Joe Hammond (basketball)

Joe Hammond (also known as "The Destroyer") was a streetball basketball player based in Harlem New York. He attended Taft High School in the Bronx,[1] but he dropped out of school in the 9th grade and thus never played college basketball.[2] He did play in the Eastern Basketball Association with the Allentown Jets.[3]

Joe Hammond
Personal information
BornHarlem, New York
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Career information
NBA draft1971 / Round: Hardship / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
PositionGuard
Career history
Allentown Jets

He once scored 50 points in a half against Julius Erving at Rucker Park.[4] In the 1971 NBA hardship draft, he was selected with the fifth pick of the 1971 Early Entry draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.[2][5] He also turned down a 3-year contract to play in the American Basketball Association.[1]

He was arrested for dealing drugs and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.[1][6] He was described as being the best streetball player ever by the New York Times.[7] He sued Nike and Foot Locker for $5 million for using his image without his permission.[6]

References
  1. "Elite 24: Rucker Park legends". ESPN. 17 May 2012.
  2. "The 25 Greatest Streetball Players of All Time - 1. Joe Hammond". www.complex.com.
  3. "Original Old School: Street Moves". 21 June 2010.
  4. "Original Old School: Street Moves - SLAMonline". 21 June 2010.
  5. "Joe Hammond".
  6. "Legendary hoop star says: Nike fouled me". 17 January 2010.
  7. "Legend of the Playground". The New York Times. 11 November 1990.


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