EARLMONROE
NEW YORK KNICKSEarl Monroe — NBA champion, 4× All-Star, "Earl the Pearl." Career stats, bio and legacy of the playground-style scorer who changed how guards played the game.
1×NBA CHAMPION
4×ALL-STAR
Earl Monroe biography — NBA career story, legacy, championships, awards and personal background.
Career timeline, milestones, and place among all-time greats.
Before Magic Johnson, there was "Black Magic" — Earl Monroe's improvised spins and off-balance, playground-born shots made him a must-watch attraction on both sides of the ball. Born November 21, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm).
He played at Winston-Salem State (1963–1967), a Division II program where he averaged an astonishing 41.5 points per game as a senior and led the Rams to the 1967 national championship, earning tournament MVP. Drafted 2nd overall by the Baltimore Bullets in 1967, he won Rookie of the Year before being traded to the New York Knicks in 1971, where he teamed with fellow guard Walt Frazier.
Nicknamed "Earl the Pearl," Monroe won the NBA championship with the Knicks in 1973. A four-time All-Star, he made the All-NBA First Team once in his Baltimore years and became known as one of the most creative, improvisational scorers the league had seen.
Career totals: 17,454 points (18.8 ppg), 3,594 assists (3.9 apg), 2,796 rebounds (3.0 rpg) over 926 games.
His No. 15 was retired by the Knicks and his No. 10 by the Washington Wizards (formerly the Bullets). Named to the NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.
Earl Monroe quick facts — Height 6'3. 18.8 PPG career average. Championship years: 1973.
Height, weight, draft year, and years in the league.
Earl Monroe awards and honors — Championship years: 1973.
Major individual and team accolades with seasons won.
4x
Earl Monroe career statistics summary — 18.8 PPG career average.
Regular-season averages and totals across the full NBA career.
Earl Monroe career highs — best single-game performances in points, rebounds, assists and more.
Personal records with dates and opponents.
vs BAL
vs BAL
vs MIL
vs NYK
vs MIL
vs NYK
Earl Monroe advanced stats — PER, win shares, BPM and overall impact metrics.
Impact measured beyond traditional box score statistics.
Earl Monroe playoff stats — postseason points, rebounds, assists and games played.
Postseason production across every playoff run.
Earl Monroe All-Star Game stats — appearances, minutes and showcase performance.
Mid-season exhibition stats across every All-Star selection.
→2TM→→Earl Monroe NBA transactions — trades, signings and team changes by date.
Team moves and dates across every NBA stop.
FAQ about Earl Monroe — rings, MVP awards, career stats, height.
Answers to the most searched questions about championships and career honors.
Earl Monroe averaged 18.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists per game in the regular season.
Earl Monroe filmography — movies, documentaries and on-screen basketball roles.
Theatrical releases and documentary appearances.
Players similar to Earl Monroe — statistical peers by position, peak seasons and career arc.
All-time comparisons with the closest playing profile.
NoteThe club shown in the profile isn't necessarily the player's last team, but the one he's most associated with and that defined his career. See the full team history in the Transactions section.