Dwayne Washington (basketball)

Dwayne Washington
Personal information
Born (1964-01-06)January 6, 1964
Brooklyn, New York
Died April 20, 2016(2016-04-20) (aged 52)
The Bronx, New York
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight 190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school Boys and Girls
(Brooklyn, New York)
College Syracuse (1983–1986)
NBA draft 1986 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall
Selected by the New Jersey Nets
Playing career 1986–1991
Position Point guard
Number 1, 31
Career history
1986–1988 New Jersey Nets
1988–1989 Miami Heat
1989–1990 Rapid City Thrillers
1990–1991 San Jose Jammers
Career highlights and awards
Career statistics
Points 1,660 (8.6 ppg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men’s basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA U19 World Championship
1983 Palma de Mallorca National team

Dwayne Alonzo "Pearl" Washington (January 6, 1964 – April 20, 2016) was an American college and professional basketball player. He was a 6'2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) guard.

Washington grew up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, where he acquired his nickname as an eight-year-old in a taunting comparison to Earl "the Pearl" Monroe.[1]

He was a playground phenomenon from Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, and was rated as the number 1 overall high school player in the United States 1983.[2] He brought his flashy play to Syracuse University and the Carrier Dome. The Pearl was the master of the "shake and bake", in which he would leave his defensive opposition standing still while he drove by them for a layup.

Washington was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the 1st round (13th pick) of the 1986 NBA draft. In two seasons with the Nets he averaged 9 points per game. In 1988 the Miami Heat selected him in their expansion draft. He played 54 games for the Heat before being released. Following his release, Washington played for the Rapid City Thrillers and San Jose Jammers in the Continental Basketball Association.[3]

Washington had surgery on August 27, 2015 at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse to address a malignant brain tumor.[4]

On April 20, 2016 Washington died at the age of 52 from cancer.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Vecsey, George. "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; The Pearl Fits In At Syracuse", The New York Times, March 9, 1984. Accessed December 5, 2007. "This part of the legend does survive: Washington admits that when he was 8 years old at the Howard Housing Project in Brownsville, his elders asked him: Who do you think you are, the Pearl?"
  2. ↑ hot
  3. ↑ 1991-92 Official CBA Guide and Register, page 329
  4. ↑ Christian Red and Kevin Armstrong (2015-08-31). "Syracuse basketball star Dwayne ‘Pearl’ Washington has malignant brain tumor". nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  5. ↑ AP Staff (2016-04-20). "Former Syracuse basketball star Pearl Washington dies at 52". latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-04-20.
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