Dwayne Washington (basketball)

Dwayne Washington
Personal information
Born	January 6, 1964; Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	April 20, 2016 (aged 52); The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school	Boys and Girls (Brooklyn, New York)
College	Syracuse (1983–1986)
NBA draft	1986: 1st round, 13th overall pick
	Selected by the New Jersey Nets
Playing career	1986–1991
Position	Point guard
Number	1, 31
Career history
1986–1988	New Jersey Nets
1988–1989	Miami Heat
1989–1990	Rapid City Thrillers
1990–1991	San Jose Jammers
Career highlights and awards
	Consensus second-team All-American (1985); Second-team All-American – UPI (1986); Third-team All-American – AP, NABC (1986); 3× First-team All-Big East (1984–1986); No. 31 retired by Syracuse Orange; First-team Parade All-American (1983); Second-team Parade All-American (1982);
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference
Men's basketball
Representing United States
FIBA U19 World Championship

Dwayne Alonzo "Pearl" Washington (January 6, 1964 – April 20, 2016) was an American professional basketball player. He was a 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 190 pounds (86 kg) guard.

Early life

Washington grew up in the Brownsville section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, where he acquired his nickname as an eight-year-old in a taunting comparison to Earl "the Pearl" Monroe.^[1] He was a playground phenomenon from Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, and was rated as the number one overall high school player in the United States in 1983.^[2]

College career

Washington brought his flashy play to Syracuse University and the Carrier Dome. "The Pearl" was the master of the "shake and bake", in which he would leave his defensive opposition standing still while he drove by them for a layup. Utah Jazz point guard and NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton named Washington as the toughest player he guarded at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials training camp.^[3]

Professional career

New Jersey Nets (1986–1988)

Washington was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the first round (13th pick) of the 1986 NBA draft. In two seasons with the Nets he averaged 9 points per game.^[4]

Miami Heat (1988–1989)

In 1988 the Miami Heat selected Washington in their expansion draft. He played 54 games for the Heat before being released.^[5]

Rapid City Thrillers and San Jose Jammers (1989–1991)

Following Washington's release from Miami, Washington played for the Rapid City Thrillers and San Jose Jammers in the Continental Basketball Association.^[6]

Personal life

Washington had surgery on August 27, 2015, at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse to address a malignant brain tumor.^[7] He died on April 20, 2016, at the age of 52.^[8]

References

^ Vecsey, George. "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; The Pearl Fits In At Syracuse", The New York Times, March 9, 1984. Accessed December 5, 2007. "This part of the legend does survive: Washington admits that when he was 8 years old at the Howard Housing Project in Brownsville, his elders asked him: Who do you think you are, the Pearl?"
^ "hot". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "John Stockton on the Dan Patrick Show (Full Interview) 6/20/14". YouTube.
^ "Former Syracuse great Pearl Washington dies". ESPN.com. April 20, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Heat Releases Pearl Washington". The New York Times. June 30, 1989. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
^ 1991–92 Official CBA Guide and Register, page 329
^ Red, Christian; Armstrong, Kevin (August 31, 2015). "Syracuse basketball star Dwayne 'Pearl' Washington has malignant brain tumor: report". nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
^ "Former Syracuse basketball star Pearl Washington dies at 52". Los Angeles Times. April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.

External links

Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
Syracuse Orange bio

[1] Vecsey, George. "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; The Pearl Fits In At Syracuse", The New York Times, March 9, 1984. Accessed December 5, 2007. "This part of the legend does survive: Washington admits that when he was 8 years old at the Howard Housing Project in Brownsville, his elders asked him: Who do you think you are, the Pearl?"

[2] "hot". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2008.

[3] Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "John Stockton on the Dan Patrick Show (Full Interview) 6/20/14". YouTube.

[4] "Former Syracuse great Pearl Washington dies". ESPN.com. April 20, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2024.

[5] "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Heat Releases Pearl Washington". The New York Times. June 30, 1989. Retrieved January 29, 2020.

[6] 1991–92 Official CBA Guide and Register, page 329

[7] Red, Christian; Armstrong, Kevin (August 31, 2015). "Syracuse basketball star Dwayne 'Pearl' Washington has malignant brain tumor: report". nydailynews.com. Archived from the original on September 1, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015.

[8] "Former Syracuse basketball star Pearl Washington dies at 52". Los Angeles Times. April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

v t e 1986 NBA draft
First round	Brad Daugherty Len Bias Chris Washburn Chuck Person Kenny Walker William Bedford Roy Tarpley Ron Harper Brad Sellers Johnny Dawkins John Salley John Williams Dwayne Washington Walter Berry Dell Curry Maurice Martin Harold Pressley Mark Alarie Billy Thompson Buck Johnson Anthony Jones Scott Skiles Ken Barlow Arvydas Sabonis
Second round	Mark Price Greg Dreiling Dennis Rodman Larry Krystkowiak Johnny Newman Nate McMillan Joe Ward Cedric Henderson Kevin Duckworth Johnny Rogers Milt Wagner Steve Mitchell Panagiotis Fasoulas Lemone Lampley Rafael Addison Gus Binelli Otis Smith Ron Kellogg Dave Feitl David Wingate Keith Smith Jeff Hornacek Michael Jackson

v t e 1985 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans
First Team	Johnny Dawkins Patrick Ewing Keith Lee Xavier McDaniel Chris Mullin Wayman Tisdale
Second Team	Len Bias Jon Koncak Mark Price Kenny Walker Dwayne Washington