Earl “The Twirl” Cureton was hired on June 18, 2009 to round out the Detroit Shock’s coaching staff. A two-time NBA champion with the Philadelphia 76ers (1982-83) and the Houston Rockets (1993-94) Cureton played twelve seasons in the NBA for seven different teams (76ers, Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons). A native Detroiter, Cureton played collegiate ball at the University of Detroit and was drafted by the 76ers in the 1979 NBA Draft (third round, 58th overall). Cureton averaged 5.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 674 games played. Cureton was also an assistant coach with the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting for two seasons, working with assistant coach Cheryl Reeve in his first season, before they disbanded.