Dominique Wilkins: From the University of Georgia to NBA Stardom

Jacques Dominique Wilkins, born on January 12, 1960, is an American former professional basketball player whose career spanned from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. Known as "The Human Highlight Film" for his electrifying dunks and athletic prowess, Wilkins left an indelible mark on the sport, particularly during his time with the Atlanta Hawks. This article explores Wilkins' college career, his transition to the NBA, and his enduring legacy as one of basketball's most exciting players.

Early Life and High School Career

Born in Paris, France, while his father was stationed with the Air Force, Wilkins' family later moved to Dallas and Baltimore before settling in Washington, North Carolina. There, he attended Washington High School, where he quickly established himself as a dominant force. He led the team to consecutive Class 3-A State Championships in 1978 and 1979, earning back-to-back MVP honors. His exceptional performance in a game against a higher classification school-scoring 48 points, grabbing 27 rebounds, executing 9 dunks, and blocking 8 shots-landed him in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of Sports Illustrated.

Wilkins further showcased his talent in several all-star games, including the McDonald's All-American Game, the Capital Classic, the Kentucky Derby Festival Classic, and the Dapper Dan Classic. These appearances solidified his reputation as one of the most exciting prospects in the country, setting the stage for his college career.

College Career at the University of Georgia

In 1979, Dominique Wilkins entered the University of Georgia with a reputation as an exciting player and left as the “Human Highlight Film”. His time with the Georgia Bulldogs was marked by spectacular individual plays that hinted at the NBA stardom to come.

NBA Draft and Trade to Atlanta

Wilkins entered the 1982 NBA draft after his junior year and was selected third overall by the Utah Jazz. However, Wilkins was not willing to play in Utah; the team wanted him to play power forward, while he wanted to play small forward. At the same time, the Jazz were reeling from cash flow problems. He refused to sign with the Jazz, however, and was dealt in September, 1982 to Atlanta for John Drew, Freeman Williams and cash. This decision proved pivotal, as it set the stage for his legendary career with the Atlanta Hawks.

Atlanta Hawks Era: A Decade of Dominance

Wilkins was an instant hit for the Hawks, averaging 17.5 points as a rookie. Wilkins was instrumental in the Hawks' prominence in the 1980s, when the club recorded four consecutive 50-win seasons during the decade. He quickly became the face of the franchise, electrifying fans with his high-flying dunks and scoring prowess.

Early Years and the Rise of "The Human Highlight Film"

In only his second season in the NBA, Wilkins began a streak of 11 consecutive seasons in which he averaged more than 20 points per game. Wilkins notched his first Slam-Dunk Championship at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis during the 1984-85 season. He went on to finish the season with a 27.4 scoring average, good for sixth in the NBA. He ranked second on the Hawks in rebounding (6.9 rpg) and steals (135). For the first of two straight seasons, he led the NBA in field-goal attempts, with 1,891. After going 0-for-11 from the three-point line the previous season, Wilkins made 25 of 81 three-point shots in 1984-85. He also shot better than 80 percent from the free throw line for the first of 10 consecutive seasons. His trademark dunk was a powerful one- or two-handed windmill dunks he used to capture the slam dunk contest titles in 1985 and 1990. Wilkins continued to develop his game, showcasing not only his dunking ability but also his scoring touch and all-around skills.

Scoring Title and All-Star Recognition

Wilkins exploded into the NBA's elite circle in 1985-86, winning the league scoring title with an average of 30.3 points per game. He was an NBA All-Star for the first time and was voted to the All-NBA First Team at the end of the season. Atlanta turned its fortunes around in dramatic fashion, winning 16 more games in the 1985-86 season to finish 50-32 for the year. Wilkins scored 57 points in one game and ranked among the Hawks' leaders in rebounding (7.9 rpg), steals (138), and free-throw percentage (.818). Atlanta beat the Detroit Pistons in four games in the first round of the playoffs, but the Hawks could not get past the eventual NBA-champion Boston Celtics, losing four games to one in the Eastern Conference semifinals. His consistent scoring and electrifying play earned him widespread recognition and cemented his status as one of the league's top players.

Rivalry with Michael Jordan

Wilkins's career was also defined by his rivalry with Michael Jordan. He failed in his bid to repeat as NBA Slam-Dunk champion, his competition coming from an unlikely source. The Hawks had signed 5-foot-7 Anthony "Spud" Webb as a free agent prior to the season, and Webb dazzled the All-Star Saturday crowd in Dallas by soaring more than 4 feet (1.2 m) to the basket on each of his dunk attempts. The 1988 Slam Dunk Contest featured a rematch between Wilkins and Jordan. Jordan won in the final, beating Wilkins by two points. Wilkins's first two dunks of the finals earned scores of 50 from judges. On his third and final attempt, Wilkins's completed a thunderous windmill dunk from the left side. Soaring high above the floor, Wilkins's head nearly hit the rim. Wilkins received a standing ovation from players and fans in attendance, but was awarded a low score of 45. The judges opened the door for Jordan to win the Chicago-based event with a score of only 48. Their battles in the air were legendary, captivating fans and pushing both players to new heights.

Playoff Appearances and Team Success

After playing as a reserve the previous year, Wilkins became the first Atlanta Hawks player to start in an NBA All-Star Game since Eddie Johnson in 1981. Wilkins finished the year second in the league in scoring (29.0 ppg) to Michael Jordan's 37.1 points per game. He scored the 10,000th point of his career against the Chicago Bulls on April 16 and was named to the All-NBA Second Team at the season's end. Atlanta went into the season with high expectations after a 50-32 mark the previous year, and the Hawks totaled a franchise-record 57 victories. Doc Rivers, Kevin Willis, Tree Rollins, and Mike McGee contributed as the club made it through the first round of the NBA playoffs before losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Detroit Pistons. In the 1987-88 season, Wilkins posted the highest scoring average of his career and finished second to Jordan in the NBA scoring race. He averaged 30.7 points for the Hawks, but Jordan bested him at 35.0. Wilkins earned a berth on the All-NBA Second Team and became the first Hawks player to be named NBA Player of the Week three times in a season. Atlanta (50-32) won at least 50 games for the third straight season and advanced to the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals before losing to the Boston Celtics in seven games. In Game 7 on May 22, Wilkins and Larry Bird carried their respective teams to a thrilling finish, trading bucket for bucket in the fourth quarter until Boston won with a 118-116 victory. Wilkins finished with 47 points and Bird had 34-with 20 of his points tallied in the fourth quarter. "The basket was like a well," remembered Wilkins. "I couldn't miss. He couldn't miss. And it went down to the last shot of the game. Who was going to make the last shot? That's the greatest game I've ever played in or seen played. Despite his individual brilliance, Wilkins often faced challenges in the playoffs. The Hawks consistently reached the postseason but struggled to advance deep into the playoffs, facing tough competition from teams like the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

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Continued Excellence and Evolving Game

During the 1989 season with the Hawks, Wilkins's scoring average dropped slightly to 26.2, good for seventh in the league, but he was an All-Star for the fourth straight year. He shot a career-best .844 from the free-throw line and ranked second on the Hawks with 117 steals. Basketball writers selected him to the All-NBA Third Team at season's end. The Hawks added Reggie Theus and Moses Malone to the team in 1988-89. Malone averaged 20.2 points and finished fourth in the league with his 11.8 rebounding average. Theus averaged 15.8 points. Without 7-foot (2.1 m) Kevin Willis, however, who missed the entire season with a fractured left foot, Atlanta lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Wilkins remained a dominant scorer and continued to evolve his game. He returned to dunking prominence in 1989-90 by edging out the Sacramento Kings' Kenny Smith for his second NBA Slam-Dunk championship. He averaged 26.7 points to finish fifth in the NBA scoring race. He led the Hawks in steals for the first time since 1985-86, finishing with 126. His .484 field-goal percentage was the best since his rookie season, and for the sixth straight year he did not foul out of a game. Wilkins averaged a career-high 9.0 rebounds in 1990-91, leading the Hawks in that category for the first time in his nine NBA seasons. He also led the team in scoring for the eighth straight year, finishing at 25.9 points per game-seventh best in the NBA. He registered a career-high 265 assists while developing a three-point shot he would use more and more in the later stages of his career. He hit 85-of-249 from long range for a .341 percentage, by far his most prolific three-point numbers to date. Wilkins made his sixth All-Star Game appearance, scoring 12 points in the East's 116-114 victory over the West. He was selected to the All-NBA Second Team for the third time in his career. Atlanta returned to the playoffs after a year's absence, drawing the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons in the first round. The Hawks pushed the Pistons to a fifth game, but Detroit routed Atlanta, 113-81, in Game 5. In the early 1990s, while the Hawks were slipping from a 50-win team to a .500 ballclub, Wilkins evolved from a pure scorer into a more all-around contributor. In 1990-91, he grabbed a career-high 9.0 rebounds per contest, and he topped three assists per game that year for the first time. He developed a reliable three-point shot, further diversifying his offensive arsenal.

Injury and Recovery

In the 1991-92 season, Wilkins's ruptured his Achilles tendon against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 28, 1992. He underwent surgery on January 30. He also scored the 20,000th point of his career, becoming only the 16th player at the time to reach that plateau. On the day of the injury, Wilkins was named a reserve on the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. The injury threatened to derail his career, but Wilkins demonstrated remarkable resilience. The following season, Wilkins recovered from his injury.[10] He scored an average of 27.7 points per game in the first month of the season. On December 8, he set an NBA record of free throws made in a game without a miss, hitting 23 free throws against the Chicago Bulls. He then suffered a setback when he fractured the ring finger on his right hand on December 15, sitting out the next 11 games. He returned to rack up 29.4 points per game on .487 shooting in January, then added 31.5 points per game on .519 shooting in February. By the end of the season, his scoring average was up to 29.9, second in the league behind Michael Jordan's 32.6. When Wilkins scored his 31st point in a February 2 game against the Seattle SuperSonics, he broke Bob Pettit's franchise scoring record of 20,880 points. He had developed into a full-fledged three-point threat, hitting 120 of 316 attempts from long range to shatter his previous career bests. He was later selected to the All-NBA Second Team. He made a full recovery and continued to perform at a high level, showcasing his scoring prowess and determination.

Trade to the Los Angeles Clippers

Wilkins showed no signs of fading in his 12th NBA season, even after a tumultuous midseason trade. After 11½ years with the Atlanta Hawks, Wilkins was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on February 24 in exchange for Danny Manning. This is still the only time in NBA history a team in first place in their conference traded its leading scorer after the All-Star break. Prior to the trade Wilkins averaged 24.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists for Atlanta, leading the club to a 36-16 record. At midseason he appeared in his eighth NBA All-Star Game. Hawks management and new coach Lenny Wilkens claimed Manning and his skills would help the team more during the stretch run, and they reportedly had thought about doing the trade as early as 1993. The top-seeded Hawks lost in the conference semifinals to the Indiana Pacers and Manning ended up not signing with the Hawks anyway. The trade marked the end of an era in Atlanta, as Wilkins had become synonymous with the Hawks franchise.

Later NBA Career and International Experience

Wilkins left Atlanta as the team's all-time leading scorer with 23,292 points. In his final 25 games of the season Wilkins averaged 29.1 points and 7.0 rebounds. On March 25, he returned to Atlanta in a Clippers uniform and tallied 36 points and 10 rebounds against his former team. Overall, Wilkins's 26.0 scoring average ranked fourth in the NBA.

Boston Celtics and European Success

Wilkins became a free agent after the 1993-94 season and signed with the Boston Celtics. Shortly after the signing, he helped Dream Team II to a gold medal at the 1994 World Championship of Basketball. Wilkins wore the number 12 with the Celtics, a reverse of his previous number, 21, which the Celtics had retired in honor of Bill Sharman.[14] In his only season with the Celtics, the team reached the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by the Orlando Magic in four games. Wilkins averaged 19.0 points for the series. The summer following the season, Wilkins, unhappy with his role on the rebuilding Celtics, signed to play for Panathinaikos Athens of the Greek League. He averaged 20.9 points and 7.0 rebounds in 14 games for Panathinaikos and led the team to the European Championship for Men’s Clubs in 1996. His time in Greece was a resounding success, as he led Panathinaikos to the EuroLeague title.

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Return to the NBA and Final Seasons

Before the 1996-97 season, he returned to the NBA, signing a contract as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs, who were seeking to add bench scoring. Wilkins gave them more than they could have hoped for, leading the team - which lost star David Robinson for most of the season with injuries - with an average of 18.2 ppg in 1996-97 and also contributing 6.4 rpg. He returned to play his last season in the NBA during the 1998-99 campaign alongside his brother, Gerald, with the Orlando Magic. Wilkins continued to contribute to NBA teams, providing scoring and veteran leadership.

Slam Dunk Contests

Wilkins participated in five slam dunk contests, winning two. His first was in 1984, in Denver. Wilkins finished third, behind Larry Nance and Julius Erving. In 1985, in Indianapolis, he beat Michael Jordan in the finals. In Dallas in 1986, a Jordan-Wilkins rematch was put on hold, since Jordan was injured. In 1990 Wilkins made his final appearance in the Slam Dunk Contest, going up against new promising stars such as Kenny Smith, Scottie Pippen and Kenny Walker (the 1989 champion).

Post-Playing Career

Since 2004, Wilkins has served as the Hawks' Vice President of Basketball. He works in a variety of management functions within the franchise's basketball and business areas. In 2009 Wilkins participated in the McDonald's All-Star Celebrity Game during NBA All-Star Weekend[31] and in the 2009 NBA Asia Challenge against a team of Philippine Basketball Association All-Stars. In 2010 Wilkins signed an agreement to partner with fitness company 24 Hour Fitness to develop the Dominique Wilkins Basketball Academy. The academy conducted private training, camps, and clinics at the 24 Hour facility in Pearl.

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