Maurice Cheeks Hall of Fame NBA

Maurice Cheeks was the steady hand and defensive heartbeat behind the success of the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980s. A gifted floor general and one of the greatest defenders at the point guard position, Cheeks combined elite court vision with quiet leadership and relentless effort.

He helped lead the Sixers to the 1983 NBA Championship, often guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer while directing one of the league’s most dynamic offenses. Known for his unselfish play, Cheeks retired with over 7,000 assists and 2,300 steals, ranking among the all-time leaders in both categories at the time. He was a 4× NBA All-Star and earned 5 All-Defensive Team selections.

After his playing career, Cheeks transitioned into coaching, further influencing the game. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018, celebrated for his defense, professionalism, and team-first legacy.

Cheeks's Awards & Records:

• NBA champion (1983)
• 4× NBA All-Star (1983, 1986–1988)
• 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983–1986)
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1987)
• 10 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
• 2× First-team All-MVC (1976, 1978)
• Second-team All-MVC (1977)

NBA Records:

• Played over 1,100 NBA games
• Retired as 5th all-time in career steals
• Still ranks 6th in all-time career steals
• Holds NBA rookie playoff record
• Ranks 2nd in NBA history in playoff steals per game

NBA Teams:

Philadelphia 76ers 1978–1989
San Antonio Spurs 1989–1990
New York Knicks 1990–1991
Atlanta Hawks 1991–1992
New Jersey Nets 1993

NBA Draft:
1978: 2nd round, 36th overall pick
Philadelphia 76ers

Number Worn:
10, 1

NBA Stats:

Seasons:
15 (1978–1993)
Games Played:
1,101
Points:
12,195
Points Per Game:
11.1
Assists:
7,392
Assists Per Game:
6.7
Steals:
2,310
Steals Per Game:
2.1
Rebounds:
2,445
FG Percentage:
52.3%
3P Percentage:
25.5%
FT Percentage:
79.1%