Planet Lovetron really needed Chocolate Thunder back

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

WE WILL MISS YOU, CHOCOLATE THUNDER. Darryl Dawkins’ presence was needed on Planet Lovetron, so he has exited Earth without warning and leaving behind grief at age 58. Rodger Sherman acknowledges that Chocolate Thunder was too funky for us Earthlings, anyway. David Roth remembers Dawkins’ panache. Fran Blinebury’s remembrance is so worth reading. Same applies to Dan Devine.

The best contemporary look at Mr. Thunder I’ve seen comes from SI’s Dave Wohl in 1988 (via Devine).

ALL-70S TEAM: I wrote about how the 1970s represented a battle for the soul of pro basketball, Paul Flannery wrote about the 70s Knicks and I picked my All-1970s team, leaving off some important dudes. (The honorable mention list could have and probably should have been 20 deep. My apologies to anyone offended by an absence.)

NOT GOOD: Kyrie Irving may not play until January. Say hello to starting point guard Mo Williams!

OH DEAR: Anthony Davis is adding lots of muscle.

DOPE! FOX Sports Southeast has named Stephanie Ready a full-time game analyst for the Hornets. She’s the first woman to have such a job for an NBA team. Her and Dell Curry will fill out a three-person booth with Eric Collins. Ready did at least one game last season, and she’ll knock this out of the park.

THIS WILL GO WELL: Marshall Henderson, one of the most turbulence-inducing players in recent college basketball memory, has signed a training camp contract with the Kings. The Kings, you know, with Rajon Rondo, DeMarcus Cousins and more drama than you can get into a community theatre. That said, Henderson played pro ball in Iraq last year, so he’s strong enough to handle business.

GOOD POINT: Danilo Gallinari could be Denver’s best player or its best trade chip this season.

BROTHERS FOR LIFE: Know that I’m sharing this James Herbert piece not only because Omri Casspi explains his deep brotherly love for DeMarcus Cousins.

HOLY WOW: Shaq and Kobe are going to talk about life, the Lakers and everything on Shaq’s podcast next Monday.

HA HA HA: Michael Jordan called Jim Harbaugh to discuss a Michigan apparel deal and Harbaugh didn’t believe it was really MJ.

Happy Friday. See you next time.