Last season as head coach of the Sixers, Cheeks guided the team to a season-best six-game win streak from Nov. 11-16, 2005 - their longest such streak in three seasons - and the team shot 45.8 percent from the field, which ranked 10th in the NBA and was the Sixers best mark in 13 seasons.
He also reached a personal milestone in his coaching career when he earned his 200th career win on April 18, 2006, vs. New Jersey. Through his five years as a head coach in Philadelphia and Portland, Cheeks has posted a 200-183 (.522) record.
Prior to joining the Sixers, Cheeks spent three-plus seasons as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers (2001-05). During his time in Portland, he posted a 162-139 (.538) mark, accounting for the fourth-highest win total in Blazers history. He helped the Blazers reached the NBA Playoffs twice, and his 2002-03 squad tied for second in the Pacific Division with a 50-32 record.
Before joining Portland on June 27, 2001, Cheeks spent seven seasons as an assistant coach for the Sixers, working under head coaches John Lucas (1994-96), Johnny Davis (1996-97), and Larry Brown (1997-2001). In 2000-01 under Brown, Cheeks helped guide the 76ers to a record of 56-26 (.683) and a spot in the NBA Finals.
Cheeks played 15 seasons in the NBA, the first 11 with Philadelphia, before stints with San Antonio, New York, Atlanta and New Jersey. He retired in 1993 as the league's alltime steals leader and was fifth on the career assists list. Maurice led the 76ers in assists in all 11 seasons he played in Philadelphia and also topped the team in steals in each of his first 10 years.
He was selected to the NBA's All-Defensive Team five times (First Team: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986; Second Team: 1987) and played in four All-Star games (1983, 1986, 1987, 1988). He was a member of 76ers 1983 World Championship team.
As an NBA player, Cheeks compiled career averages of 11.1 ppg, 6.7 apg and 2.1 spg in 1.101 games over 15 seasons while shooting .523 from the field and .793 from the free throw line.
The 1978 West Texas State (currently West Texas A&M) graduate was a four-year starter and three-time MVP in college. He finished his collegiate career third on the Buffs' all-time scoring list, averaging 16.8 points per game and shooting 56.8 percent from the field as a senior. Cheeks was selected in the second round of the 1978 NBA Draft (36th overall) by the Sixers.
A native of Chicago, he began his coaching career with the Quad City Thunder of the CBA. In his only season with Quad City, Cheeks helped guide the club to the CBA Championship. He then served as an assistant coach with the Sixers for seven seasons. A favorite in Philadelphia, Cheeks is one of seven former Sixers players to have his number retired by the club (No. 10).
