Top 10 Interesting Facts about Dominique Wilkins

Kendrick Perkins, Dominique Wilkins, and Tiffany Haddish. Photo by Erik Drost. Wikimedia Commons.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Dominique Wilkins

Jacques Dominique Wilkins is an American former professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Wilkins was a nine-time NBA All-Star and is widely viewed as one of the most acrobatic slam dunkers in NBA history, earning the nickname “the Human Highlight Film”.

Wilkins was born in Paris while his father was stationed there as an airman in the U.S. Air Force. He has a younger brother, Gerald Wilkins, who also played in the NBA, mainly for the New York Knicks. His family moved to Dallas and Baltimore before settling in Washington, North Carolina, where he attended Washington High School. Here are the Top 10 Interesting Facts about Dominique Wilkins.

1. His basketball highlight was playing with Michael Jordan

Congressman Vito Fossella met with NBA hall of famer Dominique Wilkins to discuss the escalating diabetes crisis in the United States. Photo by Office of Congressman Vito Fossella. Wikimedia Commons.

The Human Highlight Film said it was fun playing against Jordan because they both got the best out of each other. Dominique said: “Out to fall the guys I played against, probably the most fun guy to play against, Michael Jordan.

Because he raised your level of play.” Wilkins continued saying, “It was fun, what I mean by that is that I was excited to play against him. Of course, the competitive level was a whole different level because we were very competitive. We wanted to kick each other’s butt there’s no question about that.”

2. He was not allowed into a restaurant in Atlanta for dress code reasons

On trying to enter a French restaurant La Bilboquet in Atlanta, Wilkins was told no tables were available. He was later told he wasn’t dressed properly to get into the restaurant. Wilkins said he was wearing “designer casual pants and a shirt.”

Wilkins appeared to claim that he was turned away from the restaurant due to his race. Later on, he  received an apology from La Bilboquet ‘ a French restaurant in Atlanta, vowing to make changes.

3. He has married thrice in his life

He first tied the knot with his girlfriend Nicole Berry in 1992. They went through a divorce after 11 years of their marriage in 2003. In 2006, he exchanged wedding vows with Robin Campbell Wilkins. However, the couple could not carry their relationship well and ended up divorcing.

Following plenty of ups and downs in his love life, Wilkins finally found his love of life in the form of Sunny Wilkins. After dating for some years, the couple remain still happily in a marital state. Wilkins has five children, four (Alysandra, Aiysha, Chloe and Danielle) with Nicole and one (Jacob) with Robin.

4. He had a very successful basketball career

Dominique Wilkins. Photo by Erik Drost. Wikimedia Commons.

Wilkins spent most of his career with the Atlanta Hawks but also played for Los Angeles Clippers (1994), Boston Celtics (1994-1995), Panathinaikos (1995-96), San Antonio Spurs (1996-1997), Fortitudo Bologna (1997-1998), and Orlando Magic (1999).

Throughout his NBA career, Wilkins played in 1,074 games, racking up 26,668 points, 7,167 rebounds and 2,677 assists. He was the NBA scoring champion in 1986 as well. He won the EuroLeague in 1996, although the Dominique Wilkins rings count in the NBA remains zero.

5. He has been inducted into several halls of Fame

Dominique Wilkins during Euroleague semifinal (Greek league game 1995/96) against CSKA Moscow. Photo by ChrisRaptis. Wikimedia Commons.

Wilkins was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, entered the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.

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. As a basketball player he was known as an acrobatic scorer, somewhat of a gunner, though an outstanding finisher and one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history. 

6. Wilkins is at the forefront of diabetes prevention

He has worked with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and the National Diabetes Education Program to promote diabetes prevention, and was also active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Special Olympics, Muscular Dystrophy Association and the American Lung Foundation. He is also a diabetes ambassador for Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care.

7. He remains one of the greatest dunkers

Dominique Wilkins, Isiah Thomas, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, and Julius Erving. Photo by Erik Drost. Wikimedia Commons.

In the pantheon of basketball’s greatest dunkers, Dominique Wilkins deserves mention alongside such legends as Elgin Baylor, Connie Hawkins, and the great Julius Erving.

Wilkins was a high flyer who electrified fans with his trademark windmill dunk and all-out effort. Whether going through someone or over someone, the “Human Highlight Film” as he came to be known was an artist with grace, power, and purpose. His style battles fought above the rim with Michael Jordan were epic and left crowds begging for more.

8. Wilkins started playing while in Georgia State University

Dominique Wilkins started college football at Georgia State University, where he achieved critical acclaim. Later, he was drafted into NBA in 1982, by Utah Jazz. However, he shifted to Atlanta Hawks, where he achieved massive success. In 1994, he left the Atlanta Hawks and later played for several teams. In 1999, he retired from basketball.

9. He was given the nickname human highlight film

Wilkins’s nickname was “The Human Highlight Film” for his athletic ability and highlight reel dunks. 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.

As a basketball player, he was known as an acrobatic scorer, somewhat of a gunner, though an outstanding finisher and one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history.

10. Wilkins is also an actor

Bill Walton, Monica McNutt, and Dominique Wilkins. Photo by Erik Drost. Wikimedia Commons.

He is an actor, known for Billions (2016), Voices That Care: Voices That Care (1991) and NB80’s (2011). Talk of being all-rounded! Love to see it!