Juaquin Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Juaquin Hawkins is a professional basketball
player. He played with the Houston Rockets during the 2002-2003 NBA season.
, he signed a free agent contract to play with Kobe Bryant
, Nick Van Exel
, Shaquille O'Neal
on the Los Angeles Lakers
. He was one of the last cut from the final roster. After that, he played for the Hung Fu Rams in Taiwan, the Long Island Surf of the United States Basketball League
, and the Chong Ching of the China Basketball Association
. He played with the Los Angeles Clippers
during the 1998 NBA preseason and was the last player cut . He then played with the Harlem Globetrotters
in 1998 and 1999. After that, he played with the Fort Wayne Fury
of the Continental Basketball Association
along with future Rockets teammate Moochie Norris
. After that, he played with the Southern California Surf
of the ABA
. In 2001, he played in the Philippines for Shell Mobil and then Toyota Alvark
in Japan. Finally, during the 2002-2003 season, he made the Houston Rockets as the second oldest rookie in the NBA during that time. He even started 10 games that year.
After that year he went to veteran camps with the Golden State Warriors
and was cut after a few games. He then played in the ABA with Dennis Rodman
, Derrick Dial
, Matt Barnes
, and DeMarr Johnson and won a league championship. He then played in Japan
, and in 2008, he helped the Gold Coast Blaze
reach the playoffs in their inaugural season before being sidelined with an illness. He had a stroke after which some doctors thought he would never play again. After several months of speech and physical therapy he recovered and in 2009 he played in the IBL with the Los Angeles Lightning and won a championship. Other former NBA players Toby Bailey
, Bryron Russell, Darrick Martin
and Lamond Murray
were a part of this team.
on September 30, 2002. On November 22, 2002, he put up career highs with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Washington Wizards
. He suited up all 82 games for the Rockets as they missed the playoffs by one game.
Hawkins has co-written a book about his life, called Stroke of Grace, regarding his journey to the NBA and his experience suffering a devastating stroke.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He played with the Houston Rockets during the 2002-2003 NBA season.
Professional Basketball Career
After going undrafted in the 1996 NBA Draft1996 NBA Draft
The 1996 NBA Draft was the 50th draft in the National Basketball Association . It was held on June 26, 1996 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The draft was broadcast in the United States on the Turner Network Television...
, he signed a free agent contract to play with Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
, Nick Van Exel
Nick Van Exel
Nickey Maxwell "Nick" Van Exel is a retired American professional basketball player and currently an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks...
, Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
on the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. He was one of the last cut from the final roster. After that, he played for the Hung Fu Rams in Taiwan, the Long Island Surf of the United States Basketball League
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
, and the Chong Ching of the China Basketball Association
China Basketball Association
Chinese Basketball Association is a national non-profit sports organisation in China. It represents China in the Fédération Internationale de Basketball and the FIBA Asia as well as the sport of basketball in the All-China Sports Federation....
. He played with the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
during the 1998 NBA preseason and was the last player cut . He then played with the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
in 1998 and 1999. After that, he played with the Fort Wayne Fury
Fort Wayne Fury
The Fort Wayne Fury was a team in the Continental Basketball Association from 1991 through the cessation of the CBA on February 8, 2001.-History:...
of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
along with future Rockets teammate Moochie Norris
Moochie Norris
Martyn "Moochie" Norris is an American former professional basketball player.Norris, a journeyman, played collegiately at Odessa College , at Auburn University and at the University of West Florida . He was drafted with 33rd overall pick of the 1996 NBA draft by Milwaukee Bucks...
. After that, he played with the Southern California Surf
Southern California Surf
The Southern California Surf was an American Basketball Association team based in Anaheim, California.The team began play in the 2001-2002 ABA season but is now defunct. It became the Long Beach Jam....
of the ABA
American Basketball Association (2000–present)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
. In 2001, he played in the Philippines for Shell Mobil and then Toyota Alvark
Toyota Alvark
Toyota Alvark is a Japanese professional basketball team sponsored by Toyota. Until 2000, the team was known as the Toyota Pacers. The team currently plays in the JBL Super League and has won the last two league titles in 2006 and 2007.-Roster 2009-10:...
in Japan. Finally, during the 2002-2003 season, he made the Houston Rockets as the second oldest rookie in the NBA during that time. He even started 10 games that year.
After that year he went to veteran camps with the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and was cut after a few games. He then played in the ABA with Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
, Derrick Dial
Derrick Dial
Derrick Jonathon Dial is an American professional basketball player. He had a brief career in the NBA....
, Matt Barnes
Matt Barnes
Matt Kelly Barnes is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association.-High school years:...
, and DeMarr Johnson and won a league championship. He then played in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and in 2008, he helped the Gold Coast Blaze
Gold Coast Blaze
The Gold Coast Blaze is an Australian professional basketball team which competes in the National Basketball League . The Blaze competed in their inaugural season in 2007/08. The club is based on the Gold Coast and joins two other NBL clubs competing from Queensland...
reach the playoffs in their inaugural season before being sidelined with an illness. He had a stroke after which some doctors thought he would never play again. After several months of speech and physical therapy he recovered and in 2009 he played in the IBL with the Los Angeles Lightning and won a championship. Other former NBA players Toby Bailey
Toby Bailey
John Garfield "Toby" Bailey is an American professional basketball player.-College career:Bailey played four years of college basketball at UCLA, being part of the Bruins squad that won the 1995 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. In the championship game against Arkansas, Bailey scored...
, Bryron Russell, Darrick Martin
Darrick Martin
Darrick David Martin is an American retired professional basketball player. Martin's more than decade-long professional career bounced between the Continental Basketball Association , where he won the 2003 CBA Playoffs MVP, and the NBA. In 2003 he even played for the Harlem Globetrotters...
and Lamond Murray
Lamond Murray
Lamond Maurice Murray is an American professional basketball player who last played with the NBA's New Jersey Nets. In 2009, Lamond Murray joined the Bahrain Basketball Association in Bahrain...
were a part of this team.
Houston Rockets and other NBA teams
Juaquin Hawkins signed with the Houston Rockets of the NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
on September 30, 2002. On November 22, 2002, he put up career highs with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists against the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
. He suited up all 82 games for the Rockets as they missed the playoffs by one game.
Off the court
In 2010, Juaquin was featured along with his wife Kim Hawkins in episode 3 of the TV series Breakthrough with Tony RobbinsTony Robbins
Anthony "Tony" Robbins is an American self-help author and motivational speaker. He became well known through his infomercials and self-help books, Unlimited Power: The New Science Of Personal Achievement and Awaken The Giant Within...
Hawkins has co-written a book about his life, called Stroke of Grace, regarding his journey to the NBA and his experience suffering a devastating stroke.