Franchise Career Steals Record Dominique Wilkins
The Human Highlight Film: Dominique Wilkins, Hawks legend and Hall of Famer.
Dominique Wilkins is an American former professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. He is a nine-time NBA All-Star, a seven-time All-NBA Team member, and is widely viewed as one of the most acrobatic slam dunkers in NBA history, earning the nickname 'the Human Highlight Film.' In October 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. Wilkins is the Hawks' franchise leader in most seasons (12), games played (882), minutes (32,545), career points (23,292), and points per game (26.4). He led the NBA in scoring in the 1985–86 season and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- The Human Highlight Film
- Primary position
- Small Forward
- Franchise tenure
- 1982–1994, 1995–1996
- Record type
- Franchise Career Steals
- Hall of fame status
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)
- Jersey number
- 21
Lore & Background
Wilkins was born in Paris while his father was stationed in France as a U.S. Army officer. His family moved to Texas, then Baltimore, and finally settled in Washington, North Carolina, where he attended Washington High School. He was back-to-back MVP for the team's consecutive Class 3-A State Championships (1978–1979). Wilkins starred in the McDonald's All-American Game, the Capital Classic, the Kentucky Derby Festival Classic, and the Dapper Dan Classic. He enrolled at the University of Georgia in 1979, averaged 21.6 points per game over his college career, and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference First Team in 1981. He left college after his junior year and was selected third overall by the Utah Jazz in the 1982 NBA draft, but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for John Drew, Freeman Williams, and $1 million in cash.
Reader's Guide
Wilkins averaged more than 25 points per game for ten consecutive seasons and captured the scoring title in 1985–86 with 30.3 points per game. He was instrumental in the Hawks' four consecutive 50-win seasons in the 1980s. A nine-time NBA All-Star and winner of two NBA slam dunk contests (1985 and 1990), Wilkins registered 26,668 points and 7,169 rebounds in his NBA career. As of 2024, he ranks 17th on the NBA scoring list. His #21 jersey was retired by the Hawks on January 13, 2001. He is one of five players whose jerseys have been retired by the Hawks.
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