NBA Power Rankings: 30 Greatest Point Guards of All-Time
By Shane Young
21. Maurice Cheeks
1978 – 1993
Franchises: Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets
Career totals: 12,195 points, 7,392 assists, 3,088 rebounds, 2,310 steals, 2,268 turnovers
Career averages: 11.1 points, 6.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 2.1 turnovers
Shooting: 52.3 percent field goals, 25.5 percent 3-pointers, 79.3 percent free throws
Accolades: 1x NBA Champion, 4x NBA All-Star, 4x All-Defensive First Team, 1x All-Defensive Second Team
The loyalty Cheeks had to the Philadelphia franchise really shined through his many seasons as their point guard, and then their head coach.
Cheeks was never a guy that would daze you with his scoring (barely cracking 12,000 points in his career), but he was everything you wanted out of a team player. Coaches in today’s game (and even back in the ‘80’s) value defensive fortitude and attention to detail. They reward a player that gives it 100% of their effort on a play-by-play basis, regardless if their scoring skills are inept. If you don’t believe it, look at Darren Collison getting starters’ minutes.
The Cheeks referred to as “Mo” was hyper and always in your jersey, keeping a hand in passing lanes, and anticipating your move before you even thought of it. It earned him four consecutive All-NBA Defensive First Teams, and it was the sole reason he retired No. 1 all-time in steals after 1993.
That mark was soon broken, but Cheeks kept the 76ers’ pride alive during the time.
They haven’t always had wasteful talent.
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