ima Dominique Wilkins was one of the best players in the league during the 1980s, as he was the superstar for the Atlanta Hawks , who were always competitive in the Eastern Conference. After getting drafted in 1982, Nique showcased unmatched consistency, but it did not result in a championship.
He is now mostly remembered as a dunker, even though he had 11 consecutive seasons of scoring 20+ points per game. Nique deserves more love and attention as a legitimate superstar who went toe-to-toe with players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and his rival, Michael Jordan .
“I definitely feel underrated. There’s no question about it. I don’t think a lot of people realize what I did. And I didn’t play with another superstar,” Wilkins said to HoopsHype in 2018. “I basically carried my team for 12 years, and those 12 years were in the East at a time when the East was brutal in terms of talent and teams that were off the charts.”
Wilkins was more than just a dunker
As he broke out as a super athlete with powerful dunks, Wilkins became known as the “Human Highlight Film.” He always had impressive dunks in his bag, leading the charge for having some of the most exciting plays of the decade. Nique earned that moniker for his athletic displays, and his Slam Dunk Contest wins became synonymous with his name.
Apart from his reputation as a dunker, Wilkins remained a reliable scorer because he was versatile. Nique had a natural skill of getting into the paint and finishing above everyone else with his dunks and layups. However, the athletic guard also had a reliable mid-range jump shot and could stretch it to the three-point line when he was open.
Kenny Smith once talked about the areas of Wilkins’ game that constantly get overlooked in conversations about that era. The Jet wanted more people to appreciate Nique as he was not just a dunker with athletic plays, he was a bonafide superstar, especially on offense.
"Dominique: 'The Human Highlight Film,' one of the most prolific, efficient, that's what he doesn't get credit for: Efficient scorer. Shot over 50 percent of the years that he was averaging 30 points a game. He was shooting over 50 percent or close to it every year," Smith said on Nique's NBA 75 Stories feature.
Related: Kobe Bryant's former bodyguard compared working for him and other NBA stars: "Kobe was a sit outside-the-gate person"
Wilkins deserves all the accolades he has
Nowadays, the Hawks high-flyer is recognized as a decorated player from the 1980s, but many are surprised to learn of his prolific superstar status during that decade, as his dunking highlights often overshadow his broader achievements.
“I think a lot of people focus on my dunks. And while I may have dunked twice a game, people look at the way I dunked and think I dunked every single point, but that’s not true,” Nique continued. “A guy like LeBron James dunks, but it’s just a tool he uses to intimidate opponents and motivate the crowd. But his game is so much more lethal than that, so much bigger than that.”
Related: When Bird predicted MJ would become the future of the NBA during his rookie year: "Pretty soon, this place will be packed every night, not just when the Celtics come to town"
Most Popular
Comments / 0