Earl Monroe is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable to watch players of all time. He would put up an unforgettable show almost every game with his signature dribble, almost unprecedented agility, and the ability to come out on top from just about any situation using his quickness. So much so, that his persona would become a cult in and of itself and earned himself nicknames “The Pearl” and “Black Jesus.”
Clarence Gaines, the hall of fame coach, brought the best out of him during his collegiate years, when, in his senior year, he posted an incredible average of 41.5 points. He won the NCAA division that year and was awarded the Player of the Year award by the league’s officials. He’s still fondly remembered among his Winston-Salem State University ranks.
In the NBA, he was just as good, getting averages of more than 20 points pretty easily during his career and taking home the Rookie of the Year Award. In Baltimore, together with Wes Unseld, they devised a fast break that would trump the best squads.
A similarly famous duo of Monroe and Walt Frazier in the Knicks earned them the nickname Rolls Royce Backcourt due to their effectiveness in that position. Along with Frazier, he led the Knicks to the championship.
Earl Monroe – Early life
Earl Monroe was born in a rough neighborhood of Philadelphia. Still, he managed to overcome difficulties and soon enough began to be seen as a basketball prodigy. Even though Monroe mostly invested his time in soccer and baseball, his height was an advantage for an up-and-coming basketball player, which influenced his decision on making the switch to hoops. Because of his novel ways to play, his schoolmates called him the Thomas Edison of the court, just because he invented heaps upon heaps of new moves.
His professional playing style is no coincidence. Playing on the gritty asphalt playgrounds allowed him to develop a peculiar way of playing. His mother was all for him. When he was a teenager, she even gave him a notebook to put the names of the better playground players. As soon as he would overtake them in skill, he’d cross the name out.
Monroe attended a college preparatory school under Temple University after graduating from John Bartram High School. He spent his days working in a factory and playing basketball at Leon Whitley’s leisure center in Philadelphia. Leon Whitley, who had played on the 1953 Winston-Salem Teachers College champion team, urged Monroe to attend Winston-Salem to play for the legendary Clarence Gaines, the head coach.
Earl Monroe – College Career
Monroe’s college years were all but unimpressive. While his freshman year was pretty mediocre at 7.1 points per game average, he’d shine as a sophomore, posting 23.2 points. His less than satisfactory performance in his first year urged him to go back home, but after coach Gaines talked to his mother, he changed his mind fairly quickly, which was a good thing.
Now a junior, Monroe would plow through his opponents getting almost 30 ppg. His senior year would prove to be even better as he crossed the 40-point boundary, reaching 41.5. This is also the time when Earl’s nickname was born. In the coveted 1966-67 season, a reporter Jerry McLeese would call points scored by Monroe “Earl’s Pearls,” thus earning him the pseudonym.
Monroe would go on to win the NCAA tournament and earn the Player of the Year Award from the college league. Even with a bad freshman year, his average was incredible – 26.7 points in 110 games for a grand total of 2,395. To this day, he’s still number one in terms of points scored for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Earl Monroe – NBA Career
Monroe’s performance turned many eyes towards him. He was appointed number two on the 1967 draft and taken into the Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards) squad.
Earl Monroe – Baltimore Bullets
Earl Monroe’s first season in the NBA was much better than his freshman year in college. He managed a 24.3 points per game average and once scored 56 against the Lakers – more than enough to ensure a Rookie of the Year Award.
He was a perfect fit for the squad of the Baltimore Bullets. Wes Unseld, an outlet pass specialist, would lead the attacks along with Monroe. To add a little bit more spice, he was surrounded by some of the legendary players in the forms of Gus Johnson and Fred Carter. That pack would take themselves to the playoffs quite easily during the next three years, with support from Monroe’s great scoring abilities.
Earl Monroe – New York Knicks Rival
His second year would mark the beginning of a long-standing rivalry with the New York Knicks. In 1968-69, the Knicks swept the Bullets 4-0 in the playoffs. The next season was similar, except this time, they lost 4-3. In each of those seasons, Monroe averaged 25.8 and 23.4 points respectively, but that wasn’t enough.
During the 1970-71 campaign, Monroe earned All-Star First Team honors for the third time during his career. Bullets met the Knicks again for the 1970’s playoffs, with a seven-game-long conference semifinal providing plenty of drama. The Knicks managed a win for a second time when Monroe had 39 points in Game 1 of the double-overtime loss to New York.
Earl Monroe – Vengeance Year
Finally, revenge came in the 1970-71 season. After defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in a tight seven-game series, they met the Knicks once again. This time, the Bullets prevailed and won the Eastern Conference 4-3, earning themselves a spot in the NBA Finals. Their hopes were cut short, though, as the Milwaukee Bucks were the opponent.
Filled to the brim with stars, they’ve proven to be far better than the Bullets at the time. After all, going against the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and Bobby Dandbridge is no walk in the park. In the end, the Bucks took the win home after demolishing the Bullets 4-0. Monroe had a 16 point average in the series. Not bad considering the scale of the defeat.
Earl Monroe – New York Knicks
After the 1970–1971 season, Larry Fleisher, Monroe’s agent, informed the Bullets of his client’s desire to be dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, or Philadelphia 76ers.
He started the campaign without having signed a contract because of a pay dispute with the Bullets’ executive board. On October 22, he was suspended by the team after his trade request became a final proposition.
Tough beginnings
He did sign a contract immediately after being traded from the Bullets to the New York Knicks for Dave Stallworth, Mike Riordan, and cash on November 11, 1971.
In New York, Monroe had difficulties adjusting at first. Frazier controlled the play and so Monroe had the ball less frequently than ever before. His gameplay was also hampered by aching knees and ankles throughout the 1971-72 campaign, reducing his appearances on the court to just over 20 minutes a game.
Earl Monroe – Rolls Royce
During his second season with the Pistons, Monroe’s production dropped to 11.9 points per game. But as they got more time together, The Pearl and Walt Frazier began to play to one another’s strengths. By the end of the season, they looked really effective together, earning the name “Rolls Royce Backcourt.”
As the 1972-73 season neared an end, Monroe had established himself as a crown jewel of the Knicks. Despite averaging just 15.5 points per game, his style was as spectacular as ever. Experts said that he played selflessly by passing to his teammates who had a better chance of scoring than him.
He was assigned to protect the opposing team’s lead scoring guard on a regular basis, allowing Frazier more opportunity to steal the ball by monitoring the passing lanes.
Earl Monroe – Title Run
After a 57–25 regular season, in which Monroe averaged 15.5 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.6 rebounds, Monroe was placed in his proper position on the team. The Knicks then beat the Bullets 4–1 and Celtics 4–3 to reach the 1973 NBA Finals.
In the NBA Finals, the New York Knicks faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers for a second time. Monroe scored 16.0 points and 4.2 assists in the series to help the Knicks win the title with a 4–1 victory. To demonstrate how well each player fit into team play, Bradley posted 18.6 points, 16.6 for Frazier, 16.4 for Reed, and 15.6 for Dave DeBusschere.
Earl Monroe – A Slow But Steady Decline
The Knicks regressed in the years after winning their first title, and they never finished higher than fourth. Reed, with his injuries plaguing him for the entire season, was only able to play one more year. After the 1973-74 campaign, DeBusschere and Lucas retired. Bill Bradley remained with the team until 1977.
Later on, Monroe was still a regular contributor. In 1974-75, he averaged 20.9 points per game, in 1975-76 he averaged 20.7, and in 1976-77 he averaged 19.9. In 1975 and 1977, Monroe took the All-Star honors, though the Knicks began to slide down the standings, never making the playoffs again during Monroe’s final two years with them (1979 and 1980).
After 11 seasons (1955-1963), Monroe called it quits in 1980, having averaged 7.4 points per game in 51 games. During his 13-year career, he scored 17,454 points in 926 games, showing his endurance despite problems with his knees and legs.
Earl Monroe – Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
After retiring, Monroe moved into the realm of entertainment. He ran lots of singing concerts, established a record label called Pretty Pearl Records, and finally made his return to the basketball world for tenure as a commentator.
In 1989, Monroe was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 1996 he was named to the NBA’s All-Time 50th Anniversary Team.
Earl Monroe – Net Worth
Earl Monroe is an American former professional basketball player who has an estimated net worth between $5 million and $9 million. He is one of the most successful and influential players in NBA history, earning seven All-Star selections over his 13-year career. He was also named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.
What happened to Earl the Pearl Monroe?
Earl Monroe was once one of the most exciting players in the NBA. He was nicknamed “The Pearl” for his elegant style of play and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990. But in recent years, Monroe has been better known for his health issues than his on-court accomplishments. Monroe was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent radiation treatments. Thankfully, the radiation was successful and Monroe is now cancer-free. However, his experience with prostate cancer has led him to become an advocate for early detection and treatment of the disease. He has spoken out about the importance of regular screenings, and he has encouraged men of all ages to get tested.
When did Earl Monroe play for the New York Knicks?
Although he was born in New York, Earl Monroe didn’t play for the Knicks until 1971, when he was traded by the Baltimore Bullets. In nine seasons and 592 games with the Knicks, Monroe averaged 16.2 points, 3.5 assists and 2.6 rebounds.
What was Earl “Black Jesus” Monroe good at?
Monroe’s frail frame and lack of great speed, however, were offset by a silky jump shot and a unique spin move that he started by leaning up against an opponent and making contact before spinning away to fire one of his unusual shots. Monroe made his mark with his incredible moves in the paint. He utilized a hesitation dribble or perhaps a double-pump or triple-pump fake to slip past perplexed foes and drop in layups.
What was Earl Monroe known for?
Often referred to as “The Pearl,” Monroe was known for his flashy style of play and his ability to score from anywhere on the court. He was also an excellent passer, and his creativity helped him become one of the most popular players of his era.
