Dominique Wilkins - Viewpoint on him when he played

[ahonui06]

I just remember Bird kicking his ass in the playoffs every year.

[JordansBulls]

IS that Walt Frazier who said that? Now that I listen to the commentating it appears it was Walt Frazier who said that Nique was top 3 in the league.

[Sedale Threatt]

If the Lakers had drafted Dominique over Worthy, we'd be talking about his rings.

I love to think about this. Worthy was an absolutely perfect fit for the Lakers, but Magic and Wilkins together on the break would have been incredible.

[tidho]

People focused so much on the showmanship that I think they underated his rebounding and defense.

He didn't pass much, but that wasn't his role. This was before Pippen made it fashionable for the SF to be a primary distributor. 'Nigue was a finisher...as good as there has ever been.

[Sothron]

I just remember Bird kicking his ass in the playoffs every year.

If by "kicking his ass" you mean watching 'Nique score all over him then you would correct.

[JordansBulls]

Nique proves to me that any athletic player today will dominate back then.

How so? If you look at the numbers, the player that compare favorably to him numberswise is Melo.

[tsherkin]

'Nique was a finisher...as good as there has ever been.

No, that's not quite right. He wasn't as good at it as a variety of other guards and forwards who were more efficient at similar volume. He was very good, and his offensive value is occasionally underrated, but let's not get nuts retrospectively, here. He was an exciting player but he wasn't on the level of Bird, Magic or Jordan.

[droponov]

He wasn't really that unstoppable. Great shot-maker and rebounder, but also insanely self-centered. Inconsistent in his decision-making.

[BJ43]

Loved Nique, but I was young and that game was actually one of the first NBA games I'd watched. Sorry but watching that youtube makes me think, forget Nique..How ridiculous was MJ in that game...LOL at people comparing Lebron to MJ....

And yeah it does sound like Frazier who said that, amazing listening to him commentate without using too many unnecessary words

[tidho]

'Nique was a finisher...as good as there has ever been.

No, that's not quite right. He wasn't as good at it as a variety of other guards and forwards who were more efficient at similar volume. He was very good, and his offensive value is occasionally underrated, but let's not get nuts retrospectively, here. He was an exciting player but he wasn't on the level of Bird, Magic or Jordan.

Just to clarify, I'm using the term "finisher" as a compliment to the term "distributor", as in finishing at the rim. I'm not suggesting he was as good a game 'closer' as there has ever been.

[hourockman]

If the Lakers had drafted Dominique over Worthy, we'd be talking about his rings.

They drafted Worthy over Nique for a REASON. That's why they're not his rings.

Gm 7, 88 Finals...

A ball dominant scorer wouldn't have fit as well as Worthy did on a team w/ Magic controlling the offense.

[sully00]

He wasn't really that unstoppable. Great shot-maker and rebounder, but also insanely self-centered. Inconsistent in his decision-making.

He wasn't inconsistent at all it was shoot, shoot, and then shoot. I am Celtics fan and I know what Wilkins problem was his career started in 1982 at the age of 23 years old. His game was built on his athletic ability so as that faded he didn't evolve like Jordan who was a better player anyhow but Wilkins was already 31 years old when MJ won his first title at 27. If Wilkins' prime was in the 90's he would have been remembered far differently than he is because he played in the Magic and Bird era which also made Jordan a side show.

It wasn't Magic, Bird, and Jordan (that would have actually been Isiah) it was Magic, Bird then Jordan.

[kyphi]

He was an amazing black hole - loved to watch his offensive game. His defense was journeyman at best.

[tsherkin]

Just to clarify, I'm using the term "finisher" as a compliment to the term "distributor", as in finishing at the rim. I'm not suggesting he was as good a game 'closer' as there has ever been.

Yeah, not where I was going with that. I was going more along the lines of the fact that he struggled significantly when he didn't get all the way to the rim. He could heat up, but he was pretty tepid away from the rim given the era he played in and as a result, he wasn't all that efficient. Not until the 90s, anyway. He had a stretch from 90-93 where he was rocking around 55, 56% TS and was fine (except for the other weaknesses; unimpressive passing and his defense). But prior to that, he wasn't all that great except in specific moments.

[BR0D1E86]

Probably the best comparison to today’s players that’s been made is Melo. Heck of a player but a clear notch below the truly elite wing players of his day.

Different styles, but similar levels if that makes sense.