Dean Meminger once played in the shadows of the greatest backcourt in the history of the New York Knicks -- Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe. He almost died in the shadows earlier this week.Meminger was still in critical condition Tuesday in the burn unit of New York's Jacobi Medical Center after being rescued from a Sunday night fire in a Bronx housing project that investigators suspect was sparked by a crack cocaine pipe, according to the New York Daily News.
Meminger was found unconscious near his bed. Several crack pipes were found inside his room of the small, run-down building. It was not clear whether the pipes belonged to Meminger, 62, but he has spoken publicly many times about his long battle with drug abuse.
Meminger, who played his high school basketball in the city, rose to prominence with the Knicks when they picked him with the 16th selection of the 1971 Draft out of Marquette University.
The Knicks won an NBA championship in his second season when he served as a backup to the much-heralded Monroe and Frazier. He was small (6-1, 175 pounds), but played big, often providing a spark off the bench in that championship season.
While Frazier and Monroe had long and illustrious careers in the NBA -- both reached the Basketball Hall of Fame -- Meminger had his playing career cut short as he battled his personal demons. He played three seasons with the Knicks, then two with Atlanta. He returned briefly to the Knicks in 1977, but was waived after 32 games.
After leaving the Knicks, he had struggled with several different jobs before becoming the basketball coach at Manhattanville College for the 2003-04 season.
Fire marshals Tuesday were still investigating whether the drug paraphernalia may have sparked the four-alarm blaze, according to Daily News sources. Meminger was suffering from both burns and smoke inhalation.
"I haven't spoken to investigators,'' his son, Dean Meminger, Jr., told the Daily News. "I'm just concerned about his safety.''
Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Fall from grace, I choose not to bash but to remember how great Dean was on the court.
From the NBA to a Bronx housing project.
That's the story of crack.
I'm so sorry to hear about dean the dream meminger, i remember when i was about 12 or 13yrs old and i attended his basketball camp at dunlevy milbank in harlem & won first place as the only girl in the camp. God bless him and his family. Love always, Tamika Lee.
How is this guy a star, because he played pro ball. Lots of players play and are not stars. Never heard of this guy.
All city at Rice High School in Harlem, lost City Championship Game against Lew Alcindor(Kareem Abdul Jabbar) Power Memorial HS All american at Marquette, under coach Al McGuire, Known in college as "Dean the Dream" His son is a newscaster on NY1 in NYC
If you've never heard of Dean " The Dream " Meminger ....and his career at Marquette then you need at the short card table Thursday ...with the other dumb kids .
I never heard of him either but thats because I was a toddler (about 4 years old) when he was first drafted. Just because I don't know of him I have nothing bad to say about him. I agree with the others and say that he needs our prayers for a full recovery.
You must be a youngster or don't know much about basketball. He is a good player who played behind great players. Like the story says "in the shadows". But you always knew he was there, and he was a big part of the knicks for a few years. GOD bless him and his family. And it can happen to anyone.
Dean is not just a former gifted basketball player, he is a warm, caring, intelligent and well spoken gentlemen who cares about his fellow man and were not for his protracted drug addiction would make a great contribution to the development of young sportsman. I pray for his speedy recover from both his critical burns and drug addiction. Love you Dean
Larry Watts
billcarol88............
Just because you have never heard of Dean Meminger is not a reflection on him, but your lack of knowledge. He is a human being with problems, and deserving of our concern and sympathy, just as we would care if the person was you, and not a great college star at Marguette.
It was not his fault to be stuck behind two of the greatest (Clyde and the Pearl) after being drafted by the Knicks.
Crack Kills.....I guess in more ways than one. Dean the dream was agood player, but unless your from th NY area, you wouldn't have heard of him.
You don't hear of too many folks still using drugs at age 62. What a damn shame -- hopefully this will wake him up and Meminger can get the help he needs. Otherwise, it is likely he will die of some drug-related illness or accident -- if he makes it out of this alive.
Dean the Dream could drive to the hoop withe best of them. Star at RICE high school played for Al McGuire at Marquette and was a very important member of the NY Knicks of the early 70's.
It is a shame if this true. He was always good to kids and took time out to teach. I guess he couldnt teach himself!
I am sorry to hear about Dean the dream. I watched him play many times for my Knicks. My prayers are with him
I went to H.S. with Dean He was a very talented ballplayer at Rice. Anybody who knows n.y basketballhas heard of him.He backed up Clyde andEarl the Pearl.That is when the Knicks were the Greatest.I`m sorry for the way things turned out for him,Sometimes excessive talent just is not enough to get you through life.
What year were u at Rice? I was there 70-74. He was one of several talents produced there.
I'm 51 years old from the Midwest and remember Meminger when he played at Marquette and the Knicks. He had a great game and was exciting to watch. I also remember a TV movie starring Don Cheadle called "Rebound" where an actor portrayed Dean Meminger as a high schooler in New York. God bless Dean and his family.
Never heard of him, too. I hope for all professional players to learn how to manage their earnings from their pro careers. There was one guy who retired not too long ago ended up owing 20 million dollars in the hole. Heck, I don't even know him. I can say the same for Hollywood celebrities who overspent, thinking they would star in a few more movies, but didn't. Stupid people.
I grew up a Knicks fan and remember the old school team and how great they were (Phil Jackson was on those teams too) and I feel bad for Dean. I understand the pull of narcotics and what they can do to a person. It is senseless and it is truly demons. Heres to a speedy recovery for Dean and perhaps when better, he could share his story with others to help prevent them from maing the same mistakes. Most pro athletes have an enormous amount of influence and it should be noted that most of them do carry themselves well considering they are all millionaires for playing a kids game. Society is a strange place.
OMG ANOTHER MAJOR LEAGUE BALL PLAYER BUSTED. I AM SO SHOCKED !!!!!!!!!!!!!