Joe Hammond (basketball)
Joe Hammond (also known as "The Destroyer") was a streetball basketball player based in Harlem New York. He attended Taft High School in the Bronx,[1] but he dropped out of school in the 9th grade and thus never played college basketball.[2] He did play in the Eastern Basketball Association with the Allentown Jets.[3]
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Harlem, New York |
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
Career information | |
NBA draft | 1971 / Round: Hardship / Pick: 5th overall |
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
Position | Guard |
Career history | |
Allentown Jets |
He once scored 50 points in a half against Julius Erving at Rucker Park.[4] In the 1971 NBA hardship draft, he was selected with the fifth pick of the 1971 Early Entry draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.[2][5] He also turned down a 3-year contract to play in the American Basketball Association.[1]
He was arrested for dealing drugs and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.[1][6] He was described as being the best streetball player ever by the New York Times.[7] He sued Nike and Foot Locker for $5 million for using his image without his permission.[6]
References
- "Elite 24: Rucker Park legends". ESPN.
- "The 25 Greatest Streetball Players of All Time - 1. Joe Hammond". www.complex.com.
- http://www.slamonline.com/other-ballers/streetball/original-old-school-street-moves/#vDhDUL4iXsPjTv6S.97
- "Original Old School: Street Moves - SLAMonline". 21 June 2010.
- https://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3354:joe-hammond&catid=69:1971-nba-draft&Itemid=342
- https://nypost.com/2010/01/17/legendary-hoop-star-says-nike-fouled-me/
- "Legend of the Playground". The New York Times. 11 November 1990.