Who’s the GOAT Chicago native?
23. Hershey Hawkins
Hershey Hawkins, who is commonly known as Hawk, had his shining moments during his professional playing days in the NBA.
Notable accolades include one All-Star Game nod and one All-Rookie Team selection.
Hawkins made his NBA debut in November of 1988. Previously, he had attended high school at Westinghouse College Preparatory High School in Chicago and college at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
Hawkins would suit up for a number of teams during his 13-year career in the NBA. They included the Charlotte Hornets, Seattle Supersonics and the Chicago Bulls.
Hawkins proved to be quite the reliable and durable veteran that teams could rely on to play night in and night out. He ranked among the top 20 in games played for seven seasons. In addition, Hawkins ranked among the top 20 in minutes played for three consecutive seasons. In fact, Hawkins proved to be the type of star that isn’t easily replaceable. He ranked among the top 20 in value over a replacement player for two seasons.
Why, you ask?
Hawkins was a bit of a two-way player making a difference at both ends of the floor. Hawkins ranked among the top 20 in points per game for two seasons. Efficiency was another key to his effectiveness at the offensive end. Hawkins was recognized among the top 20 in offensive rating for two seasons. At the defensive end, Hawkins ranked among the top 20 in steals per game for six seasons. Not to forget to mention he was among the top 20 in total steals for eight seasons.
Hawkins has a 0.6% probability of getting inducted as a player into the Hall of Fame.