Maurice Cheeks

Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Cheeks
Born	Maurice Edward Cheeks; September 8, 1956 (age 70); Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Basketball coach, former professional player
Years active	1978–1993 (player), 1994–present (coach)
Known for	NBA player and coach; 4× NBA All-Star; NBA champion (1983); Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (2018)

Maurice Edward Cheeks (born September 8, 1956) is an American basketball coach and former professional player, currently serving as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). His head coaching career includes stints with the Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons. In 2018, Cheeks was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player. Notably, he was the first NBA athlete to accumulate 2,000 steals exclusively during his NBA career.

Early life and college

Born in Chicago on September 8, 1956, Cheeks was raised in the Robert Taylor Homes. He played significant basketball only during his senior year at DuSable High School. His teammate William Dise attracted substantial recruitment interest and advocated for Cheeks to receive scholarship offers as well. Observing Cheeks in a local pickup game, Ron Ekker, then head coach at West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M), decided to recruit both players.

Cheeks enrolled at West Texas from 1974 through 1978, starting every season under Ekker's guidance. Although he contemplated transferring after his freshman year, he remained following his mother's counsel. He earned All-Missouri Valley Conference recognition for three consecutive years—first team in 1975–76 and 1977–78, second team in 1976–77—and was named team MVP three times. In his senior year, he averaged 16.8 points per game while maintaining a nearly 57% shooting percentage over his college career.

As of 2024, Cheeks holds notable rankings at West Texas A&M: fifth in field goal percentage (56.8%), twelfth in both career points per game (11.8) and total field goals made, and fourth for most free throws converted in a single season (212). His accolades include induction into the West Texas A&M Hall of Champions in 1988 and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2021. Additionally, he was named among the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball 50 Greatest Players.

Playing career

Following college, Cheeks was selected with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 1978 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Over a 15-year NBA career primarily as a point guard, including eleven seasons with Philadelphia, he earned four NBA All-Star selections and participated in three NBA Finals during the early 1980s (1980, 1982, and 1983), winning an NBA championship in 1983.

Playing alongside stars such as Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, and Charles Barkley, Cheeks was highly regarded for his defensive skills and unselfish playmaking. He was named to four straight NBA All-Defensive teams from 1983 through 1986 and received second-team honors in 1987. Upon retiring in 1993, he ranked fifth all-time in total assists; as of 2024, he stands sixteenth on the combined ABA/NBA assists leaderboard.

Philadelphia 76ers (1978–1989)

Cheeks' peak years occurred with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he quickly established himself as the starting point guard by starting all 82 games during his rookie season and averaging close to 30 minutes per contest. The team qualified for the playoffs every year during his tenure except for the 1987–88 NBA season.

By his fifth season, Cheeks earned his first start at the NBA All-Star Game while averaging 12.5 points, 6.9 assists, and 2.3 steals during the standout 1982–83 NBA season. That season saw the 76ers achieve a franchise-best regular-season record of 65–17—the second-best mark in franchise history and among the top league-wide performances throughout the decade—culminating in their NBA championship victory that year, marking Cheeks’ sole title.

He continued to be a vital contributor throughout his remaining years with Philadelphia; however, the team did not replicate its earlier championship-level success. Cheeks secured three additional All-Star nods between 1986 and 1988. In the playoffs of 1986, he recorded a career-high average of 20.8 points per game. The subsequent season brought a personal scoring peak of 15.6 points per game but ended with an early playoff exit in the first round. After missing postseason play during his final All-Star campaign (1987–88), Cheeks played one more season with Philadelphia; although they returned to the playoffs that year, they were swept by the New York Knicks in the opening round.

San Antonio Spurs (1989–1990)

During the 1989 off-season, the Philadelphia 76ers traded Maurice Cheeks, Chris Welp, and David Wingate to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Johnny Dawkins and Jay Vincent. At 33 years old, Cheeks was approaching the twilight of his playing career but still managed to average 10.9 points across 50 games as the Spurs' primary point guard. Nevertheless, he was dealt to the New York Knicks before the conclusion of the 1989–90 campaign.

New York Knicks (1990–1991)

On February 21, 1990, Cheeks was sent to the Knicks in return for Rod Strickland. That season, he posted an average of 7.9 points over 31 appearances. The Knicks ended with a 45–37 record and advanced to the playoffs but were eliminated in the second round by the Detroit Pistons. The next year, Cheeks participated in 76 games, averaging 7.8 points and 5.7 assists per contest. New York qualified for the postseason again but were swept in the opening round by the Chicago Bulls.

Atlanta Hawks (1991–1992)

In the 1991 off-season, New York traded Cheeks to Atlanta in exchange for Tim McCormick and a first-round pick in 1994 (which was later used to select Charlie Ward). Cheeks’ scoring average dropped to 4.6 points per game, and he lost his starting role. He became an unrestricted free agent in 1992 and opted not to re-sign with the Hawks.

In an April 1992 matchup against his former team, the Knicks, Cheeks recorded four steals, surpassing Julius Erving’s combined ABA and NBA steals total of 2,272.

New Jersey Nets (1992–1993)

On January 7, 1993, Cheeks signed with the New Jersey Nets as a free agent. He posted a career-low scoring average of 3.6 points over 35 games. The Nets reached the playoffs but were defeated in a five-game first-round series by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Following that season, Cheeks entered free agency and retired from professional basketball at age 36.

Career

As of 2024, Cheeks holds sixth place all-time in steals and sixteenth in assists when combining ABA and NBA statistics. Upon retirement, he was the NBA's leader in total steals, ranked third in playoff steals, and fifth in assists overall. Throughout his career, he averaged 11.7 points and exceeded two steals per game. His rookie postseason average of 4.1 steals per game remains an NBA record for a single playoff run, placing him second all-time in playoff steals per game behind Baron Davis.

Coaching career

Following his playing days, Cheeks spent one season coaching in the Continental Basketball Association with the Quad City Thunder before becoming an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1994 through 2001 under head coaches John Lucas, Johnny Davis, and Larry Brown. He played an instrumental role during Philadelphia’s journey to the 2001 NBA Finals.

In 2001, Cheeks was appointed head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He guided them to two playoff appearances but was unable to progress beyond the first round. He was dismissed early in the 2004–05 season after a poor start.

On April 25, 2003, during a Trail Blazers game, Cheeks notably helped a young fan struggling with the national anthem—a moment later highlighted by Harvard Business School as an example of effective leadership under pressure.

Cheeks returned to Philadelphia as head coach of the Sixers in 2005, a decision embraced by fans and star Allen Iverson alike. Despite missing postseason play during his initial two seasons amid friction with veterans Iverson and Chris Webber, he led a youthful roster to an unexpected playoff berth in 2008 following a strong finish to the regular season. Although eliminated by the Detroit Pistons, that campaign was regarded positively given earlier difficulties.

The Sixers extended Cheeks’ contract through 2010; however, after beginning the 2008–09 season with a disappointing 9–14 record despite acquiring key players like Elton Brand and re-signing Andre Iguodala, he was relieved of his duties in December 2008.

In August 2009, Cheeks joined the Oklahoma City Thunder as an assistant coach. On June 10, 2013, he accepted the head coaching position with the Detroit Pistons but was dismissed less than a year later amid concerns over team performance expressed by owner Tom Gores.

Cheeks returned to Oklahoma City as an assistant coach in June 2015. In November 2020, he became part of the Chicago Bulls coaching staff following Billy Donovan’s appointment as head coach.

In June 2024, Cheeks was hired by Tom Thibodeau as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks ahead of the 2024–2025 season.

Honors and awards

Cheeks was honored with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player on September 7, 2018. Earlier, in 2008, he gained entry into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. The Philadelphia 76ers retired his jersey number 10 in 1995 as a tribute to his contributions. His accolades also include being inducted into the West Texas A & M Hall of Champions in 1988 and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2021, where he was recognized as one of the top 50 players in MVC history.

In 2022, sports journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer placed Cheeks seventh among the greatest Sixers ever, following Hall of Famers such as Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, and Hal Greer. The NBA ranked the backcourt pairing of Cheeks and Andrew Toney as the eleventh best duo in league history. In 2017, a statue commemorating Cheeks was unveiled outside the Sixers' training facility in Camden, joining statues of Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham (Cheeks' former coach), and Wilt Chamberlain. During that same occasion, while serving as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cheeks was celebrated with a video tribute during a Thunder-Sixers game and received a standing ovation from Philadelphia supporters.

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia | 82 || – || 29.4 || .510 || – || .721 || 3.1 || 5.3 || 2.1 || .1 || 8.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia | 79 || – || 33.2 || .540 || .444 || .779 || 3.5 || 7.0 || 2.3 || .4 || 11.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia | 81 || – || 29.8 || .534 || .375 || .787 || 3.0 || 6.9 || 2.4 || .5 || 9.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"| | 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;"| † | 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;| | 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;"| | 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;"| | 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;" |
|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;" |
|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;" |
|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;" |
|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;" |
|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;" |
|style="text-align:left;" |New York
|76||64||28.3|| .499|| .250|| .814||2.3||5.7||1.7|||0|||7.8
|- 
|style="text-align:left;" |
|style="text-align:left;" |Atlanta
|56|||0|||19.4||| .462||| 0.500||| .605|||1.7|||3.3|||1..5|||0|||4..6

Playoff Performance

|- |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" | Overall Career 
|133 ||46 ||36 .5 || .512 || .098 || .777 || 3 .4 || 6 .9 || 2 .2 || .3 ||14 .4

Coaching Record

|-

| style= "text-align: left;" |  Portland 
| style= "text-align: left;" |  
|82 ||49 ||33 ||  || style= "text-align:center;" | Finished 3rd in Pacific Division 
|3 ||0 ||3 || .000 
| style= "text-align:center;" | Eliminated in  First round

|-

| style= "text-align: left;" |  Portland 
| style= "text-align: left;" |  
|82 ||50 ||32 ||  || style= "text-align:center;" | Placed third in Pacific Division 
|7 ||3 ||4 || .429 
| style= "text-align:center;" | Exited in  First round

|-

| style= "text-align: left;" |  Portland 
| style= "text-align: left;" |  
|82 ||41 ||41 ||  || style= "text-align:center;" colspan=5 rowspan=1 align=center|(Did not qualify for playoffs)