Wilkins confident of chances in Hall of Fame

ATLANTA - When Atlanta Hawks rookie Josh Smith donned a Dominique Wilkins jersey during his winning performance in the NBA Slam-Dunk contest Saturday night in Denver, it was a reminder of Wilkins' own Slam-Dunk championships.

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But Wilkins says when he was named one of 16 finalists for the Basketball Hall of Fame Sunday, it confirmed that he was more than just a dunker in his career.

"I think as being one of the finalists for the Hall of Fame, they appreciate your talents, your all-around game, not just looking at me as a dunker," Wilkins said Tuesday.

Induction requires 18 of 24 votes from the Hall of Fame's Honors Committee, and winners will be presented April 4 at the NCAA Final Four in St. Louis.

Wilkins, a nine-time NBA All-Star and the ninth-leading scorer in league history, didn't hold back Tuesday when asked about his chances to make the Hall of Fame cut in his first year of eligibility.

"Really, for me I feel it's a no-brainer if you look at the accomplishments and the position I've been in this league and what I've done in this league," said Wilkins, now the Hawks' vice president of basketball. "It's really not even questionable at all in my mind."

Wilkins, who played with the Hawks from 1982-93, already has a secure place in the state's basketball history. Wilkins is the only player to have his jersey retired at the University of Georgia, and he is one of only three Hawks players to have their numbers retired.

Wilkins was a two-time Slam-Dunk champion, and his dunks helped earn him the nickname "The Human Highlight Film."

Even so, Wilkins said he wants to be remembered for more than his dunks.

"Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and I'm very happy about being one of the standard-bearers for dunking, but at the same time I want to be known as a complete basketball player," Wilkins said.

"And if you look through history at the guys who've had great teams, that had more than one superstar, they had more than two superstars. The fact that I was able to carry a team 12 years with only one, it makes you a little more than just a dunker. It makes you a complete player."

Wilkins also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic.

Wilkins said he gave Smith some advice before the Slam-Dunk contest but had no hint that Smith was going to wear his No. 21 Hawks jersey.

"He threw a bag to me and said 'Before my third dunk I want you to go into the bag and pull something out for me,'" Wilkins said. "I said 'Why are you giving me a bag?' So I look in the bag, he had the jersey."

Added Wilkins: "You could see the whole mood, the attitude change. It blew them away. It blew me away. I was in awe of it. And then it was an outstanding dunk.... He did us proud."

Former Hawks coach Hubie Brown, also well-known as a TV analyst, also is a Hall of Fame finalist.