Dominique Wilkins played too many games against Larry Bird not to know how Bird operated. The Human Highlight Film squared off against Larry Legend 57 times in the regular season and playoffs combined during their NBA careers.
So when teammate Kevin Willis talked smack to a quiet Larry during the third quarter of Game 7 of the Hawks' second-round playoff series against the Celtics in 1988, Nique knew right away that Willis committed a mortal sin.
"The game was pretty close and I went out for blow in the third quarter," recalled Wilkins. "Larry only had 12 points in the third quarter, and I remember Kevin Willis reaching across me and pointing at Larry, 'Don't let this son of a b**** score anymore tonight.' I'm like, 'What are you doing? Don't awake a sleeping giant."
Fourth quarter shootout
The game was tied at 86-all with over ten minutes left to play. Then Larry started going to work, scoring nine points during a 1:58 span. But the Hawks refused to go away behind Wilkins, who was having a phenomenal game. Nique tied the game at 99-all with 5:57 left in the game.
Larry Legend added 11 more points after that, including a three-pointer over Dominique with 1:43 left on the clock. Wilkins also scored 11 points during that stretch and 47 overall in the game, but Bird's 20-point fourth quarter was too much as the Celtics defeated the Hawks 118-116 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
"He's one of the guys of many in the league in the era that took things personal," added Wilkins. "They didn't say nothing to you but they showed it to you on the court. I love playing with guys like that and against guys like that because the only way you can measure your greatness, you got to play against the greatest."
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Nique also warned his brother about waking up another giant
In 1993, Dominique also warned his younger brother about waking up a sleeping giant when Gerald tried to trash-talk Michael Jordan ahead of the Cavs' playoff series against the Chicago Bulls. The younger Wilkins was touted by media as the 'Jordan Stopper,' and before Game 1, he responded by telling them that he was going to put the cuffs on MJ.
"You know what, I called my brother when he said that," Dominique said . "I said, 'What are you doing?' I said, 'You don't want to awaken a sleeping giant, are you crazy?' He said, 'Hey, he puts on his pants just like I do!' I said, 'If you're a good defensive player, you don't have to talk about a man.'"
And just like when Willis touted Bird in that 1988 playoff game, Jordan went on to average 31.0 PPG in that series. MJ hit the series-clinching basket in Game 4, doing so in poetic justice with Wilkins guarding him.
Related: Dominique Wilkins on the importance of respecting past NBA generations: "I hate when they try to sh** on us just to prove their point"
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