The Royals relocated to Cincinnati in 1957 and Stokes was second in the NBA in rebounds and third in assists in 1957–58; a feat only Wilt Chamberlain has matched for a full season.

[citation needed] On March 12, 1958, in the last game of the regular season, Stokes was knocked unconscious after he drove to the basket, drew contact, and struck his head as he fell to the court.

Three days later, after recording 12 points and 15 rebounds in an opening-round playoff game against the Detroit Pistons, he became ill on the team's flight back to Cincinnati and lapsed into unconsciousness.

Stokes' condition deteriorated through the 1960s and he was later transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, where Twyman continued to be a regular visitor.

[3] Twelve years after his injury, Stokes died at age 36 from a heart attack on April 6, 1970,[1][2] and received a series of Catholic funerals.

After Jack Twyman became his legal guardian, he organized a charity exhibition basketball game in 1958 to help raise funds for Stokes' medical expenses.

[12][14] It was later changed to the Maurice Stokes/Wilt Chamberlain Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament[15][16] due to NBA and insurance company restrictions regarding athletes.

[17] Stokes' life, injury, and relationship with Twyman are all depicted in the 1973 National General Pictures film Maurie.