I started writing an article about the greatest sim games. It included the worst MVP or Heisman decisions, the biggest snubs from the All-Star game, and the biggest snubs for other accolades. As I was writing, I came across one athlete who deserves an article of his own.
In NBA history there have been a lot of talented athletes; as it was a sport for the most athletic players. But as much as we’ve seen Shaq dominate other players physically, as good as Larry Bird we’ve seen a lot of guys who hit from all over They were able to knock down the court, and like Magic Johnson we’ve seen players do behind-the-back passes before. It’s not very often that you see an NBA player who does things you’ve never seen before. I’m sure you think of yourself as that Jordan guy, but he never stands up for anyone. I’m talking to Dominique Wilkins.
Dominique Wilkins, nicknamed “Nique” or “The Human Highlight Movie”, is one of the most creative, laid-back and best actresses you’ll ever see. Dominique Wilkins went to college at the University of Georgia and was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the third pick in the 1982 Draft. Dominique Wilkins didn’t want to play for the Jazz so they traded him to his hometown Atlanta Hawks. Dominique Wilkins was one of the best shooters and scorers of his time and was known for his incredible dunks. Dominique Wilkins of the Atlanta Hawks, now a formidable franchise, has risen to prominence.
Dominique Wilkins came into the league and began scoring with the bat, averaging 17.5 points per game in his rookie season. But it would be better than that because his rookie season in Atlanta was the last time that Dominic Wilkins averaged less than 20 points per game. Points per game increased from 17.5 to 21.6 and then 27.4 in 84-85 and 30.3 in 85-86. Dominique Wilkins averaged 30 points per game twice and 29 points per game three times. While he player in Atlanta Dominique Wilkins scored 27 points per game. At first, Dominique Wilkins was known as a scorer, but he eventually developed into a great all-around player. During Dominique Wilkins’ tenure with the Atlanta Hawks, they had four consecutive 50-win seasons. The Atlanta Hawks have had as many 50 wins in 11 seasons with Dominique Wilkins as they have had 27 seasons without Dominique Wilkins.
Dominique Wilkins nicknamed the “Human Highlight Film” because you could only collect highlights from the game and that would be enough to wow the audience, mainly because of his incredible dunks. Because of his big dunks, Dominique Wilkins has often been a contender in the NBA’s annual race. Dominique’s first race was in 1984 which was won by Larry Nance. And in the second NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Dominique Wilkins went head to head with the one and only Michael Jordan in the finals and beat him. Michael Jordan missed the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest due to injury and Dominique Wilkins missed the 1987 Slam Dunk Contest. But finally in 1988 we got the much awaited match between Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan. The 1988 Slam Dunk Finals was probably the best ever as two dunkers got three dunks each and each got two perfect 50 points. Michael Jordan’s second course only scored a 47, so Dominic Wilkins was on par with his third dark but fell short of a 45. Many people thought that Dominic Wilkins took the hosed and gave himself a 45 so that Michael Jordan would win; but what Dominic Wilkins deserved to obtain. Anyone who has dunked Michael Jordan not once, but twice, is a pretty special player. Dominique Wilkins returned to the NBA Slam Dunk Contest once in 1990 and Kenny Smith won in the finals.
Dominique Wilkins won the NBA Scoring Title in the 1985-1986 season, made the All-NBA first team once and was second team four times, the third time twice. Dominique Wilkins was named to the All Star game nine consecutive seasons from 1986 to 1994 and finished in the top 10 in scoring in each of those seasons. Dominique’s 26,668 career days place him ninth in NBA history above great players such as John Havlicek, Alex English, Reggie Miller, Jerry West, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.
But, as I said to open the article, originally I was thinking of Dominique coming up with a list of the greatest monkeys of all time, Dominique was actually involved in a few. Of course, I already mentioned how he probably won the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest but lost to Michael Jordan due to Jordan’s popularity, but it wouldn’t be the last season or team. In the 1992 Olympics, it was decided that college players would no longer represent the USA in basketball. For NBA players they would have to represent them. The first team USA assembled in 1992 was called the Dream Team and is considered to be the best team ever assembled. Dominique Wilkins eventually left that team despite being a higher scorer than anyone on the team besides Michael Jordan. You can’t really blame them for wanting Magic Johnson, John Stockton and Larry Avis to save their resources for other teams. gameand you certainly need Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Karl Malone, and Charles Barkley to play in the post, but Dominique Wilkins would make the team ahead of Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin, or Scottie Pippen. And they also chose Christian Laetner over Dominique Wilkins? please It turns out to be even worse than that, though, in 1996 the NBA named its 50 Greatest Players and Dominique Wilkins was nowhere to be found. You 9th scorer all-time is not one of the best 50 players? But tomorrow was a funny day. When Dominique Wilkins’ name was first drawn into the NBA Hall of Fame, he DIDN’T enter. Are you serious? Does anyone vote for the NBA Hall of Fame even watch basketball? How can you not be ranked the 9th best scorer of all time? The number of points scored is the standard number in basketball. Being in the top 10 all-time in points in the NBA is like being a top 10 homerun hitter in baseball or in the top 10 in touchdowns in the NBA. Reggie Jackson is 10th all-time in homeruns and Mickey Mantle is 13th in the Hall of Fame‘s first ballot? Barry Sanders is 11th in touchdowns in the NFL and Tim Brown is 15th, can you imagine either of them not making the NFL Hall of Fame in the first ballot? ballot? Well that’s the equivalent of Dominique Wilkins getting into the Hall of Fame. They finally improved the situation by inducting Dominique Wilkins this year, but I don’t know if they really put him on the ballot or if they listened to the thousands of people calling the NBA Hall of Fame a bunch of morons. But it’s clear to me that with all the pressure on my face and little faith, Dominique Wilkins may just happen to be the most unmotivated athlete to play any sport.
