The What-If Series (vol. 1, #3): Maurice Stokes

NBA career: 1955-1958

Draft: 1955, Round 1, #2 overall (Royals)

Teams: Rochester/Cincinnati Royals (1955-58)

Highlights: 3x All-Star, 1956 Rookie of the Year, 3x Second Team (1956, 1957, 1958), NBA rebounding leader (17. 4 reb per game, 1957), Hall of Fame inductee (2004), College Basketball Hall of Fame (2006), 1 of 4 NBA players in history to record four consecutive triple-doubles

Best season: 16.9 pts, 18.1 reb, 6.4 assists (1957-58)

The Question: What if Maurice Stokes's career hadn't been tragically cut short?

The story of Maurice Stokes goes way beyond basketball.

Here's a guy that had the whole world in front him. One of the best players in the game. After just three years in the league, it wasn't out of the question that he'd end up being one of the greats.

And in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Perhaps it shouldn't be the story of Maurice Stokes. More like the tragedy of Maurice Stokes. Stokes shows us that a career can be ended at virtually any moment.

Of all the entries in this first volume of The What-If Series, Maurice Stokes will be the most tragic.

Part I. Before the Injury

Stokes attended St. Francis College in Pennsylvania from 1951 to 1955. When St. Francis qualified for the NIT tournament in 1955, Stokes was named the Most Valuable Player of the contest even though his team finished in fourth place.

Over his first two seasons at St. Francis, Stokes averaged 25.1 points along with 26.4 rebounds. For his college career, Stokes finished as the school's all-time leading rebounder and its second all-time leading scorer. In addition to his individual stats, St. Francis finished with a record of 79-30 during Stokes's tenure.

Going into the 1955 NBA draft, Stokes was a surefire top prospect given his outstanding rebounding skills, scoring ability, great passing, and decent size (6'7''). In a draft that included fellow Hall of Famers Tom Gola and Jack Twyman (Stokes's future teammate), as well as Celtics legend Jim Loscutoff, Stokes was picked second overall by the Rochester Royals.

In his rookie year with Rochester during the 1955-56 season, Stokes excelled with his new squad. In 67 games, Maurice averaged a more than impressive double-double with 16.8 points and 16.3 rebounds (not to mention 4.7 assists). At the end of the year, Stokes was named NBA Rookie of the Year for 1956.

The following season, Stokes didn't miss a beat. He averaged 15.6 points, 17.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, all while setting the record for most rebounds in a single season (later broken by Wilt Chamberlain). For the second consecutive season, Stokes was named to the All-NBA Second Team and selected to the All-Star Game.

In the 1957-58 season, the Royals' first in Cincinnati, Stokes posted his most impressive stat line yet, averaging 16.9 points, 18.1 rebounds, and a career-high 6.4 assists. It also turned out to be Stokes's only playoff season, but the Royals were bounced in the first round.

Part II. The Injury/Aftermath

In the final game of the1957-58 season, Stokes was fouled hard on a drive to the basket. He drew contact and hit his head on the floor as he fell. The blow knocked Stokes unconscious, but smelling salts were able to revive him and he returned to the game.

Stokes played in the Royals' opening playoff game three days later, putting up 12 points and 15 rebounds against the Pistons.

Then, Stokes's career - and life - took a turn for the worse.

On the flight back to Cincinnati following the game, Stokes suffered a seizure out of nowhere that left him permanently paralyzed. The diagnosis was post-traumatic encephalopathy (damage to the motor-control center in the brain).

Twyman became Stokes's legal guardian after his paralysis diagnosis. Stokes was still mentally aware and communicated using his eyes. Following a difficult physical therapy process, Stokes eventually achieved limited physical movement.

Stokes's condition got progressively worse throughout the 1960s, and he never recovered. Twyman decided to transfer his good friend to the Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. Twyman became the most frequent visitor of Stokes's.

Maurice Stokes passed away in 1970 at the age of 36. He was buried on the campus of St. Francis College.

Following his death, Stokes was elected to the Hall of Fame, with Twyman accepting the honor on his behalf. In 2013, the NBA announced a new annual award, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award, in honor of both players.

Part III. What Could Have Been

Maurice Stokes, without a doubt, would've been one of the best players to ever grace the floor. You could argue that at the time of his injury, he already was.

Barring injuries, Stokes probably could have played at least seven or eight more seasons. Oscar Robertson arrived in Cincinnati in 1960, two years after Stokes's career was cut short.

Think about that. A core of Robertson (top ten player ever), Twyman (Hall of Famer), and Stokes. Championships would've definitely ensued, with the only obstacle being Bill Russell's Celtics.

Like I said, the story of Maurice Stokes goes beyond basketball. It's about the game of life.

And what a game it is.

Image credit: rantsports.com

YouTube channels: Wilt Chamberlain Archive, OfficialHoophall

Stats: Basketball Reference

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