American · Paris, France · Born 12 January 1960American basketball player known as 'The Human Highlight Reel', nine-time NBA All-Star and two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion with explosive dunking ability
Jacques Dominique Wilkins was born in Paris, France in 1960. Utah Jazz selected him third overall in the 1982 NBA Draft and immediately traded him to Atlanta. His career produced 24.8 points per game — one of the twenty highest career averages in NBA history. He won the scoring title in 1986 with 30.3 points per game. He was selected to nine All-Star games and named All-NBA First Team three times. He won the Slam Dunk Contest twice (1985, 1990) — his 1988 duel with Michael Jordan in Chicago, where Jordan won despite most observers believing Wilkins deserved the title, remains the contest's most discussed decision. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 and named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team. His nickname the Human Highlight Film reflected an aerial game that produced sequences no arena had ever seen consistently replicated. He overcame a ruptured Achilles tendon in 1992 and returned to near-elite level — one of the more remarkable recoveries of his era. His Atlanta career is the most celebrated in franchise history.
Spectacular dunking ability and high-flying athleticism, earning the nickname 'The Human Highlight Film'
His 1988 Slam Dunk Contest duel with Michael Jordan — which Jordan narrowly won — is universally considered the greatest individual dunk contest performance ever.
Did You Know?How They Played
Athletic wing player known for explosive dunks, mid-range shooting, and high-scoring ability
Lasting Impact
One of the greatest dunkers in NBA history and prolific scorer who helped popularize the slam dunk contest
Career Honours
- Scoring Champion (1986)
- All-Star 9x
- All-NBA First Team 3x
- Slam Dunk Champion 2x
- Hall of Fame (2006)
- NBA 50th Anniversary Team
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | 1982–1994 | 883 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 1994–1995 | 25 |
| Boston Celtics | 1995–1997 | 142 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1999–1999 | 27 |
American Athletes