Earl Monroe

Earl "The Pearl" Monroe: Hall of Fame guard, NBA champion, and creator of the "shake-and-bake" style.

Vernon Earl Monroe (born November 21, 1944) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for the Baltimore Bullets and the New York Knicks in the NBA. Both teams have retired his number. His nicknames include "Black Jesus" and "Earl the Pearl." He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990 and the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. In 1996, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and in 2021, one of the 75 greatest.

Quick Facts

Born: 21 November 1944
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
High school: John Bartram (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
College: Winston-Salem State (1963–1967)
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 2
Drafted by: Baltimore Bullets
Career position: Shooting guard; point guard

Lore & Background

Monroe was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His high school teammates at John Bartram High School called him "Thomas Edison" because of the many moves he invented. He initially preferred soccer and baseball, but by age 14 he was 6'3" and focused on basketball. His mother gave him a blue notebook to write down names of players who razzed him, telling him to scratch them out as he got better. He attended a college preparatory school affiliated with Temple University and worked as a shipping clerk. Leon Whitley, who played on the 1953 championship team at Winston-Salem Teacher College, encouraged Monroe to attend Winston-Salem State University to play for coach Clarence "Big House" Gaines.

Reader's Guide

Monroe played for the Baltimore Bullets from 1967 to 1971, then was traded to the New York Knicks on November 11, 1971, after playing four games with the Bullets in the 1971–72 season. He formed the "Rolls-Royce backcourt" with Walt Frazier. With the Knicks, he won the 1973 NBA Championship. Monroe averaged 23.7 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 328 games with the Bullets. His overall NBA career spanned from 1967 to 1980.

Did You Know?

He won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1968, averaging 24.3 points per game.
Monroe scored 56 points in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, the third-highest rookie total in NBA history.