Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 32

8C COURIER-POST, Sunday, February 5, 1995 ut settled for Cheeks Sixers pursued led to Cheeks becoming a member of the Sixers. "Jack had seen him play a game for West Texas State in Louisiana," Williams said. "They played a slow-down style, but Jack saw something that intrigued him." Until this day, Cheeks doesn't know what attracted McMahon to his style of play. DON BENEVENTO different than some of the other players in the Classic. "A lot of them were stars and they just wanted to get a chance to go to Las Vegas," he said.

"I was there to play." Still, the Sixers feared their mystery player had been discovered. They feared that Cheeks would be chosen before they got their chance. But they invited him and several other long-forgotten players to a private workout for the coaching staff in Cincinnati and what they saw there convinced Williams, Billy Cunningham, Chuck Daly and McMahon they had found their point guard. If only he would stay on the board. As the selections unfolded the nervousness set in.

The Pacers, after failing to make their deal with the Sixers, sent the No. 1 pick to Portland, who selected Mychal Thompson first in the draft. Phil Ford went second. One by one the "stars" went off the board. "We got a real miracle," Williams said.

"When it was our turn to pick, Maurice was still there." And Cheeks, it can be argued, managed to top them all. Don Benevento covers the Sixers for the Courier-Post. George's salary," Williams said. Around that time, the Nuggets offered the Sixers a deal. They would take McGinnis and the Sixers' No.

1 draft pick for Bobby Jones. The deal was done, Ford was lost and the Sixers started thinking more about Cheeks. "Now we not only weren't going to get Phil Ford, but we didn't even have our No. 1 pick," Williams said. "We hoped we hadn't made a mistake." They had hoped Cheeks would make the gambit work.

But first they had to get him. For that to happen, Cheeks would still have to be on the board in the second round at the 36th pick. There was cause for optimism. In days, players could be somewhat hidden because scouting wasn't that elaborately done and college games weren't on television 24 hours a day. The Sixers hoped they could keep Cheeks hidden.

But then near-disaster struck. "He went to play in the Pizza Hut Classic in Las Vegas," Williams said. "That game was on national television and Maurice ran (highly regarded Marquette guard) Butch Lee around the court." Cheeks said his motivation for the game was As the days dwindled toward the 1978 collegiate draft, most teams needing a point guard the 76ers being one of the foremost among them set their sights in one direction. Phil Ford, the University of North Carolina star, was considered the unquestioned prize of that year's backcourt selections. That point seemed so obvious that the Sixers spent the days before the draft scurrying for a way to wrest the No.

1 pick away from the Indiana Pacers in order to make Ford their choice. Maurice Cheeks? The Sixers certainly knew he was out there. He had been scouted at West Texas State by the late, great superscout Jack McMahon, who immediately liked what he saw. But in a draft decision between Ford and Cheeks, it was believed there could only be one winner. And it wasn't the player the Sixers eventually got stuck with the one who will have his No.

10 retired by the organization on Monday night. "How we got Maurice was one of the most intriguing things about that whole era with the 76ers," said Pat Williams, at that time the team's general manager who helped build a team that would play for three NBA titles. Now the general manager of the Orlando Magic, Williams recalled recently some of the events that I never asked him, Cheeks said. "But in college I didn't do much. We walked the ball up and we weren't a very good team.

But Jack saw something. I'm glad he did. "I was in the right place at the right time for the right team." But that was yet to be proven. Despite the new-found interest in Cheeks, the Sixers still intended to pursue Ford. They offered the Indiana Pacers, holders of the No.

1 pick that year, George McGinnis for the choice. In fact, the deal was all but completed when it fell apart. "The Pacers wanted us to take on too much of CheeksNo. 10 to be retired Paying tribute to Mo Cheeks "His consistency his ability to get the ball into the hands of the right people he played great defense and when you needed him to score he would. He was a very consistent player.

He was always there." Bobby Jones Former teammate "When you talk about my all-time favorite players, Maurice Cheeks is near the top of the list." Fat Williams Former Sixers GM "Before the game, he'd shake hands and smile at you and you thought he was a nice guy. Then the game starts and he's try to murder you. His passing ability his defense. He had no weakness. What a great player!" John Stockton Utah point guard "He was my all-time favorite player.

Nobody else was even close." Doc Rivers Spurs point guard "He played on teams that not only won 50 games, but they won 60. Maurice Cheeks is a throw-back to me. Whatever that prototype point guard means, he's a great example." Jim Lynam Washington head coach "Maurice was the best player I ever played with for an extended period of time. He'd never make a mistake. He'd get you the ball in the right position every time.

Other than John Stockton, he's the best point guard I've ever seen." Charles Barkley Former teammate "He's really one of the steadiest players I've ever seen. He was there to play every night. Some guys today play hard one night and go through the motions the next. But Maurice played hard every night." Harvey Pollack Sixers statistician "Maurice was one of the best players I've ever played against. He wasn't one of those players who you had to worry about scoring 30 points, But, at crucial times, he'd get the big steal, make the big play, hit the big shot.

He probably belongs in the Hall of Fame in my mind. Danny Ainge Phoenix Suns guard Courier-Post file photo Guarded: Sixers guard Maurice Cheeks (right), here defending Boston's Jerry Sichting in 1986 game at the Spectrum, will have his No. 10 retired Monday. He is the NBA's all-time steals leader with 2,310. "He was the kind of player who automatically led the team.

You can't put into words what Maurice meant to the team. He certainly deserves to have his number retired and that probably should be a step toward the Hall of Fame." Steve Mix Former teammate that was soon to go out of fashion as the '80s developed. In Los Angeles, Magic Johnson joined the Lakers in 1979, turning the point guard position into one where there were no limits. He was scoring and rebounding and passing, all with equal skill. In Detroit, Thomas joined the Pistons in 1981, and began establishing the position as one where points were more important than passes.

But Cheeks always rejected that notion. He fit a "purest" mold more than the others. His was pass first and second and shoot third. "He would never make mistakes," said Charles Barkley, who became a teammate of Cheeks' in 1984. "He would get the ball to you in the right situation every time.

Guys like him and John Stockton were pure point guards. They would never beat themselves." Having Erving running the wing on the break helped in Cheeks' early developmental years. But he soon developed other targets. Perhaps foremost among them was Andrew Toney, who joined the Sixers at the start of the 1980 season. "When Andrew came, it was get Andrew the ball," Cheeks said.

"Andrew would wave Doc off the blocks." Though Toney and Cheeks had vastly different personalities, they became close friends. They also formed what was considered the most dangerous and productive backcourt of the early '80s. In the 1982-83 season, Toney, Cheeks, Erving, Bobby Jones and Moses Malone all represented the Sixers on the all-star team. That was Malone's first season with the Sixers and it was the one in which Cheeks reached the culmination of his professional career finally winning the NBA title. "That was my most fun year," Cheeks said.

"We had a lot of guys who had been there before, but then we got Moses and that was a big factor." It was during the championship series that Cheeks gave his fans one of their most indelible memories. As the final seconds ticked down in the fourth and decisive game against the Lakers, Cheeks came skipping down the court and jammed in a playful dunk at the buzzer. Afterwards, and the many years that have followed, Cheeks has been questioned about why he didn't allow Erving to do the final honors. The answer, he said, was simple. "I didn't see him," Cheeks said.

"Doc was on my left and he was usually on my right. If I had to do over again, I'd get him the ball." As it turned out, that would be the last chance for Cheeks to relish a championship moment. Though it was thought that particular Sixers team could repeat, it never happened. With each passing season, the chances lessened. Erving, Toney and Bobby Jones retired and Moses Malone was traded, but Cheeks never lost hope.

"It wasn't hard for me to get myself ready to play in the later years," Cheeks said. "I always thought we had a chance to win." The addition of Barkley to the Sixers helped boost his confidence that one more title may be within reach, but it was never to be. Still, Cheeks said he has few regrets. He cannot forget the way the Sixers mishandled his trade to San Antonio when he was 4 Continued from Page 1C He was not a prolific scorer, -with a career average of 12.2 ipoints a game, but he was a dangerous scorer. When he shot, the ball usually went in.

And the basket usually meant something. "He never missed an open shot never," said current Sixers coach John Lucas, who had many head-to-head battles with Cheeks on the court. "Late in games, you'd have to give him the shot because you had to do something about Doc (Erving). And Maurice always hit that shot." Now, as an assistant coach Lucas, Cheeks still does best to stay away from the limelight. He seems pleased by i receiving the honor of having his retired, but he worries about finding the proper words to reflect on his 15-year career, 11 with the Sixers.

"I could prepare myself to play against Isiah Thomas," Cheeks said, referring to his numerous clashes with an old rival. "But I don't know how to prepare for what I'm going to say to 14- or 15,000 people." He does, however, know the tone of what he wants to get across to the fans and his teammates who supported him over the years. "If it wasn't for my teammates and the organization, I wouldn't be here now," Cheeks said. "That's mostly what I'm going to try to get across." But Cheeks' special talent and his own drive also had a lot to do with the success he made of his career. No one could have known how far Cheeks would progress when he was chosen as a virtual unknown out of West Texas State in 1978.

He came to a team that was loaded with stars on and off the court. It was a team that had already been to the finals once in the 1976-77 season, but it was one that lacked cohesion. The Sixers needed a point guard who could make them play as a team, not as individuals. At the time, Cheeks was a young kid who didn't know what was expected of him. And he was as surprised as anyone when, four days before the start of the season, Cunningham spoke to him at a baggage claim at the airport.

i "He told me I had made the and that I was starting," Cheeks said. "That's the first time I felt like I belonged with the 76ers." Cunningham's decision bordered on astounding for those iwho knew his coaching style. ICunningham rarely played at all, let alone start them, "For a rookie to make Billy happy was almost a miracle," isaid Pat Williams, now the Igeneral manager of the Orlando IMagic, but then the Sixers general manager. "Billy put the ball in Maurice's hands and he proved he was capable of running the fast break," Erving said. "By doing that, he made us better players." Cheeks and Erving struck up early relationship that stood the years.

Though Erving iwas considered as perhaps the 'best player of his day, he had no qualms about giving his immediate respect to a rookie especially one who could deliver the ball 'like Cheeks. For his part, Cheeks was quite content to hit Erving on the break jfor dunks and layups. "I got to camp and there was Julius Erving," Cheeks said, recalling their first meeting. "It was jlike, 'Just get Doc the It was 'common sense." But it also was a style of play "He was a very fantastic point guard. His defense, his ability to hit the open shots He never made a mistake.

He was the kind of player coaches love." Gene Shue Former Sixers GM Top 10 facts about Sixers' No. 10 10. Players in NBA history have the initials M.C. (Michael Cage, Mack Calvin, M.L Carr, Mike Champion, Maurice Cheeks, Marty Colon, Michael Cooper, Mel Counts, Mark Crow and Mike Curry). 9.

Straight seasons Cheeks shot 50 percent or better from the floor (1978-87). 8. Times Cheeks had 500 or more assists in a season. 7. th on the Sixers all-time list for points scored field goals (4,192) and field goals made 6.

Other Sixers have banners in the rafters at the Spectrum (Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Bobby Jones, Billy Cunningham and Dave Znkoff (microphone). 5. Time all-defensive team selection (four times first team, one time second team.) 4. Other players in Sixers history wore number 10: John Kerr (1963-65), Don Smith (74-75), Jerry Baskerville (75-76) and Mike Dunleavy (76-78) 3. Other NBA teams have retired the number 10 (Walt Frazier, Knicks), Bob Love, Bulls; JoJo White, Celtics).

2. Other Sixers who attended college in the state of Texas (Robert Reid, St. Mary's and B.J. Tyler, University of Texas). 1.

On the NBA all-time steals list (2,310) Compiled by 76ers P.R. director Joe Favorito "The one thing I remember about him was when he came in he had the biggest Afro I ever saw. Then he cut off his hair and he became Superman. He was a helluva player." World B. Free Former teammate "He was the coach's safety net.

Every year we talked about getting Maurice some rest, then he'd play more minutes than anybody else on the team. The coaches never wanted to take him out. John Nash Former Sixers GM Maurice Cheeks at a glance PERSONAL Bom: Sept. 8, 1956 Height: 6-1 Hometown: Chicago Collage: West Texas State Weight 1 80 Draft round: 2nd by Sixers (36th pick), 1 978. SIXERS STATISTICS of my professional life," Lynam said.

"I didn't like the way it was done," Cheeks said. "But there were no fences to mend. I love Philadelphia. I'm comfortable here. I always considered this my home." On Monday night, the home crowd will get a chance to say welcome back forever.

informed of the deal by a reporter, but he carries no grudges. Probably the person who still feels the effects of the fiasco is Jim Lynam, the current coach of the Washington Bullets, but the coach of the Sixers at that time. "That (watching Cheeks physically slump in his car on television) was one of worst moments Regular season Mln FG FGA Pet. FT FTA Pet. Reb A Steals TO Pts Avg 853 28,583 4,192 7,940 52.9 2,005 2.537 79.0 2,538 6.212 1,942 1.931 10.429 12.2 Playoffs Pts Avi Avg FG 697 Mln 114 4,277 FGA 1,359 Pet.

FT 51.3 333 FTA 432 Pet. Reb 77.1 399 A 807 15.2 Steals TO 269 259 1,730 OVERALL STATISTICS (Including games with San Antonio, New Vorfc, Atlanta and New Jersey) Regular season 0 Min- FQ FGA Pcl- Pcf- Rob A Steals TO Pts Avg 1,101 34,845 4,906 9,374 52.3 2,331 2,939 79.3 3,008 7,392 2,310 2,268 1 2,195 11 1 Playoffs Mln FG 133 4,848 772 FGA Pet. FT 1,509 51.2 362 FTA 466 Pet. 77.7 Reb 453 A Steals TO 922 295 318 Pts Avg 1,910 14.4 All-Star Statistics Min 44 FG 7 FGA 16 Pet. FT 43.8 2 FTA Pet.

2 1.000 Reb A 3 4 Steals TO 3 4 Avg 4.0 Pts 16 Philadelphia's elite When the 76ers retire Maurice Cheeks' Number 10 on Monday night, there will be 20 athletes whose numbers have been retired by the Philadelphia professional sports teams. Plus, the Sixers retired the microphone of late public address announcer Dave Zinkoff. The number of numbers retired by each team are: Eagles (6), Sixers (6), Flyers (4) and Phillies (4). The players are: Sixers 6 Julius Erving 10 Maurice Cheeks 13 Wilt Chamberlain 15 Hal Greer 24 Bobby Jones 32 Billy Cunningham 3 Eagles 15 Steve Van Buren 40 Tom Brookshier 44 Pete Retzlaff 60 Chuck Bednarik 70 Al Wistert 99 Jerome Brown Flyers 1 Bernie Parent 4 Barry Ashbee 7 Bill Barber 16 Bobby Clarke Phillies 1 Richie Ashburn 20 Mike Schmidt 32 Steve Carlton 36 Robin Roberts CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Played tor 15 seasons, Including 11 with the Sixers Finished career tirst In all-time steals Finished career filth In all-time assists Finished career 10th in games played Made NBA all-defensive team four times His teams reached NBA finals three times Was floor leader tor 1982-83 NBA championship team Led NBA in minutes played with 3,270 In 1985-86 season 1.