As the NBA celebrates their annual All-Star Weekend this weekend in Charlotte, Hawks Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins talked about his past All-Star experiences with John Fricke and Hugh Douglas.
Wilkins, who appeared in nine All-Star games, won the Slam Dunk championship on two occasions (1985 and 1990), and while he's attending this weekend's event, it's the opportunity to spend time with former contemporaries that excites him the most.
“I do," Wilkins said, describing how he enjoys the weekend. "What I get excited about most is the Legends Brunch, it’s a wonderful, wonderful event."
In winning the 1985 Slam Dunk contest Wilkins beat a who’s who of competitors, like Michael Jordan, Dr. J (Julius Erving), Larry Nance and others.
“Everyone wanted to do it; it was special," he said. "You didn’t just have four or five guys, it was six or seven, sometimes eight guys participating. It was a special event. You had all of the best athletes in it. It was the signature event at All-Star.”
When he competed against his teammate Spud Webb in the 1986 contest, Wilkins said he was more surprised at what Webb did because he really didn’t see him practicing his moves prior to the event. “I wasn’t surprised he got up the way he did, I was more surprised he got up the way he did,” he stated.
Wilkins said he never worked on dunks before the All-Star competition: “Everything I did was what I did in games. And I can tell you Michael (Jordan) didn’t as well. They’ve taken it to a different level now.”
Has John Collins asked for any help? – “Yeah, Vince Carter and I have given him some pointers and some insight as to what he needs to do. I think John’s going to do very well. This is his chance to show them who he is.”
How important is it for the franchise to have the young guys like Collins and Trae Young in the Rising Stars Game?
“It means a lot,” he said, “It’s All-Star Weekend…and it’s great for the franchise that two up-and-coming stars have a chance to do something special.”
In referencing the Hawks season and the progress under new head coach Lloyd Pierce, Wilkins was asked if he could provide a grade on the coach’s rookie season.
“It’s hard for me to grade that because they’re all going through the process, but these young kids have responded to what he’s trying to do," Wilkins said. "I think Lloyd Pierce has done a great job with these young kids.”