Connie Hawkins' career holds as much mystique as that of any other NBA Hall of Famer. A man of remarkable talent who played much of his career in the shadows, Hawkins was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 while playing just seven years in the league, an acknowledgment that he had been unjustly denied the opportunity to show his full talent in his most productive years. A Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn native, Hawkins was already dunking by age 11, leading to neighborhood stories about a boy who could defy gravity. In 1960 he was named as an All-American high school player in Brooklyn, but his promising future in basketball was quickly derailed when he was wrongfully associated with a point shaving scandal in New York. This led to his dismissal from Iowa University before ever playing a game, and he was simultaneously shunned by the young, image conscious NBA. As a result, Hawkins joined the Pittsburgh Rens of the ABL, where he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player as a 19 year old. He would later tour the world with the Harlem Globetrotters before breaking into the ABA with the Pittsburgh Pipers in the league’s inaugural season (1967-1968). There his professional prowess would be on immediate display, as he helped the Pipers to an ABA Championship in that first year. His league leading mark of 26.8 points per game that season won him the league MVP. By 1969, the NBA finally lifted its ban on Hawkins following a Life Magazine article that seemed to exonerate him from any wrongdoing in that 1960 scandal. As a 27 year old rookie with the Phoenix Suns, Hawkins led the team in scoring with 24.6 points per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team. Over his next three seasons in Phoenix, Hawkins would be voted to the All-Star game in each season, adding a fourth All-Star selection with the Lakers following his trade to LA in 1973. After two seasons in Los Angeles, Hawkins would play his final year in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, having successfully proven himself in just seven years as one of the most exciting players in NBA history. Hawkins wore this road jersey during his time with Phoenix. On the left front tail is the "Spanjian" manufacturers size 48 tag. Attached is a “XXL” flag tag. Across the front is "PHOENIX." Below that and on the back is the player number "42." Across the back is the player name "HAWKINS." All numbering and lettering is done in orange on white tackle twill. The jersey shows light game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind. Accompanied by an additional LOA.