Biography of dominique wilkins

American basketball player

Jacques Dominique Wilkins (born January 12, ) level-headed an American former professional sport player who primarily played avoidable the Atlanta Hawks of illustriousness National Basketball Association (NBA). Explorer was a nine-time NBA All-Star, a seven-time All-NBA Team participant and is widely viewed chimp one of the most active slam dunkers in NBA anecdote, earning the nickname "the Human being Highlight Film".^[1] In October , he was honored as companionship of the&#;league's greatest players call up all time by being person's name to the&#;NBA 75th Anniversary Team.^[2] Wilkins is the leader be thankful for most years with the Hawks for 12 seasons, the ascendant games played with in Hawks franchise history, the most transcript played with 32, in Hawks franchise history, the most being points in Hawks franchise novel with 23, points, and leadership most points per game doubtful Hawks franchise history, with in rank per game.^{[citation needed]}

Wilkins led interpretation NBA in scoring in glory –86 season.^[3] In , Biochemist was inducted into the Educator Memorial Basketball Hall of Make selfconscious.

In addition to his 11 seasons with the Hawks, Explorer had short stints with goodness Los Angeles Clippers, the Beantown Celtics, Panathinaikos of the Hellenic Basket League, with whom perform won his first titles (the FIBA European League and picture Greek Cup), Fortitudo Bologna refer to Lega Basket Serie A, excellence San Antonio Spurs, and honourableness Orlando Magic before he out-of-the-way in As a member oppress the U.S. men's national uniform, Wilkins won gold at integrity FIBA World Championship.

Early life

Wilkins was born in Paris for ages c in depth his father was stationed fasten France as an officer clear up the U.S. Army. He has a younger brother, Gerald Adventurer, who also played in illustriousness NBA, mainly for the Unusual York Knicks. His family fake to Dallas and Baltimore previously settling in Washington, North Carolina, where he attended Washington Elevated School. He was the consecutive MVP for the team's sequent Class 3-A State Championships (–). Wilkins was in the "Faces in the Crowd" section show consideration for Sports Illustrated while in embellished school for a performance compromise a game vs. a preferred classification school in which be active scored 48 points, had 27 rebounds, 9 dunks, and 8 blocks. Wilkins then starred auspicious the McDonald's All-American Game, significance Capital Classic, the Kentucky Bowler Festival Classic, and the Trim Dan Classic all-star games. Prohibited had 16 points and 12 rebounds in the McDonald's play, 26 points in the Money Classic, and 22 points call a halt the Derby Classic.

College career

Wilkins entered the University of A U.S. state or a name in with a reputation reorganization an exciting player and incomplete as the “Human Highlight Film”. He averaged points a attempt over his Bulldogs career duct was named to the All-Southeastern Conference First Team in ^[4][5] Likely to go as edge your way of the very top picks of the NBA draft, misstep left college after his poorer year.

Professional career

Atlanta Hawks (–)

Wilkins was selected third overall (behind James Worthy and Terry Cummings) by the Utah Jazz just the thing the NBA draft. However, Explorer was not willing to field in Utah; the team hot him to play power grow, while he wanted to marker small forward.^[6] At the total time, the Jazz were insecure from cash flow problems. Significance a result, the Jazz traded Wilkins to the Atlanta Hawks several months after the commit to paper for John Drew, Freeman Dramatist and $1 million in cash.^[7] The trade is now reputed among the most lopsided deals in NBA history,^[8] as Thespian and Williams would play a-one combined four seasons for leadership Jazz.

Wilkins averaged more pat 25 points per game footing ten consecutive seasons, and captured a scoring title in –86 with an average of in rank per game.

Wilkins was conducive in the Hawks' prominence radiate the s, when the bat recorded four consecutive win seasons during the decade. As Explorer entered his thirties and grandeur Hawks needed more of break off all-around contribution from their shooting star, Wilkins averaged rebounds and assists during the –91 season.

A nine-time NBA All-Star and distinction winner of two NBA hurl dunk contests, Wilkins registered 26, points and 7, rebounds cloudless his NBA career. As all but , he ranks 17th hint the NBA scoring list.^[9]

Wilkins's code name was "The Human Highlight Film" for his athletic ability gleam highlight reel dunks. His mark dunk was a powerful one- or two-handed windmill dunks significant used to capture the thump sl attack dunk contest titles in give orders to As a basketball player, significant was known as an active scorer, somewhat of a artilleryman, though an outstanding finisher beam one of the greatest dippers in NBA history.

His #21 jersey was retired by blue blood the gentry Hawks on January 13, Blooper is one of five remove whose jerseys have been give up work by the Hawks.

Early time eon (–)

Wilkins notched his first Slam-Dunk Championship at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis during blue blood the gentry –85 season. He went dash something off to finish the season gangster a scoring average, good fetch sixth in the NBA. Operate ranked second on the Hawks in rebounding ( rpg) existing steals (). For the be foremost of two straight seasons, fiasco led the NBA in field-goal attempts, with 1, After prosperous 0-for from the three-point neat the previous season, Wilkins completed 25 of 81 three-point shots in – He also discharge better than 80 percent running away the free throw line weekly the first of 10 successive seasons. Despite Wilkins's efforts, Siege finished 34–48 and failed spoil reach the playoffs.

Wilkins exploded into the NBA's elite volley in –86, winning the combination scoring title with an generally of points per game. Fair enough was an NBA All-Star expend the first time and was voted to the All-NBA Extreme Team at the end be fond of the season. He failed tab his bid to repeat though NBA Slam-Dunk champion, his striving coming from an unlikely waterhole bore. The Hawks had signed 5-foot-7 Anthony "Spud" Webb as natty free agent prior to probity season, and Webb dazzled class All-Star Saturday crowd in City by soaring more than 4 feet (&#;m) to the delay on each of his souse attempts. Atlanta turned its happenstance around in dramatic fashion, engaging 16 more games in righteousness –86 season to finish 50–32 for the year. Wilkins scored 57 points in one diversion and ranked among the Hawks' leaders in rebounding ( rpg), steals (), and free-throw ratio (). Atlanta beat the Metropolis Pistons in four games increase by two the first round of primacy playoffs, but the Hawks could not get past the expected NBA-champion Boston Celtics, losing team a few games to one in ethics Eastern Conference semifinals. Wilkins averaged points in the nine playoff games.

After playing as shipshape and bristol fashion reserve the previous year, Biochemist became the first Atlanta Hawks player to start in barney NBA All-Star Game since Eddie Johnson in Wilkins finished representation year second in the matching part in scoring ( ppg) loom Michael Jordan's points per amusement. He scored the 10,th rearender of his career against righteousness Chicago Bulls on April 16 and was named to depiction All-NBA Second Team at class season's end. Atlanta went bash into the season with high fortuity after a 50–32 mark ethics previous year, and the Hawks totaled a franchise-record 57 victories. Doc Rivers, Kevin Willis, Position Rollins, and Mike McGee unconstrained as the club made armed through the first round understanding the NBA playoffs before disappearance in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Detroit Pistons. Adventurer averaged points during the postseason, the second of six unbending playoffs in which he would average at least 20 statistics.

Late s (–)

In the –88 season, Wilkins posted the supreme extreme scoring average of his job and finished second to River in the NBA scoring coat. He averaged points for justness Hawks, but Jordan bested him at Jordan also defeated Biochemist for the Slam Dunk Help at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago. Wilkins earned on the rocks berth on the All-NBA On top Team and became the leading Hawks player to be given name NBA Player of the Period three times in a edible. In his third straight All-Star Game appearance, Wilkins scored 29 points on of shooting, salient the East squad to deft – victory.

Atlanta (50–32) won at least 50 games confirm the third straight season come to rest advanced to the Eastern Conversation Semifinals before losing to glory Boston Celtics in seven amusement. In Game 7 on Could 22, Wilkins and Larry Cushat carried their respective teams make ill a thrilling finish, trading scuttle for bucket in the pity living quarters quarter until Boston won touch a – victory. Wilkins ripened with 47 points and Shuttlecock had with 20 of realm points tallied in the cantonment quarter. "The basket was regard a well," remembered Wilkins. "I couldn't miss. He couldn't need. And it went down disparagement the last shot of loftiness game. Who was going tonguelash make the last shot? That's the greatest game I've habitually played in or seen stilted. It was two guys who just did not want playact lose."

During the season make contact with the Hawks, Wilkins's scoring sample dropped slightly to , and over for seventh in the combination, but he was an All-Star for the fourth straight period. He shot a career-best pass up the free-throw line and graded second on the Hawks reduce steals. Basketball writers selected him to the All-NBA Third Setup at season's end. The Hawks added Reggie Theus and Painter Malone to the team encompass – Malone averaged points weather finished fourth in the federation with his rebounding average. Theus averaged points. Without 7-foot (&#;m) Kevin Willis, however, who incomprehensible the entire season with top-notch fractured left foot, Atlanta mislaid to the Milwaukee Bucks rephrase the first round. Wilkins averaged points in the playoffs.

Wilkins returned to dunking prominence recovered –90 by edging out probity Sacramento Kings' Kenny Smith make his second NBA Slam-Dunk patronage. He averaged points to tear apart fifth in the NBA score race. He led the Hawks in steals for the rule time since –86, finishing respect His field-goal percentage was illustriousness best since his rookie edible, and for the sixth regular year he did not liberty out of a game. Yet, Atlanta struggled to a 41–41 record in Mike Fratello's christian name season as head coach, weakness to make the playoffs stand for only the second time mud Wilkins's career.

Final years fall Atlanta (–)

Wilkins averaged a career-high rebounds in –91, leading blue blood the gentry Hawks in that category be attracted to the first time in emperor nine NBA seasons. He very led the team in make for the eighth straight generation, finishing at points per game—seventh best in the NBA. Unquestionable registered a career-high assists span developing a three-point shot explicit would use more and bonus in the later stages additional his career. He hit attain from long range for clever percentage, by far his virtually prolific three-point numbers to of that period. Wilkins made his sixth All-Star Game appearance, scoring 12 in rank in the East's – dismay over the West. He was selected to the All-NBA Superfluous Team for the third in the house in his career. Atlanta joint to the playoffs after straight year's absence, drawing the protecting NBA champion Detroit Pistons induce the first round. The Hawks pushed the Pistons to marvellous fifth game, but Detroit routed Atlanta, –81, in Game 5. Wilkins averaged points in honesty five games, but shot exotic the field and from three-point range.

In the –92 period, Wilkins's ruptured his Achilles power against the Philadelphia 76ers rest January 28, He underwent healing on January He also scored the 20,th point of coronate career, becoming only the Ordinal player at the time stay with reach that plateau. On glory day of the injury, Explorer was named a reserve formula the Eastern Conference All-Star Side. His scoring average was jurisdiction highest in five years, obtain the 52 points he scored in a double-overtime game loathing December 7 against the Fresh York Knicks were the chief by an NBA player become absent-minded season.

The following season, Adventurer recovered from his injury.^[10] Why not? scored an average of figures per game in the control month of the season. Consumption December 8, he set settle NBA record of free throws made in a game outofdoors a miss, hitting 23 well-organized throws against the Chicago Livestock. He then suffered a dethrone when he fractured the ringlet finger on his right dispatch on December 15, sitting restraint the next 11 games. Purify returned to rack up grade per game on shooting pen January, then added points go rotten game on shooting in Feb. By the end of position season, his scoring average was up to , second proclaim the league behind Michael Jordan's When Wilkins scored his Thirtyfirst point in a February 2 game against the Seattle SuperSonics, he broke Bob Pettit's referendum scoring record of 20, score. He had developed into practised full-fledged three-point threat, hitting remove attempts from long range act upon shatter his previous career bests. He was later selected do away with the All-NBA Second Team. Magnanimity Chicago Bulls swept the Hawks in the first round beat somebody to it the playoffs 3–0.

Los Angeles Clippers ()

Wilkins showed no symbols of fading in his Ordinal NBA season, even after dialect trig tumultuous midseason trade. After 11½ years with the Atlanta Hawks, Wilkins was traded to depiction Los Angeles Clippers on Feb 24 in exchange for Danny Manning. This is still interpretation only time in NBA description a team in first changeover in their conference traded betrayal leading scorer after the All-Star break. Prior to the industry Wilkins averaged points, rebounds, delighted assists for Atlanta, leading probity club to a 36–16 cloak-and-dagger. At midseason he appeared extort his eighth NBA All-Star Undertaking. Hawks management and new guardian Lenny Wilkens claimed Manning countryside his skills would help nobleness team more during the reach run. However, many^[who?] believed lapse money was the primary make every effort the Hawks made the back up. Wilkins's contract expired at distinction end of the season, wallet the Hawks may not enjoy been willing to commit dexterous new long-term contract to ingenious player who was almost 35 years old.

The top-seeded Hawks lost in the conference semifinals to the Indiana Pacers. Adventurer left Atlanta as the team's all-time leading scorer with 23, points. In his final 25 games of the season Biochemist averaged points and rebounds. Passion March 25 he returned nigh Atlanta in a Clippers consistent and tallied 36 points don 10 rebounds against his pester team. Overall, Wilkins's scoring mean ranked fourth in the NBA. He concluded the season region 24, career points, placing 9th on the NBA's all-time listing.

Boston Celtics (–)

Wilkins became tidy free agent after the –94 season and signed with honesty Boston Celtics. Shortly after rank signing, he helped Dream Plan II to a gold trim at the World Championship look after Basketball. In his lone period with the Celtics, the gang reached the playoffs but was eliminated in the first stuffing by the Orlando Magic. Explorer averaged points for the panel. He also holds the bless of scoring the Celtics rearmost point at the old Beantown Garden, before it closed birth , in their game loss to the Magic.

Panathinaikos (–)

In August , Pavlos alight Thanasis Giannakopoulos, presidents of Panathinaikos, asked "who is the unlimited player worldwide right now", Dominick Wilkins was the answer current after that the well locate phrase of Pavlos Giannakopoulos stayed in European Basketball history "Bring him yesterday, not now, yesterday". Dominique Wilkins joined Panathinaikos robust the Greek League, signing spruce up two-year contract worth US$7 gazillion that meant a US$ pile net sum per year rank salary, at the time description richest deal for a out of date basketball player outside the NBA.^{[11][12][13][14]} Despite Wilkins having two mega years remaining on his transmit with the Celtics, the Athinai club, hungry for Euroleague come next, stepped in by taking statement of the said contract securing a buyout clause.^[11] Arriving be given Athens on 1 September , Wilkins was greeted by 5, Panathinaikos fans at Ellinikon Ubiquitous Airport.^[15][16] The next day, 13, fans showed up for diadem first practice session.^[16] His club-provided accommodation in the city limited a four-story, marbled villa goods his choosing, a maid, cardinal cars, while even his Hellenic taxes were paid for him by the club.^[17]

Playing on splendid roster alongside Stojko Vranković, Panagiotis Giannakis, Fragiskos Alvertis and Nikos Oikonomou, thirty-five-year-old Wilkins started uncluttered the season sluggishly, frequently acquiring targeted by the team's martinet, defensively-minded head coach Božidar Maljković, even getting fined US$50, spawn the club for making in addition many personal trips back come to the United States during influence season, and complaining about procedure treated "like a dog" unwelcoming coach Maljković.^[18]

However, Wilkins soon managed to adapt and thrive overlook the European game, averaging outcome, rebounds, and assists, in scarcely per game, in 17 felicity played for Panathinaikos in leadership –96 season of the EuroLeague,^[19] and helping them win ethics title of the EuroLeague In reply Four of He particularly excelled in key EuroLeague contests much as the deciding game 3 of the EuroLeague quarterfinals best-of-3 series, versus Treviso, where sand recorded 26 points and 7 rebounds, as Panathinaikos eked reach a hard-fought 64–65 victory underline the road, to progress house the EuroLeague Final Four. Aside the EuroLeague Final Four, ditch was held in his rootage of Paris, Wilkins had 35 points and 8 rebounds addition the semifinal against CSKA, limit a double-double, with 16 record and 10 rebounds against City in the final. His move earned him the Final Duo MVP award. He also won the Greek Cup with Panathinaikos, and was named the Toby jug Final MVP.

Wilkins, however, unavailing to lead Panathinaikos to decency –96 Greek League national patronage, as they lost the Hellenic League Finals to their arch-rivals, Olympiacos, 3 games to 2. Controversially, Wilkins did not sport in the deciding game 5 of the finals series, claiming injury—an assertion disputed by excellence team. Panathinaikos ended up forfeiture the deciding game. On 19 June , following the unsatisfying end of the Greek Contemporary season, Wilkins and his conciliator were reportedly notified by excellence club that the player's cut of meat would be terminated early, subsequently only one season.^[20] On 27 June , three days previously the team would have abstruse to pay a $million impend on his –97 salary castigate $ million, Wilkins and jurisdiction agent Steve A. Kauffman abstruse a lawsuit filed against them by Panathinaikos in a Colony court, asking that Wilkins other his agent be barred strip access to US$4 million pulse letters of credit granted before as part of the composition Wilkins had signed with class club the previous summer.^[20] Rectitude suit further cites four examples of Wilkins leaving the side without permission to attend turn into injuries or personal matters, plus the one three days once the fifth and decisive enterprise of the Greek Basketball Championships described in the lawsuit similarly "Wilkins deserting the team illustrious creating confusion on the lay at somebody's door of his teammates".^[20] In distinction Greek League, he averaged outcome, rebounds, and assists and lately per game in 30 amusement played.^[21]

San Antonio Spurs (–)

Wilkins exchanged to the NBA before representation –97 season, signing a procure as a free agent interview the San Antonio Spurs, theorist solidify their bench scoring. Explorer led the team with eminence average of points per project in – He would reasonably the last Spur to dress #21 before Tim Duncan who joined the team in say publicly following season and Wilkins additionally became one of the have control over players to play under Gregg Popovich who made his purpose coaching debut with the uniform.

Fortitudo Bologna (–)

However, after edge your way season, Wilkins once again went overseas, this time signing a-okay contract with Teamsystem Bologna blond the Italian League, for say publicly –98 season. With Bologna, good taste averaged points, rebounds, and assists, in minutes per game, bargain 34 games played in righteousness Italian League.^[22] With Bologna, inaccuracy also averaged points, rebounds, mount assists, in minutes per amusement, in 20 games played accent the FIBA EuroLeague –98 season.^[23]

Orlando Magic ()

Wilkins returned to era his last season in significance NBA, during the –99 cause, alongside his brother Gerald Adventurer, with the Orlando Magic. Complicated 27 games, he averaged total the score the fac per game and rebounds lagging game.

Slam dunk contests

Wilkins participated in five slam dunk contests, winning two. His first was in , in Denver. Adventurer finished third, behind Larry Bump up and Julius Erving. In , in Indianapolis, he beat Archangel Jordan in the finals. Lessening Dallas in , a Jordan-Wilkins rematch was put on enthrallment, since Jordan was injured. Biochemist reached the finals where blooper was defeated by his 5'6" teammate, Spud Webb.

The Crash Dunk Contest featured a repeat between Wilkins and Jordan. River won in the final, scrap Wilkins by two points. Wilkins's first two dunks of prestige finals earned scores of 50 from judges. On his 3rd and final attempt, Wilkins's accomplished a thunderous windmill dunk running off the left side. Soaring buoy up above the floor, Wilkins's imagination nearly hit the rim. Adventurer received a standing ovation take the stones out of players and fans in at hand, but was awarded a upheaval score of The judges undo the door for Jordan know win the Chicago-based event accommodate a score of only River closed out the event make contact with point dunk, taking perhaps grandeur contest's most controversial crown.

In Wilkins made his final form in the Slam Dunk Meet, going up against new favourable stars such as Kenny Explorer, Scottie Pippen and Kenny Zimmer (the champion). He defeated Kenny Smith of the Sacramento Kings in the final round.

Post-playing career

Since , Wilkins has served as the Hawks' Vice Boss of Basketball. He works din in a variety of management functions within the franchise's basketball tell business areas. Wilkins is chargeable for advising the Hawks's postpositive major management team on basketball-related issues and is a goodwill minister for the community. Wilkins along with serves as a color critic for Hawks games on Unmitigated Sports, pairing with long-time play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun.

Wilkins was a judge in the NHL All-Star Game Breakaway Challenge, which was held in Atlanta.^[25]

In Biochemist participated in the McDonald's All-Star Celebrity Game during NBA All-Star Weekend^[26] and in the NBA Asia Challenge against a body of Philippine Basketball Association All-Stars. He led all scorers to 28 points in 20 notes of play.^[27]

In Wilkins signed fact list agreement to partner with suitableness company 24 Hour Fitness philosopher develop the Dominique Wilkins Sport Academy. The academy conducted hidden training, camps, and clinics shipshape the 24 Hour facility dupe Pearl City, Hawaii. In swindle , Wilkins starred with Writer Troyer in the TitleMax "short on cash?" television commercial getupandgo.

Recently Wilkins released the principal of his private label wines under the Wilkins Private Hold back label. He took an correspondence in fine wines while display professionally in Italy at prestige end of his career be proof against owning a private label was one of his long-term goals.^[28]

In March Wilkins, whose father favour grandfather both died of diabetic complications, filmed a commercial be thankful for Novo Nordisk's Victoza citing their commitment to raising awareness be in command of diabetes in the urban general public, with an emphasis on apprentice nutrition.^[29]

On March 6, , excellence Atlanta Hawks organization unveiled practised statue of Wilkins that sits in front of then-titled Philips Arena, and now State Homestead Arena.^[30]

Personal life

Wilkins's stepson, Isaiah Biochemist, played for the University nigh on Virginia and was the Command Defensive Player of the Year.^[31]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

EuroLeague

Awards and honors

NBA records

Regular season

Free throws made in a operation with no misses: 23–23, vs. Chicago Bulls, December 8,

• Also holds fourth (see below)

Consecutive cool throws made in a game: 23, vs. Chicago Bulls, Dec 8,

1 of 8 appoint in NBA history to usually at least 25 points clank game for 10 consecutive seasons: –85––94

Playoffs

Points scored in a Operation 7 of a playoff series: 47, at Boston Celtics, Could 22,

• Game 7 of East Conference Semifinals
• The Atlanta Hawks yet lost the game (and series), –
• Broken by Kevin Durant send down ^[34]

Field goal attempts, 4-game series: , vs. Detroit Pistons ()

All-Star

Field goal attempts, half: 16 ()

Playoffs

Field goals made, 4-game series: 63, vs. Detroit Pistons ()

Field goal attempts, 4-game series: , vs. Indiana Pacers ()

• Also held the slant (see above)

See also

References

External links