular season, in which Monroe averaged 15.5 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds, his role on the team was defined. The Knicks then defeated the Bullets 4-1 and the Celtics 4-3 to reach the 1973 NBA Finals. The Knicks had a rematch against the Los Angeles Lakers in the finals. The Knicks won the championship, four games to one, with Monroe averaging 16.0 points and 4.2 assists. Bradley averaged 18.6, Frazier 16.6, Reed 16.4 and DeBusschere 15.6 points to illustrate the Knicks' team play.

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@bateschiro 2 жыл бұрын

Great channel! Highlights with music awesome!

@jingqi9106 2 жыл бұрын

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe is one of the most unique and exciting guards to ever lace up a pair of Chucks. Coming out out of Winston Salem where he tore up Division II basketball to the tune of 41 a game and led WS to a 31-1 record, Monroe arrived in Baltimore like a whirling dervish with a basketball. The NBA had never seen a guard like "Black Jesus" and Monroe thrilled basketball fans in Baltimore and around the NBA with his creative and improvisational ball handling and scoring ability. The Pearl wasn't the most athletic guard in the NBA by any stretch but when Earl had the ball, it was dazzling. Monroe had more moves than U-Haul and seemed as if the basketball was an extension of his hand. Although Earl could do so many things with a basketball, his signature move was his spin move and he could spin just once and hit his soft pull up jumper in your face or he could hit you with a double spin and leave you hanging while he finished at the rim. Pearl had a nice hesi too and combined with his behind the back dribble and soft jumper, he could freeze a defender and score easily. In the paint the Pearl could score in multiple ways and his double clutch finishes were unforgettable. When Pearl was traded to the Knicks, he became part of one of the greatest backcourts in NBA history alongside the great Walt "Clyde" Frazier. In the Knicks loaded starting lineup and unselfish team basketball style, Pearl's scoring dropped but he was able to get a championship in '73 on that great squad. The primary ball handler on that great team was Frazier but fans were always moving up in their seat when Earl got the ball because of his riveting ability to create his own shot or find an open teammate like Willis Reed or Bill Bradley for an easy bucket. In the history of the NBA there have been few guards as exciting as Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and when either the Bullets or Knicks were were on the tube, it was must watch TV.

@haroldsteinblatt2567 Жыл бұрын

You said it all. I was in 8th grade in a Jewish elementary school in Brooklyn, and one day a rabbi told me that the Knicks had gotten Monroe. I told a friend - who would later become a rabbi - who grabbed me hard and said, “Are you lying?” It was the biggest deal, because only Baltimore fans knew better than Knicks fans just how great he was thanks to some hellacious playoff battles. He got his ring, but it’s too bad that he couldn’t be the man in New York - in that sense we missed out.