Earl Monroe

Vernon Earl Monroe, born November 21, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an American former professional basketball player. Growing up in South Philadelphia, he was initially more interested in soccer and baseball than basketball. By age 14 he had reached 6'3", and his interest in the game grew; he played center through most of his youth. At John Bartram High School, teammates nicknamed him "Thomas Edison" for the many moves he invented.

Monroe played in the National Basketball Association for two teams, the Baltimore Bullets and the New York Knicks. His on-court success and flashy style of play earned him the nicknames "Black Jesus" and "Earl the Pearl." Both the Bullets and the Knicks retired his number.

Monroe was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990 and the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. In 1996 he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and in 2021 he was named one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history.