American · Berkeley, California · Born 2 May 1953American basketball player who won NCAA championships at UCLA and NBA championships with Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970s-80s
Jamaal Abdul-Lateef Wilkes was born in Berkeley, California in 1953. He attended UCLA under coach John Wooden and won two consecutive national championships (1972, 1973) alongside Bill Walton. He was an All-American and was integral to the UCLA dynasty that produced an 88-2 record across those years. He averaged 15.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. His smooth, seemingly effortless style — which earned him the nickname Silk during his professional career — was developed across his three UCLA seasons. Golden State Warriors selected him 11th overall in the 1974 NBA Draft. He won an NBA championship with the Warriors in his rookie year, 1975 — making him one of the very few players to win national championships in college and the NBA in back-to-back years. He went on to win three more championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. His UCLA career — two titles with Bill Walton, under John Wooden — placed him at the centre of the greatest dynasty in college basketball history. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. His four professional championships added to his two college titles give him six total — among the most decorated careers across both levels in basketball history.
He was a key player on UCLA's 1972 and 1973 NCAA championship teams during the height of the John Wooden era.
How They Played
Wilkes was known for his fundamentally sound technique and smooth shooting form, particularly from mid-range distances. He possessed excellent basketball intelligence and court awareness, making smart decisions and rarely forcing difficult shots. His style emphasized efficiency and team play over flashy individual statistics.
Lasting Impact
Wilkes helped establish UCLA's continued dominance in college basketball during the early 1970s and exemplified the disciplined, team-first approach that characterized John Wooden's championship teams.
Career Honours
- National Championship 2x (1972,1973)
- All-American
- Pacific-8 Conference champion
- First-team All-Tournament
- NCAA National Championship (1972)
- NCAA National Championship (1973)
- NBA Championship (1975)
- NBA Championship (1980)
- NBA Championship (1982)
- NBA Championship (1985)
- Pac-8 Player of the Year
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA Bruins | 1971–1974 | — |
American Athletes