Maurice Cheeks
{{short description|American basketball coach and player (born 1956)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Maurice Cheeks
| image = Maurice Cheeks.jpg
| width =
| caption = Cheeks in 2011
| team = New York Knicks
| position = Assistant coach
| league = NBA
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|09|08}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 180
| high_school = DuSable (Chicago, Illinois)
| college = West Texas A&M (1974–1978)
| draft_year = 1978
| draft_round = 2
| draft_pick = 36
| draft_team = Philadelphia 76ers
| career_start = 1978
| career_end = 1993
| career_position = Point guard
| career_number = 10, 1
| coach_start = 1993
| coach_end =
| years1 = {{nbay|1978|start}}–{{nbay|1988|end}}
| team1 = Philadelphia 76ers
| years2 = {{nbay|1989|full=y}}
| team2 = San Antonio Spurs
| years3 = {{nbay|1989|end}}–{{nbay|1990|end}}
| team3 = New York Knicks
| years4 = {{nbay|1991|full=y}}
| team4 = Atlanta Hawks
| years5 = {{nbay|1992|end}}
| team5 = New Jersey Nets
| cyears1 = 1993–1994
| cteam1 = Quad City Thunder (assistant)
| cyears2 = 1994–2001
| cteam2 = Philadelphia 76ers (assistant)
| cyears3 = {{nbay|2001|start}}–{{nbay|2004|end}}
| cteam3 = Portland Trail Blazers
| cyears4 = {{nbay|2005|start}}–{{nbay|2007|end}}
| cteam4 = Philadelphia 76ers
| cyears5 = {{nbay|2009|start}}–{{nbay|2012|end}}
| cteam5 = Oklahoma City Thunder (assistant)
| cyears6 = {{nbay|2013|full=y}}
| cteam6 = Detroit Pistons
| cyears7 = {{nbay|2015|start}}–{{nbay|2019|end}}
| cteam7 = Oklahoma City Thunder (assistant)
| cyears8 = {{nbay|2020|start}}–{{nbay|2023|end}}
| cteam8 = Chicago Bulls (assistant)
| cyears9 = {{nbay|2024|start}}–present
| cteam9 = New York Knicks (assistant)
| highlights =
As player:
- NBA champion (1983)
- 4× NBA All-Star ({{nasg|1983}}, {{nasg|1986}}–{{nasg|1988}})
- 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team ({{nbay|1982|end}}–{{nbay|1985|end}})
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team ({{nbay|1986|end}})
- No. 10 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
- 2× First-team All-MVC (1976, 1978)
- Second-team All-MVC (1977)
| stat1label = Points
| stat1value = 12,195 (11.1 ppg)
| stat2label = Assists
| stat2value = 7,392 (6.7 apg)
| stat3label = Steals
| stat3value = 2,310 (2.1 spg)
| HOF_player = Maurice-Cheeks
}}
Maurice Edward Cheeks (born September 8, 1956) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who serves as assistant coach for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has also served as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons. Cheeks was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/maurice-cheeks/|title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame :: Maurice Cheeks|website=www.hoophall.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-17}} He was the first player with 2,000 steals solely in the NBA.
Early life and college
Cheeks was born in Chicago on September 8, 1956, and grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes. He attended DuSable High School.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Gordie |date=August 27, 2018 |title=Long, Strange Trip Lands Ex-Sixer Maurice Cheeks In Hall of Fame |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordiejones/2018/08/27/long-strange-trip-lands-ex-sixer-maurice-cheeks-in-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Forbes |language=en}} He only had significant playing time on the basketball team in his senior year.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Gordie |date=September 7, 2018 |title=Mo's moment: Hall of Fame honor for Sixers great Maurice Cheeks a victory for the game |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/510563/2018/09/07/mos-moment-hall-of-fame-honor-for-sixers-great-maurice-cheeks-a-victory-for-the-game/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |work=The Athletic |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} His high school teammate William Dise was heavily recruited by college basketball programs, and Dise told the schools that if they wanted him, they also had to offer Cheeks a scholarship to join him. Ron Ekker, head coach at West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M) only agreed to accept both Dise and Cheeks after their high school coach, Bob Bonner, said Cheeks would eventually be the better player; and then watching Cheeks play in a local gym pickup game.
Cheeks attended West Texas from 1974 to 1978, and was a four-year starter under Ekker. He wanted to leave after his first year, but his mother convinced Cheeks to stay. He was an all-Missouri Valley Conference player for three straight seasons (first team in 1975-1976 and 1977-1978, and second team in 1976-1977). He was selected team MVP three times. As a senior, he averaged 16.8 points per game, and shot nearly 57% for his collegiate career.{{Cite web |title=Maurice Cheeks (2021) - Hall of Fame |url=https://mvc-sports.com/hof.aspx?hof=133 |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=mvc-sports.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Maurice Cheeks College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/maurice-cheeks-1.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}
As of 2024, Cheeks ranks 5th in field goal percentage in WTSU/WTAM history (56.8), 12th in points per game for a career (11.8) and total field goals, and had the fourth most free throws made in a single season (212).{{Cite web |title=2024 West Texas A & M Record Book |url=https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/wtamu.internetconsult.com/documents/2024/10/31/2024-25_MBB_Record_Book.pdf}}
Cheeks was inducted into the West Texas A & M Hall of Champions in 1988.{{Cite web |title=Maurice Cheeks (1988) - Hall of Champions |url=https://gobuffsgo.com/honors/hall-of-champions/maurice-cheeks/110 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=West Texas A&M University Athletics |language=en}} He was inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2021. He was selected to the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball 50 Greatest Players.
Playing career
After college, Cheeks was selected as the 36th pick in the second round of the 1978 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He played 15 years as a point guard in the NBA, including 11 with the Philadelphia 76ers.{{Cite news |last=Pompey |first=Keith |date=March 29, 2018 |title=Maurice Cheeks elected to Hall of Fame |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/sixers/maurice-mo-cheeks-naismith-basketball-hall-of-fame-class-of-2018-sixers-76ers-20180329.html |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}} As a 76er, he earned four trips to the NBA All-Star Game,{{Cite news |date=April 18, 2022 |title=The 50 Greatest Sixers Players Of All Time |url=https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/a/best-sixers-players-all-time-ranking-20220418.html |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}} and he helped the 76ers to three trips to the NBA Finals in a four-year span in the early 1980s (1980, 1982, and 1983), including an NBA championship in 1983.{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia 76ers Historical Statistics and All-Time Top Leaders |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} While starting at point guard for a Sixers team that at times included stars Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, and Charles Barkley,{{Cite web |title=1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1983.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1984-85 Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1985.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} Cheeks was well regarded for his team play and defensive skills. He was named to four straight NBA All-Defensive squads from 1983 to 1986, and earned a spot on the second team in 1987.{{Cite web |title=Year-by-year NBA All-Defensive Teams |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-defensive-team |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=NBA.com |language=en}} When he retired in 1993, he was fifth in NBA history in total assists, and as of 2024, he is sixteenth on the combined ABA/NBA assist list.{{Cite web |title=NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Assists |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ast_career.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}
=Philadelphia 76ers (1978–1989)=
He had his best seasons with the 76ers. At the young age of 22 he gained a notable role on the 76ers, solidifying himself as the starting point guard and earning himself valuable minutes, starting all 82 games and playing nearly 30 minutes per game. The 76ers were also in playoff contention for every year that he was on the team except for the 1987–88 season.
By his fifth year in the league, he was selected to his first All-Star appearance, starting the game,{{Cite web |title=1983 NBA All-Star Game Box Score |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1983.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} and had averaged 12.5 points, 6.9 assists, and 2.3 steals for the 1982–83 season. The 76ers also had the best season in this 76ers era, having a 65–17 record. This is the second-best season record in the 76ers franchise history, the 1966-1967 team being 68-13; and the second-best record league-wide in the 1980s behind only the 1986 Boston Celtics.{{Cite web |title=All Time Best NBA Regular Seasons |url=https://champsorchumps.us/records/best-nba-regular-season-records |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=champsorchumps.us |language=en}}
They would go on to win the NBA championship that year, which was Cheeks' first and only championship. He would be an integral part of the 76ers for the rest of his time in Philadelphia, however the 76ers failed to repeat the level of success that they reached in the 1982–83 season. He would be selected to three more All-Star appearances from 1986 to 1988.{{Cite web |title=1986 NBA All-Star Game Box Score |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1986.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1987 NBA All-Star Game Box Score |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1987.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1988 NBA All-Star Game Box Score |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1988.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} In the 1986 playoffs he averaged a playoff career high 20.8 points throughout the whole postseason.{{Cite web |title=1986 Philadelphia 76ers Player Stats - Playoffs |url=https://www.landofbasketball.com/stats_by_team/1985_1986_76ers_pl.htm |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.landofbasketball.com}} In the 1986–87 season he would average a career high 15.6 points. However the 76ers were no longer elite title contenders and lost in the first round in the 1987 playoffs.{{Cite web |title=1987 NBA Eastern Conference First Round - 76ers vs. Bucks |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1987-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-76ers-vs-bucks.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} The following year they missed the playoffs in what was Cheeks' last all-star appearance. Cheeks played one more season for the 76ers; they were back in the playoffs but got swept in the first round by the New York Knicks.{{Cite web |title=1989 NBA Eastern Conference First Round - 76ers vs. Knicks |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1989-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-76ers-vs-knicks.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}
=San Antonio Spurs (1989–1990)=
In the 1989 off-season the Philadelphia 76ers traded Maurice Cheeks, Chris Welp, and David Wingate to the San Antonio Spurs for Johnny Dawkins and Jay Vincent.{{Cite web |title=Maurice Cheeks Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cheekma01.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} At 33 years old, Cheeks was aging and in the twilight of his career but he still played well for the Spurs and averaged 10.9 points for his time in San Antonio. He played 50 games for the club and was the starting point guard. However he was not able to finish the 1989–90 season for the Spurs as he was traded to the Knicks before the season ended.
=New York Knicks (1990–1991)=
On February 21, 1990, Cheeks was traded to the New York Knicks for Rod Strickland. Cheeks played the remainder of the season in New York, averaging 7.9 points in 31 games for the franchise.{{Cite web |title=1989-90 New York Knicks Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1990.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} The Knicks went 45–37 that year and made the 1990 playoffs, however they lost in the second round 1–4 to the Detroit Pistons.{{Cite web |title=1990 New York Knicks: Season and Playoffs |url=https://www.landofbasketball.com/teams_by_year/1989_1990_knicks.htm |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.landofbasketball.com}} The following season, Cheeks played in 76 games, averaging 7.8 points per game and 5.7 assists per game, and the Knicks made the playoffs, but were swept by the Bulls in the first round.{{Cite web |title=1991 NBA Eastern Conference First Round - Knicks vs. Bulls |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1991-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-knicks-vs-bulls.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}
=Atlanta Hawks (1991–1992)=
In the 1991 off-season the New York Knicks traded Cheeks to the Atlanta Hawks for Tim McCormick and a 1994 first round draft pick (which later became Charlie Ward). Cheeks' points average dropped drastically to 4.6 and he was no longer a starting calibre player. He became an unrestricted free agent in the 1992 off-season and did not re-sign with the Hawks.{{Cite web |title=Nets sign Cheeks - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/01/07/Nets-sign-Cheeks/4388726382800/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=UPI |language=en}}
In the second-to-last game of the 1991–92 season (April 15, 1992), while playing for the Hawks against the Knicks, Cheeks picked off four steals to surpass longtime Philadelphia teammate Julius Erving's steals record of 2,272 for combined ABA and NBA steals.{{Cite web |title=This Date in the NBA: April |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-this-date-in-nba-april |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}
=New Jersey Nets (1992–1993)=
On January 7, 1993, the New Jersey Nets signed Cheeks as a free agent. He averaged a career-low 3.6 points for the season and he only played 35 games for the franchise. The Nets reached the playoffs but lost in the first round 2–3 to the Cleveland Cavaliers.{{Cite web |title=1993 NBA Eastern Conference First Round - Nets vs. Cavaliers |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1993-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-nets-vs-cavaliers.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}
=Retirement=
After the season ended Cheeks became a free agent but never played in the NBA again. At 36 years old he retired from the NBA.
In NBA history, as of 2024, Cheeks ranks sixth in steals and sixteenth in assists among ABA/NBA combined rankings.{{Cite web |title=NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Steals |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/stl_career.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} Upon his retirement from the NBA in 1993, he was the NBA all-time leader in steals, third all-time in playoff steals, and fifth in assists.{{Cite web |last=Disdier |first=Ryan |date=March 2, 2018 |title=The Hall of Fame Case for Maurice Cheeks |url=https://www.nba.com/sixers/hall-fame-case-maurice-cheeks |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}} He averaged 11.7 points and over 2 steals per game for his career. In his rookie year, Cheeks averaged 4.1 steals per game in the 1979 NBA Playoffs (37 steals in nine games), an NBA record for one playoff run (as of 2024).{{Cite web |title=NBA & ABA Year-by-Year Playoff Leaders and Records for Steals Per Game |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/stl_per_g_yearly_p.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} As of 2024, he is second all-time in playoff steals per game average, behind only Baron Davis.{{Cite web |title=NBA & ABA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Steals Per Game |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/stl_per_g_career_p.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}
Coaching career
After retirement, Cheeks spent one year coaching for the Continental Basketball Association’s Quad City Thunder,{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Cooper|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/basketball/from-the-archives-welcome-to-the-cba-cheeks/article_01920ea4-d2da-11e2-9977-0019bb2963f4.html|title=From the archives: 'Welcome to the CBA, Cheeks'|date=March 27, 1994|publisher=Quad City Times|access-date=January 1, 2019}} before becoming the 76ers assistant coach in 1994 through 2001.{{Cite web |title=Maurice Cheeks: Coaching Record, Awards |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/cheekma01c.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McGregor |first=Gilbert |date=2018-09-03 |title=Maurice Cheeks built an impressive Hall of Fame resume over his 15-year career {{!}} Sporting News Canada |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/philadelphia-76ers/news/2018-basketball-hall-of-fame-resume-maurice-mo-cheeks-76ers-spurs-knicks-trail-blazers-thunder/11k77q817vny1n3fxx1sruuue |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.sportingnews.com |language=en-ca}} He coached under head coaches John Lucas (1994–96), Johnny Davis (1996–97), and Larry Brown,{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia 76ers Coaches |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/coaches.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}} and he was an instrumental part{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} of the Philadelphia team that reached the 2001 NBA Finals. In 2001, he was hired as Portland Trail Blazers head coach. He led the team to two playoff berths in four years as coach, but could not get past the first round. He was fired after a poor start to the 2004–05 campaign.{{Cite web |last=Brener |first=Jeremy |date=2022-03-04 |title=Blazers History: Looking Back On The Maurice Cheeks Era |url=https://www.blazersedge.com/2022/3/4/22961655/portland-trail-blazers-history-maurice-cheeks-coach-fired |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Blazer's Edge |language=en}}
On April 25, 2003, during a game between the Trail Blazers and the Dallas Mavericks, Cheeks famously aided 13-year-old Natalie Gilbert in singing the American national anthem. After Gilbert forgot the words at "At the twilight's last gleaming", Cheeks rushed over to help her, and they finished it together as the entire Rose Garden Arena crowd sang with them. Cheeks and Gilbert received a standing ovation after the song was over.[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8969872_ITM Shining moment for Cheeks and 13-year-old girl made us proud.]. Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved on June 20, 2009{{Citation |title=Mo Cheeks National Anthem | date=August 8, 2006 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4880PJnO2E |access-date=2023-03-21 |language=en}} Cheeks actions were used by Harvard Business School Professor Thomas J. DeLong as an example of true leadership in times of crisis.{{Cite web |last=Fajardo |first=Rosario |date=2019-09-11 |title=Leadership in Times of Crisis: The Case of Maurice Cheeks |url=https://www.theweeklyjournal.com/business/leadership-in-times-of-crisis-the-case-of-maurice-cheeks/article_fe2cd4c0-d3f8-11e9-ae6d-43eb00bdb759.html |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The Weekly Journal |language=en}} Former 76ers general manager Pat Williams called it "'just a beautiful moment of ... humanity.'"{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Gordie |date=September 7, 2018 |title=10 Things To Know About Maurice Cheeks, Sixers' New Hall Of Famer |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordiejones/2018/09/07/10-points-to-ponder-about-sixers-hall-of-fame-bound-no-10-maurice-cheeks/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
In 2005, Cheeks was named as head coach of the 76ers. Cheeks was popular among 76ers fans because of his eleven-year tenure with the 76ers, during which he helped guide the 76ers to the 1983 NBA championship. The move was also praised by 76ers star Allen Iverson, who worked with Cheeks during his run as 76ers' Assistant Head Coach.{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2005 |title=Iverson ecstatic about new coach Cheeks |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2183939 |website=ESPN.com}}
However, he missed the playoffs in each of his first two seasons. Frustrations began to grow with 76ers veterans Allen Iverson and Chris Webber, who were not happy with the team's direction.{{Cite web |title=Cheeks Admits Loss Led To Yelling In Locker Room |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/176272/Cheeks-Admits-Loss-Led-To-Yelling-In-Locker-Room |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=basketball.realgm.com |language=en}} Toward the end of the 2006 season, the two were fined for tardiness coming to a game, but soon apologized profusely to Cheeks.{{Cite web |date=2006-04-18 |title=76ers will fine Iverson, Webber for being late to arena |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2413097 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2006-04-20 |title=Iverson, Webber apologize for late arrival Tuesday |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2414529 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} During the 2006–07 season, Iverson would be traded to the Nuggets and Webber would be released,{{Cite news |last=Jasner |first=Phil |date=January 12, 2007 |title=Weber saw the writing on the wall last month |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/20070112_dn_S_SIXE.html |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}} leaving Cheeks with one of the youngest teams in the NBA.{{Cite web |last=Juliano |first=Joe |date=2007-04-22 |title=Cheeks sees positives as Sixers are evolving |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/sixers/20070422_Cheeks_sees_positives_as_Sixers_are_evolving.html#loaded |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=inquirer.com |language=en}} On February 20, 2007, the 76ers extended Cheeks' contract one year despite his losing record as coach.{{Cite web |date=2008-02-20 |title=76ers to extend Cheeks |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3254453 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
At the beginning of the 2007–08 season, expectations were low and the 76ers were picked to finish last in the Conference by many prognosticators.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/preview2007/phi.html|title=NBA.com – 2007–08 Season Preview: Philadelphia 76ers|website=NBA.com |access-date=July 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601121552/http://www.nba.com/preview2007/phi.html|archive-date=June 1, 2015|url-status=dead}} However, the Sixers clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Atlanta Hawks on April 4, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/postgame_report_080404.html|title=Philadelphia 76ers News Headlines|website=NBA.com |access-date=July 26, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109171623/http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/postgame_report_080404.html|archive-date=January 9, 2016}} It was their first postseason appearance since 2005, as well as the first in the post-Iverson era. However, they were eliminated by the Detroit Pistons, 4–2. Even with this elimination, many fans considered this to be a successful season, considering that the 76ers were 12 games under .500 in early February and went on to have a 21–7 run that led them to the playoffs.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/games/20080404/PHIATL/recap.html|title=NBA.com Sixers Hold Off Hawks, Clinch Playoff Spot|website=NBA.com |access-date=July 26, 2016}}
The 76ers extended Cheeks' contract before the 2008-2009 season to 2010.{{Cite web |last=Fagan |first=Kate |date=2008-09-10 |title=Sixers extend Mo Cheeks contract |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/deep-sixer/Sixers_extend_Mo_Cheeks_contract.html |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=inquirer.com |language=en}} They started out the 2008–09 NBA season 9–14 despite their signing of Elton Brand and re-signing of Andre Iguodala during the off-season. Due to their slow start, the 76ers fired Cheeks on December 13, 2008.{{cite web |last=Stein |first=Marc |date=December 14, 2008 |title=76ers fire Cheeks after slow start |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3766766 |access-date=July 26, 2016}}
On August 14, 2009, he was hired as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder.{{cite web |date=August 14, 2009 |title=Thunder Announces Coaching Staff |url=https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release_090814.html |access-date=August 14, 2009 |website=NBA.com}}
On June 10, 2013, Cheeks agreed to become the head coach of the Detroit Pistons.{{cite web|title=Detroit Pistons Name Maurice Cheeks Head Coach |url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-name-maurice-cheeks-head-coach |work=NBA.com |date=June 10, 2013|access-date=June 10, 2013}} On February 9, 2014, the Detroit Pistons relieved him of his head coaching duties and replaced him with John Loyer on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|title=Detroit Pistons Relieve Maurice Cheeks of Head Coaching Duties|url=http://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-relieve-maurice-cheeks-head-coaching-duties|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.|date=February 9, 2014|access-date=February 9, 2014}} The move came after owner Tom Gores suggested that the Pistons were "better than our record" and weren't playing "at their maximum"—a veiled criticism of Cheeks.{{cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2014/02/column_maurice_cheeks_firing_f.html|title=Maurice Cheeks' firing forewarned by Pistons owner Tom Gores, who was right|author1=David Mayo|publisher=MLive|date=February 9, 2014}}
On June 29, 2015, Cheeks returned to the Thunder as an assistant coach.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/coaching_staff_150629|title= Thunder Announces Coaching Staff |date=June 29, 2015|work=NBA.com|access-date=June 29, 2015}}
On November 14, 2020, Cheeks was hired by the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach following the team's hiring of Billy Donovan.{{cite web |title=Bulls add to 2020–21 coaching staff |url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-add-2020-21-coaching-staff |website=NBA.com |access-date=November 14, 2020 |date=November 14, 2020}}
On June 13, 2024, it was reported that Tom Thibodeau was hiring Cheeks to be an assistant coach for the New York Knicks,{{cite web |title= Knicks adding experienced Maurice Cheeks to Tom Thibodeau's staff |url=https://nypost.com/2024/06/13/sports/knicks-adding-experienced-to-tom-thibodeaus-staff |website=nypost.com |access-date=June 17, 2024| date=June 17, 2024}} and Cheeks joined the Knicks coaching staff for the 2024-2025 season.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Nickeem |date=2024-10-31 |title=Knicks Coaching Staff 2024–25: Learn More About Tom Thibodeau and His Staff |url=https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-knicks-coaching-staff-2024-25-learn-more-about-tom-thibodeau-and-his-staff/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=The SportsRush |language=en}}
Honors and awards
On September 7, 2018, Cheeks was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player.{{Cite web|date=2018-09-07|title=Former 76ers star Maurice Cheeks makes tearful entry to basketball hall of fame|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/sixers/maurice-cheeks-philadelphia-76ers-sixers-basketball-hall-of-fame-20180907.html|website=inquirer.com}} In 2008, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.{{Cite web |last=Stamm |first=Dan |date=2008-11-13 |title=Philly Sports Hall Inducts 5th Class |url=https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/philly-sports-hall-inductions/1844276/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=NBC10 Philadelphia |language=en-US}} In 1995, the 76ers retired Cheeks No. 10 jersey.{{Cite news |last=Narducci |first=Mar |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Sixers unveil statue of Maurice Cheeks at Camden training complex |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/sixers/philadelphia-76ers-oklahoma-city-thunder-maurice-cheeks-statue-camden-20171215.html |work=Philadelphia Inquirer}} He was inducted into the West Texas A & M Hall of Champions (1988), and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame (2021), and was named one of the MVC's 50 greatest players.
In 2022, a group of present and former Philadelphia Inquirer sports writers ranked Cheeks as the seventh greatest Sixer of all-time, only behind fellow hall of fame players Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley and Hal Greer. In one NBA ranking of the greatest backcourt duos in league history, Cheeks and Andrew Toney were ranked eleventh out of seventy pairs.{{Cite web |title=Ranking 70 Greatest Backcourt Duos in NBA History |url=https://www.nba.com/magic/gallery/ranking-70-greatest-backcourt-duos-nba-history-20171227 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}} In 2017, the 76ers unveiled a statue of Cheeks outside their training facility in Camden, New Jersey, joining the statues of Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham (Cheeks' former coach) and Wilt Chamberlain. On the same day, Cheeks, then an assistant coach with the Thunder, was in Philadelphia for the Thunder-Sixers game and was honored with a video montage during the game. He received a standing ovation from the Philadelphia fans, while his team stood and cheered along.
NBA career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y}}
=Regular season=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nowrap|{{nbay|1978}}}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 82 || – || 29.4 || .510 || – || .721 || 3.1 || 5.3 || 2.1 || .1 || 8.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1979}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 79 || – || 33.2 || .540 || .444 || .779 || 3.5 || 7.0 || 2.3 || .4 || 11.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1980}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 81 || – || 29.8 || .534 || .375 || .787 || 3.0 || 6.9 || 2.4 || .5 || 9.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1981}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 79 || 79 || 31.6 || .521 || .273 || .777 || 3.1 || 8.4 || 2.6 || .4 || 11.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|1982}}†
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 79 || 79 || 31.2 || .542 || .167|| .754 || 2.6 || 6.9 || 2.3 || .4 || 12.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;| {{nbay|1983}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 75 || 75 || 33.3 || .550 || .400 || .733 || 2.7 || 6.4 || 2.3 || .3 || 12.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1984}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 78 || 78 || 33.5 || .570 || .231 || .879 || 2.8 || 6.4 || 2.2 || .3 || 13.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|1985}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 82 || 82 || 39.9 || .537 || .235 || .842 || 2.9 || 9.2 || 2.5 || .3 || 15.4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1986}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 68 || 68 || 38.6 || .527 || .235 || .777 || 3.2 || 7.9 || 2.6 || .2 || 15.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1987}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 79 || 79 || 36.3 || .495 || .136 || .825 || 3.2 || 8.0 || 2.1 || .3 || 13.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1988}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia
| 71 || 70 || 32.4 || .483 || .077 || .774 || 2.6 || 7.8 || 1.5 || .2 || 11.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1989}}
| style="text-align:left;"| San Antonio
| 50 || 49 || 35.3 || .478 || .111 || .832 || 3.3 || 6.0 || 1.6 || .1 || 10.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1989}}
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 31 || 13 || 24.3 || .579 || .429 || .877 || 2.4 || 4.9 || 1.4 || .2 || 7.9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1990}}
| style="text-align:left;"| New York
| 76 || 64 || 28.3 || .499 || .250 || .814 || 2.3 || 5.7 || 1.7 || .1 || 7.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1991}}
| style="text-align:left;"| Atlanta
| 56 || 0 || 19.4 || .462 || .500 || .605 || 1.7 || 3.3 || 1.5 || .0 || 4.6
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|1992}}
| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey
| 35 || 0 || 14.6 || .548 || .000 || .889 || 1.2 || 3.1 || .9 || .1 || 3.6
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2| Career
| 1101 || 736 || 31.6 || .523 || .255 || .793 || 2.8 || 6.7 || 2.1 || .3 || 11.1
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| All-Star
| 4 || 1 || 11.0 || .438 || {{sort|-|—}} || 1.000 || .8 || 1.0 || .8 || .0 || 4.0
{{S-end}}
=Playoffs=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1979
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|9||–||36.7||.545||–||.661||3.9||7.0||4.1||.4||18.8
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1980
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|18||–||37.5||.511||.200||.707||4.1||6.2||2.5||.2||11.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1981
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|16||–||32.1||.544||.000||.762||3.2||7.3||2.5||.8||10.5
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1982
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|21||–||36.4||.472||.111||.769||3.0||8.2||2.3||.3||14.3
|-
|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"|1983†
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|13||–||37.2||.503||.500||.703||3.0||7.0||2.0||.2||16.3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1984
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|5||–||34.2||.522||.000||.867||2.4||3.8||2.6||.0||16.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1985
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|13||13||37.2||.529||.000||.857||3.5||5.2||2.4||.4||15.2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1986
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|12||12||43.3||.516||.000||.849||4.7||7.1||1.1||.3||20.8
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1987
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|5||5||42.0||.530||.000||.857||2.6||8.8||1.8||.8||17.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1989
|style="text-align:left;”|Philadelphia
|3||3||42.7||.512||.000||.846||3.7||13.0||2.3||.3||17.7
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1990
|style="text-align:left;”|New York
|10||10||38.8||.481||.000||.903||3.9||8.5||1.7||.2||12.8
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1991
|style="text-align:left;”|New York
|3||3||33.7||.609||.333||.500||3.0||5.3||1.0||.3||10.0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1993
|style="text-align:left;”|New Jersey
|5||0||16.4||.478||–||.000||1.2||2.8||1.2||.2||4.4
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 133 || 46 || 36.5 || .512 || .098 || .777 || 3.4 || 6.9 || 2.2 || .3 || 14.4
{{S-end}}
Head coaching record
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
{{NBA coach statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Portland
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2001}}
|82||49||33||{{Winning percentage|49|33}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Pacific||3||0||3||.000
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in First round
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Portland
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2002}}
|82||50||32||{{Winning percentage|50|32}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Pacific||7||3||4||.429
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in First round
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Portland
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2003}}
|82||41||41||{{Winning percentage|41|41}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Pacific||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Portland
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2004}}
|55||22||33||{{Winning percentage|22|33}}|| style="text-align:center;"|(fired)||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Philadelphia
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2005}}
|82||38||44||{{Winning percentage|38|44}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Philadelphia
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2006}}
|82||35||47||{{Winning percentage|35|47}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed Playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Philadelphia
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2007}}
|82||40||42||{{Winning percentage|40|42}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Atlantic||6||2||4||.333
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in First round
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Philadelphia
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2008}}
|23||9||14||{{Winning percentage|9|14}}|| style="text-align:center;"|(fired)||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Detroit
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2013}}
|50||21||29||{{Winning percentage|21|29}}|| style="text-align:center;"|(fired)||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;"|Career
| ||620||305||315||{{Winning percentage|305|315}}|| ||16||5||11||{{Winning percentage|5|11}}||
{{s-end}}
See also
- List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff steals leaders
- List of National Basketball Association players with most assists in a game
- List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game
- List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Basketballstats|nba_historical=maurice_cheeks|bbr=c/cheekma01}}
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{{New York Knicks current roster}}
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