Darryl Dawkins, whose backboard-shattering dunks earned him the moniker "Chocolate Thunder" and helped pave the way for breakaway rims, has died. He was 58.

The Lehigh County, Pennsylvania coroner's office said Dawkins died Thursday morning at a hospital. In a release from the NBA late on Thursday afternoon, the family of Dawkins confirmed that the Allentown, Pennsylvania native succumbed to a heart attack.

"Darryl touched the hearts and spirits of so many with his big smile and personality, ferocious dunks, but more than anything, his huge, loving heart," the statement from Dawkins' family said.

Dawkins spent parts of 14 seasons in the NBA with Philadelphia, New Jersey, Utah and Detroit. He averaged 12 points and 6.1 rebounds in 726 career regular-season games.

He was selected No. 5 in the 1975 NBA draft by the 76ers.

"A great man, entertainer, athlete and ferocious dunker," former NBA guard Kevin Johnson wrote on Twitter in tribute to Dawkins. "He will be missed but not forgotten."

Dawkins was as revered off the court as he was on it. He remained enormously popular after his playing days were done, even during his stint as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.

He would name his dunks — the "look out below," the "yo-mama" and the "rim wrecker" among them — and often boasted that he hailed from the "Planet Lovetron."

Injuries plagued him late in his NBA career, and he went overseas for several more years to play primarily in the Italian league.

"You were one of my favourite players of all time," Houston centre Dwight Howard posted Thursday on Instagram under a photo of Dawkins dunking in a game for the 76ers. "You were very inspirational to a lot of young players. Thank u for the long talks and great memories. I can't believe that you're gone. But you are in a better place. You were the originator of the dunk."

Dawkins also had a strong basketball connection in Canada as a player/coach for the Winnipeg Cyclone of the International Basketball Association in 1999. He led the Cyclone to a 22-12 regular season record, the best in team history and was was named Co-Coach of the Year.