Dribbling through Virginia’s Black history

Alexis Washington, Staff Writer 

Virginia is home to some of the greatest NBA legends in history, including Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning, Ralph Sampson and Moses Malone.

From legendary NBA icons to upcoming stars, Virginia has consistently produced basketball players who have left a mark on the game.

“I think Virginia is one of the best basketball states,” said VCU assistant coach Darius Theus.

Here is where it all started:

1970s

Malone was born in Petersburg and attended Petersburg High School, where his aggressiveness took him straight from high school to professional basketball in 1974. He was the first modern basketball player to go straight to the league, according to hoophall.  

Theus said players from Richmond and Hampton Roads are “straight dogs” who love to compete.   

Malone started playing in the American Basketball Association League before he took his talent to the NBA, playing mostly with the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers.

He averaged 20.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per game as a center, according to ESPN.

He dedicated 19 years to the league, leading the 76ers to the 1983 NBA championship, ranking first in offensive rebounds and earning the NBA Most Valuable Player award four times, according to the NBA.

Malone was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001, according to hoophall. 

1980s

Sampson is a Harrisonburg native and changed the basketball culture at the University of Virginia. He led UVA to 23 straight wins in 1980 and took his team to the Final Four — its first appearance in school history — while averaging a double-double, according to the UVA library. 

Sampson got drafted to the Houston Rockets as a first overall pick in 1983, according to the NBA.

His versatility as a 7-foot-4 center mixed with his speed made him a valuable player. In 1984 he was named Rookie of the Year and is a three-time All Star, according to hoophall.

He averaged 15.4 points and 8.8 rebounds in the NBA.

Sampson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014 and has had his jersey number retired from his alma mater.

1990s

Mourning was born in Chesapeake and spent 16 years in the NBA. He played center and was drafted 2nd overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 1992, according to hoophall. 

Mourning also played for the New Jersey Nets and the Miami Heat. He averaged 17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, according to the NBA.

He briefly retired in 2000 after suffering from a rare kidney disease. With the help of his wife, he raised more than $2 million for treatment for those dealing with the same disease, according to the Mourning Family Foundation. 

However, he did not stop there. In 2006, Mourning came back to the court and won an NBA championship with the Heat — their first in franchise history, according to Basketball Network.

Another 757 product is Iverson, a point guard from Hampton. He was drafted by the 76ers in 1996 where he played for most of his career, according to the NBA.

He averaged 26.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, according to the NBA.

The 76ers honored Iverson with a statue located in front of the training complex. He won NBA Rookie of the Year in 1997 and Most Valuable Player in 2001, according to ESPN.

VCU first-year guard Brandon Jennings said he admires Iverson on and off the court.

“AI just has a lot of swag to him,” Jennings said.

Theus learned his game from watching and studying his peers, but said Iverson is one person he wanted to be like. He played ball at Norcom High School in Portsmouth and at VCU.

“Everybody wanted that AI crossover,” Theus said.

The present: carrying the torch

The impact of Virginia basketball greats continues to shape the next generation of players. There are nine players from Virginia that are currently in the league, according to basketball reference. 

Most college athletes begin their professional careers through the Amateur Athletic Union or prep schools.

Jennings is from Richmond and played in the AAU at Ben Wallace’s gym in Henrico County. He said he had personal conversations with Wallace which helped him as a player.

Wallace is a former Detroit Pistons forward and played college basketball at Virginia Union University. Wallace wasn’t afraid to get in the paint, winning Defensive Player of the Year four times, tied for the most all-time with Dikembe Mutombo, according to hoophall.  

He made two NBA finals appearances and won one with the Pistons in 2004, according to hoophall. 

VCU graduate student guard Joe Bamisile said there is talent within AAU teams in Virginia. 

Jennings and Bamisile represent the future of Black basketball history in Virginia. Jennings said he hopes his VCU legacy is defined by being both a good athlete and teammate, while Bamisile, grounded in his faith, said he aims to keep having fun playing the game.

Theus said he has a message for Black youth aspiring to play or coach in the league:

“Believe in yourself number one, you are going to hear some no’s and that’s okay,” Theus said. “Never give up.”