Former Piston, 2-time NBA champ Earl Cureton dies at 66

Matt Jaworowski
·2 min read
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Former University of Detroit Mercy star and Detroit Piston Earl “The Twirl” Cureton has died.

The NBA announced the news Sunday, saying he passed away suddenly. He was 66 years old.

Cureton starred at Detroit Finney High School and started his collegiate career at Robert Morris before returning home to lead the Titans to the 1979 NCAA tournament with a 22-6 record.

He was drafted in the third round of the 1979 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and won his first of two NBA championships in 1983. The following offseason, Cureton signed with the Pistons as a free agent, playing three seasons with his hometown team.

Cureton bounced around the league a bit over the next several years, being traded to the Bulls, then the Clippers, and eventually catching on with the Charlotte Hornets.

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In between injuries, Cureton played overseas in different leagues before signing on with the Houston Rockets in 1994. He appeared in only two games, but it was enough to capture his second NBA championship behind future Hall-of-Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.

The three men pose together while bundled up in jackets, hats and gloves.
Earl Cureton, center, poses alongside fellow former Piston Derrick Coleman, right, and Tarence Wheeler at the Annual All-Star Giveback: Thanksgiving Edition at River Rouge High School in 2023. (Getty Images)

The Twirl retired for good after the 1996-97 season. He went on to broadcast Detroit Mercy games and also worked as a team ambassador with the Pistons. Cureton also worked as a coach for several years, including stints in the WNBA, the U.S. Basketball League and the Continental Basketball Association.

In a statement, the Pistons said they will remember Cureton as a beloved member of the team.

“As tough a competitor as he was during his playing years on the court, he was equally kind-hearted, outgoing and impactful off it. He represented our franchise with great passion and truly enjoyed working to give back and improve the lives of Detroiters in the city he loved so much,” the statement read.

Former teammate Isiah Thomas said, “He was a tremendous teammate, tough competitor, a champion and a great human being. Earl always held the Detroit community close to his heart and worked tirelessly to make a difference for the city he loved. He will be greatly missed.”

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