Stokes: The Brief Career of the NBA's First Black Superstar
Written by Ty Chapman
Illustrated by Lonnie Ollivierre
Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press, 2024. Biography.
Written by Ty Chapman
Illustrated by Lonnie Ollivierre
Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press, 2024. Biography.
Maurice Stokes was a trailblazing NBA player in the late 1950s. At 6'7", Stokes could do it all, dominating both offensively and defensively on the court. All that would change when Stokes experienced a career-ending head injury that, left untreated, caused him to be paralyzed from the neck down. Stokes was an inspiration on the court, and after his injury continued to inspire others with his hard work while enduring huge obstacles. But Stokes wasn't the only inspiration --Stoke's teammate, Jack Twyman, stepped up to help his friend in his recovery and also co-organized an annual fundraising game to assist Stokes financially. A bittersweet look at the on court accomplishments of Maurice Stokes that were cut short, but the love and friendship that persisted in spite of it all.
I love learning about less famous trailblazers, but this one definitely left me feeling a little melancholy. I just kept wondering how Stokes would have fared had he been a current player who experienced such an injury. I think his outlook would have been very different and his prospects much better, which was sobering to think about. Still, in spite of the sad circumstances Stokes faced, his positive attitude and the love of his fellow NBA teammates made this a hopeful read.
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