Earl Monroe Autographed Photo
Authentic Autographed Photo of “Earl the Pearl” Monroe of the NY Knicks
Before the arrival of Earvin "Magic" Johnson there was another "Magic" -- "Black Magic," also known as "Earl the Pearl." He was Earl Monroe, a dazzling ball handler and one-on-one virtuoso who made crowds gasp with his slashing drives to the hoop.
Monroe joined the NBA in 1967 and parlayed his talents into a distinguished 13-year career. He was part of a changing of the guard in the NBA, arriving at a time when high scorers like Dave Bing and Jerry West were showing that the backcourt could rack up points just as effectively as the center position. He finished with a career average of 18.8 ppg.
In 1989, Monroe was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and in 1996 was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. "If for any reason someone were to remember me," he said during an interview with HOOP, "I hope they will remember me as a person who could play the game and excite the fans and excite himself."
There's little doubt that anyone who saw Monroe play will ever forget him. Earl the Pearl helped herald a new era in basketball, a more exciting game that showcased dazzling individual skills within a team context. He proved that you could win-and have a magical time doing it.
Certificate of Authenticity Included