- Cureton played in high school, college and in the NBA, representing Detroit
- After his playing career, Cureton became an ambassador for the Pistons community
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Former NBA player Earl Cureton died unexpectedly on Sunday, the Detroit Pistons reported. He was 66.
No cause of death was revealed. The Detroit News reported that Cureton collapsed Sunday morning at his home in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Cureton was also a college star at Detroit Mercy. Although he never got to play for Dick Vitale, who coached at Detroit Mercy before leaving for a job with the Pistons, Vitale helped Cureton make the move to Detroit Mercy.
“I am devastated,” Vitale said in a text message to The Detroit News on Sunday. “He loved the Motor City and was so proud that he worked so hard to make it to the NBA.”
“And Earl was always trying to inspire young people to pursue their dreams,” Vitale continued.
Cureton died Sunday at the age of 66 after representing Detroit at every level of basketball
Cureton was not primarily known as a coach, but managed Dennis Rodman and the Long Beach Jam
Known as “The Twirl,” Cureton played 12 seasons in the NBA, winning championships with the Philadelphia 76ers from 1982-83 and the Houston Rockets from 1993-94. He had career averages of 5.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 674 games.
Cureton played three seasons (1983-86) with the Pistons and spent the past decade as a community ambassador for the franchise.
“Earl was one of the most generous, positive and caring people I knew,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said.
“He was a loving father, devoted to his family, and I was honored to be his friend. As a player he was a champion and an important ambassador in our community. We are heartbroken over his loss,” Gores continued.
Cureton played two seasons with Detroit Mercy. He averaged 20 points and 9.1 rebounds during the 1979-80 season.
He is a member of the school’s athletic Hall of Fame and Cureton’s No. 24 is also retired by Detroit Mercy.
After retiring from basketball, Cureton also coached in the revival of the American Basketball Association.
With Dennis Rodman as its biggest star, he led the Long Beach Jam to a championship in 2004.