ROSEMONT, Illinois – There was just something different about Dominique Wilkins, and in all the right ways. There were guys before Wilkins like “Chocolate Thunder” Darryl Dawkins and Julius Erving (“Dr. J”) that attacked the rim with intense aggression and players of his era like Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler that soared through the air in an acrobatic style with grace, but none of them combined all of it into one like “the Human Highlight Film”.

From 1982 to 1999, Wilkins elevated the game building a Hall of Fame career. Beckett got to celebrate the Atlanta Hawks’ great at the 2025 National Sports Collectors Convention.

Building an Everlasting Legacy in the Peach State

After being a 1979 McDonald’s All-American out of Washington High School (Washington, N.C.), Wilkins took his talents to the University of Georgia becoming a two-time All-SEC performer (1981-82). Opting to go pro after his junior year, the Utah Jazz took Wilkins third overall in 1982 eventually trading him to the Atlanta Hawks.

A star had already been born; in Atlanta, a legend was created.

The rookie run for the small forward was solid, posting 17.5 and 5.8 rebounds per game. Adjustments were made going into Year 2, scoring 21.6 per with 7.2 rebounds. Scoring 20 or more per game started during the 1983-84 season with a consecutive streak of 13 years. In the middle of that run, Wilkins twice averaged 30 or more earning the 1985-86 NBA scoring title by posting 30.3 per.

1986-87 Fleer #121 Dominique Wilkins

The 30.3 ppg bested Adrian Dantley (29.8 ppg), Alex English (29.8), and season MVP Larry Bird (25.8).

As Wilkins was laying the groundwork to his legacy in the ‘80s, this was during the dynasty runs of the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Detroit Pistons, which would later give way to the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets in the ‘90s.

Wilkins was a significant part of changing the NBA forever. His talent, athleticism, and ability to light up a scoreboard drew in more viewers expanding the game’s reach. Everyone wanted to see the Human Highlight Film poster dunk his next victim. And the dunk contests… awe inspiring performances even well beyond his NBA peer group.

Asked about being part of that group that changed the game, Wilkins replied, “Man, you know, sometimes people forget what we did. I always say that the only way you can measure your greatness, you gotta play against your greatest.

“So, that was my motivation. That was my thought every time I played, and that was my ring because I didn’t win one. That was my ring because I had the chance to play against the greatest.”

You did play against the greatest, and you were in a very tough East bracket.

“Oooo,” Wilkins replied.

This may have changed over the years, but was there one team that you loved playing against the most?

“Man, there were so many good teams, especially in that Eastern Conference,” Wilkins stated. “You know, the West was loaded as well. But, before the Chicago Bulls really got started, I mean, you had Philadelphia, Boston, you had Milwaukee, and Cleveland, and Chicago was coming. Then the East became this loaded conference.

“People don’t talk about how good the Indiana Pacers were in those days. Everybody was good. Even the teams that were on the lower end were good. There were no easy nights.

1985-86 Star #42 Dominique Wilkins

“When you look at the small forward position that I played, I had no nights off. One night I could go against Dr. J, one night against Bernard King, one night against (Alex) English, another night against (James) Worthy. I mean, all those guys were having 20-plus a game, and we had to guard each other.”

You had so many amazing in-game dunks. Is there one that is your favorite that you will forever remember?

“You know, I think my favorite dunk was just on big guys,” Wilkins shared. “Guys like Robert Parish, the Bob Laniers, and all of those shot blockers back in that era. Probably one of my favorites was against Bob Lanier, God bless him; he’s gone now. It took him nine years to speak to me after that dunk; I didn’t realize why. Nine years after he retired, he said, ‘Now I’ve started liking you again.’

“I couldn’t believe it, but that is the way it was back in those days.”

What are your thoughts on today’s game? Do you enjoy watching it?

“You know, I watch it on every level from the guys that I know to watching your kids play,” Wilkins said. “But you know, the thing I don’t like is this, I hate when they try to discredit us. Today’s game, discrediting us just to prove their point.

“You don’t have to do that because great is great, I don’t care what era you’re playing in. You don’t have to diminish what we did to make yourself look good. Great is great because at the end of the day, that ain’t it.”

Players at all levels and in all sports trade jerseys and sign stuff for each other nowadays. Do you have any memorabilia of other players, even if it were from the guys that played before you?

“I got a lot of guys’ jerseys, but I was doing it when I was in college or coming out of college,” Wilkins shared. “Once you become a competitor in the NBA, we didn’t want other great players to get that close to us, and vice versa, because that’s the only way you measure your greatness is playing against your greatest. So, no, we didn’t do that type of fraternizing… After a game, giving somebody a jersey, no, we didn’t do that.”

The GOAT debate continues. How should fans and players try to measure the best of all time?

“I don’t get involved in that because it’s not realistic,” Wilkins stated. “It’s not fair because there are too many different eras. And I think a lot of times they disrespect Wilt (Chamberlain), they disrespect (Bill) Russell, they disrespect Oscar Robertson. Michael Jordan will tell you himself, and he said it many times, ‘I can’t say I’m the greatest; I never played against those guys.’

“So, when you say you’re the greatest, are you really? If you’re the greatest, you don’t have to say it. Let other people tell you how great you are.”

1986-87 Fleer #11 Dominique Wilkins

In the Hobby

For collectors, the 1986-87 Fleer set is one of the iconic releases. The #121 Dominique Wilkins RC is one of the more highly valued cards in the line with a raw value of around $40 and a 10 bringing in $8,700. From the same set, the Fleer Sticker #11 of Wilkins is also a prized find with a 10 valued above $5,600. Worth noting, a 10 Fleer Sticker is hard to get because of off-center prints and wax stains from the packs.

Another rookie card of Wilkins that is in the chase for fans of the era, the 1985-86 Star #42. The raw pricing is around $17 with a 10 set around $5,600.

Wilkins’ Career at a Glance

  • NBA teams: Hawks (1982-94), Los Angeles Clippers (1994), Boston Celtics (1994-95), San Antonio Spurs (1996-97), and Orlando Magic (1999)
  • Nine-time NBA All-Star (1986-94)
  • 1986 NBA scoring champion
  • Two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner (1985, 1990)
  • NBA Hall of Fame (2006) and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (2016)
  • Career Stats: 26,668 points (24.8 ppg), 7,167 rebounds (6.7 rpg), 2,677 assists (2.5 apg)