Earl Monroe
Earl the Pearl: Hall of Fame guard who dazzled for the Bullets and Knicks.
Vernon Earl Monroe (born November 21, 1944) is an American former professional basketball player. He played for the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) and the New York Knicks in the NBA. His number 15 was retired by the Knicks. Monroe 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 players in NBA history.
- nickname
- The Pearl
- hall_of_fame
- 1990 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- championship_year
- 1973 NBA Champion with New York Knicks
- retired_number
- Number 15 retired by New York Knicks
- primary_position
- Point Guard / Shooting Guard
- career_achievements
- 4-time NBA All-Star
Lore & Background
Monroe was drafted second overall by the Baltimore Bullets in 1967 and won NBA Rookie of the Year. He played for the Bullets until 1971, then was traded to the New York Knicks, where he won the 1973 NBA Championship. He never played for the Washington Wizards after the team moved from Baltimore.
In Their Own Story
The lights hummed above the Capital Centre as Monroe dribbled near mid-court, eyes scanning the defense. He didn't rush; he waited for the gap. With a sudden burst, he spun left, leaving a defender grasping at air. The crowd roared as he rose for a jumper, the ball arcing perfectly through the net. It was more than a point; it was a statement of artistry under pressure.
Reader's Guide
Monroe's career averages were 18.8 points per game over 13 seasons. He was a four-time NBA All-Star. His number 10 was retired by the Washington Wizards on December 1, 2007, and his number 15 was retired by the New York Knicks on March 1, 1986.
Did You Know?
- Monroe was nicknamed 'Earl the Pearl' after a sportswriter called his points 'Earl's pearls' during his college career.
- He scored 56 points in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers as a rookie, but it was not a franchise record; the Bullets/Wizards franchise record for points in a game is 60 by Gilbert Arenas (and later Bradley Beal).
- Monroe was not selected for the 1967 USA Basketball team because coaches said his style was 'too street, too playground, too black.'
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