Dominique Wilkins Exclusive: Hall of Famer Talks NBA2K, Michael Jordan and More

Dominique Wilkins is a self-described basketball junkie who watches every game he can on television.

Does the Hall of Famer also play NBA2K or any other hoops video games? Not quite, but that hasn’t stopped Wilkins from wondering how his character performs against current-day stars.

Esports Insider recently sat down with the NBA legend to talk video games, the Atlanta Hawks, Michael Jordan, Jayson Tatum, ex-coach Gregg Popovich and more.

Dominique Wilkins: “I’ve never personally played, but my son plays, so I’ve asked him about that. He says, ‘Oh, yeah, man, you can play against today’s players and they can play against the old-school players.’ I go, ‘Wow. So how am I doing?’ He said, ‘Dad, you’re averaging like 40 a game.’ I said, ‘OK, so I’m still relevant.’

“It’s a lot of fun. My son is 18 now and about to go to (college at) Georgia. I never really played those games with him, but he plays with his friends, and I enjoy watching them do their thing.”

Dominique Wilkins: “I’ve just started paying attention to that this year. I’m blown away. This is something guys are actually making money off of, and a lot of money. That blew me away. The world is going virtual.”

Dominique Wilkins: “First of all, you need the right mix of players, which we have been putting together for the last couple of years. Things were going great, but when you’re hampered by injuries like we were this year – losing Jalen Johnson to a shoulder injury, then we lost a couple other guys to injury and had the big trade with DeAndre Hunter – it kind of slows you down a little bit. I think we’ve still got a great nucleus of guys who can get it done. But you always have to keep adding the right pieces, shoring up your bench, making sure you’ve got the right chemistry.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Man, that’s a blockbuster deal right there. Who wouldn’t want Giannis? I’d be lying if I said anything differently. Oh, man, it is a lot you’d have to give up to get a guy like that.”

Dominique Wilkins: “If you can land a guy like that – someone who still has a lot left in the tank, since Giannis is not an old man by any stretch of the imagination – there’s not a team in the league who wouldn’t want him.”

Dominique Wilkins: “He doesn’t have to be if you have the right mix. As a great point guard, you’re going to always have the ball and the ability to take over games when you need to. He’s shown that time and time again. He has the ability to do that. You need that other superstar, and they’ve got superstars-in-the-making, but sometimes it takes a little time. But Trae has the ability to do whatever he wants on the floor.”

Dominique Wilkins: “He doesn’t have to score more. His decision-making and ability to get people open is next level. He’s a wonderful basketball player. I tell you what – if I had him, I would have won multiple championships. As a point guard, Trae doesn’t have to score 25 or 30 every night, because your job is to get everyone involved. He’s done that. 

“He had an unbelievable year. It ain’t about getting 30 a night. Any great point guard who can score can do that on a given night, but you defer to the other guys to help get to the next level. You see that happening with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Even though he gets 30 or 40 some nights, other night J-Dub (Jalen Williams) has big nights, and other guys have big nights. It just depends on the opponent you play against and the adjustments you make in games.”

Dominique Wilkins: “No question. I love Jalen Johnson, what he brings. The young fella (Zaccharie) Risacher – I tell people, be patient with this kid. He’s going to be pretty good. This year alone he had two or three 30-point games. This kid can play. He’s young. People have to let him grow. He’s only 19 years old, but he’s going to be special. I love this kid.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Oh, yeah. Guys at that age have to go through a learning curve, but he learned very quickly. In the very beginning he got pushed around a little bit, but he showed no fear. As the season went on, you could see him progressing more and more. The great thing is, he had a chance to learn on the job in a starting role. He got there quicker than some of the rookies who came in this past year. He was able to play with a great point guard and a nice supporting cast to help him along.”

Dominique Wilkins: “It’s the nature of the beast, my friend. It happens with every franchise. You have to do what’s best for your organization, whatever that looks like. It happens every year and we’re no different.”

Dominique Wilkins: “I gave New York a slight edge coming into the series, but one thing they did wrong (in Game 1) was try to play Indiana’s game. If you’re not a team that likes to run, you can’t run with them. They’ll wear you down, and that’s what happened to New York. They handed Indiana that game. I think Indiana will win that series, and I don’t think it goes seven games.

“On the other side, oooh, man, OKC looks good, don’t they? You’re going to have a hard time beating that team. They are clicking, they are hot, they’re young, and they play with no fear. Those guys come to play.”

Dominique Wilkins: “I love the parity in the league now, with the different teams playing in the championship. Anything can happen in these playoffs.”

Dominique Wilkins: “There are a lot of young stars that I admire and enjoy watching. You look at these seasoned young guys, like Wemby, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson. These guys are superstars. I love watching those up-and-coming stars. You’ve got your veterans like LeBron and K.D., what they’ve done and they’re still doing it. I admire all these guys.

“One thing about me: I always give credit where it’s due, but I wish these young guys would stop using us as a punching bag to prove their point. Being a part of history is the most meaningful thing, because we all grew up wanting to be like someone. So we have to have that respect.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Well, first of all, it’s a ridiculous thought. (They act like) we played on peach baskets or something. I give credit to every era, because it’s that respect and love for the game that made us who we are. When I hear, ‘Well the league wasn’t that skilled back then,’ it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life. If you haven’t seen that era, played in that era, you cannot make that statement. 

“It’s so outlandish, so ridiculous. It makes me cringe sometimes. What were you watching to make those statements? It’s a lot of youth. They don’t really know. I respect every era, and I tell these guys, ‘I love the way y’all play. I love that you play hard.’ It’s just about respect, to honor those before us. I just get rubbed the wrong way when there is so much disrespect. You don’t have to do that. Hey, look. It’s your time. We’ve had our time. Let’s respect what all of us have done.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Yeah, it definitely does. And what people don’t realize is, with an Achilles tendon tear, you don’t just come back from that in 5, 6, 7 months. Technology is different from when I tore mine, but I don’t care how much technology is out there. You can have all the best technology to repair that injury, but it’s the work you put in afterward that’s going to determine how quickly you get back.

“They have everything at their disposal, as far as workout facilities and new-age medicine, workout equipment to get themselves back quicker. But you still need to do the work. Tatum is a guy who loves the game, so there is no doubt in my mind he will put in the work he needs to put in to get back. But it’s going to take him at least a year (to feel 100%). That’s a fact.”

“It’s going to take him awhile, and it’s definitely going to affect that team, because he is the guy. If I can give him any information to help him with that, if he does a lot of water therapy and a lot of individual workouts to get his range of motion back – he’s got to learn how to walk again. The mobility and the stretching will help him get back quicker, as well as getting the calf stronger, because when you tear that Achilles tendon, you lose some muscle mass in that leg. You’ve got to try to stay ahead of the game, but don’t come back too fast.”

Dominique Wilkins: “It was (January) of 1992 and I was 32 at the time. I worked twice a day, every day, for nine months, because I heard all the critics. ‘Oh, at that age there is no way he will come back and be the same.’ So I was like, I’ll show them that I can come back and be better than ever. I remember people giving me a sarcastic pat on the back like, ‘OK, good luck.’

“All those negative articles I saw, I put them on my workout wall, and I got back to training at a level that I don’t think I ever trained at. My first game back I had 30. I remember looking at my teammate and saying, ‘Dammit, I’m back.’ And I averaged almost 30 points per game (in 1992-93) and had my best all-around season. That was so satisfying, and I was so proud of myself for all the work I put in.”

Dominique Wilkins: “When you’ve gotten to the point when you’ve won a championship, to me, moving around like that would be taxing. When you get around that age, you should look at your situation and say, ‘Look, I want to finish out where I’m comfortable at, instead of chasing championships.’”

Dominique Wilkins: “He’s put his mark on the game. Kevin Durant doesn’t need to prove anything to anybody about how great he is. He’s one of the greatest players to ever play the game, one of the greatest scorers ever. He doesn’t have to prove anything. Everything else is gravy.”

Dominique Wilkins: “One person can’t do it. Ask LeBron. Ask Michael. Look at Karl Malone and John Stockton. Did not winning one take their greatness away? No, it doesn’t. Did Charles Barkley ever win one? Patrick Ewing? It doesn’t take your greatness away. 

“I never had another great player in their prime to play with. Did I win a championship? No. Does it diminish my greatness? No. I’m still a guy who left it all on the table. I feel like a lot of times I get looked over, but I never searched to go to other teams, play with other great players. You accept what happens, but it doesn’t diminish my greatness as a player.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Like everybody across the world, I was shocked. Luka, 25 years old and one of the top five or six players in the league. You trade a player like that? That’s a tough one to digest. Everybody was shocked, and maybe there was something there we don’t know. Who knows? But wherever he plays, they are going to be a team that has a chance.”

Dominique Wilkins: “It’s definitely Luka’s team. A 25-year-old guy compared to a guy who is 40. You should be willing to hand over those ranks to him. I don’t think that’s even a question. I think that’s what the plan is.”

Dominique Wilkins: “I don’t believe in the GOAT and all that stuff. How can you say a guy is the greatest of all-time when they haven’t played against some of the guys that were the greatest of their era? Like a Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell. 

“But I will say this: Michael Jordan made six Finals and won six championships with the same team. And he won three championships after retiring to play another sport. Nothing like that has ever been done before. MJ did some things that no one will ever do. So if I’m going with the best player to ever play, that’s where my mindset sits. I’m going with Michael. That’s no disrespect to anybody, but I’m looking at what he accomplished in a short period of time.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Oh, yeah. We both played high school basketball in North Carolina. We have unbelievable respect for each other. I love MJ because he brought out the best in me, and I know I brought out the best in him. We have a quiet respect for one another.”

Dominique Wilkins: “I was shocked. And I know this: if Jordan is doing this, it’s got to be a huge payday. Huge. I’ve seen some of the rumors (on pay) and it’s like, ‘I get it.’”

Dominique Wilkins: “I love it, because we’re going to see another aspect of basketball from the greatest to ever do it. How would you combat that? Like, how would you question his outlook on the game? It’s going to be interesting. They are going to hear it from a guy who has done it on a level that only a few get a chance to achieve.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Of course. The dunk contest was the signature event for All-Star Weekend. It was must-see TV, and all the great athletes got in it. It ain’t like that anymore. Anytime a G League guy can win three times in a row? I would be embarrassed as an NBA player.

“Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine brought the dunk contest back. Their dunk contest was amazing. I really admired those guys because they went head-up several times. That’s what it’s about, man. Now, no one wants to do it. None of the superstars. I don’t know if they feel like it’s going to mess with their legacy (if they lost). If that’s the case, I don’t buy it, because they still talk about Michael Jordan and myself in the dunk contest, and it’s been 35 years. That let’s you know impactful that was.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Look, we wouldn’t be letting that happen. Just don’t let it happen. But give credit to that young fella, because he was a showman. It was the theatrics, the build-up, that gave him the ability to win it. He’s an athletic little guy, but three years in a row?” 

Dominique Wilkins: “Yep.”

Dominique Wilkins: “When he took over, we could tell right away that he commanded and expected the guys to play hard, to play together. Did we expect him to be the coach he is now? No. But you saw his ability to get people to follow him. I love Gregg Popovich. I respect what he did with those teams, and the respect he showed me when I was there. He let me do my thing. Gregg Popovich was great to me, so mad love and great respect for him.”

Dominique Wilkins: “They’re going to be something else. With all those young guys as they continue to add pieces. Once they get a couple of veterans to come in with Wemby and those guys, they’re going to be something to be dealt with.”

Dominique Wilkins: “To be 7-foot-3 and to handle the basketball, shoot the 3, get to the basket, he’s a once-in-a-lifetime type of talent. But I’ll tell you who he is in today’s game: he’s Ralph Sampson. Ralph Sampson had all those same skills, but he wasn’t permitted to take 3s. Coaches weren’t allowing the big guys to take 3s back then. Ralph could shoot with range, run the floor, post up, block shots, do it all until his knees went bad. That’s who Wemby is, Ralph Sampson.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Moving forward, they’re going to be a great team in the Eastern Conference. They are missing a couple pieces, but they’ve gotten to the playoffs the past couple of years, which shows you their growth. Banchero and the Wagner brothers, they’re going to be staples in that organization to help them take that next step. They’re going to be a problem in the Eastern Conference.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Oh, I don’t think. I know. He’s going to be a superstar. There’s no question.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Yep, he’s going to Georgia, and he’s actually leaving next week. I’m going up with him to get him acclimated, so he can work on his game and get used to college life. It’s going to be fun to see him develop. He’s excited, and I’m probably more excited than he is.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Of course I love it, but it was his decision. I said, ‘Look, I love the fact that you want to go to Georgia, but I want this to be your decision. I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m pushing you, because if it doesn’t go well, you can’t blame Dad.’ He said, ‘I want to go where my dad went.’ He said there was one condition: ‘If I go there, can I wear your jersey?’ I said, ‘Son, I won’t take my jersey down for anyone – but you.’ I was happier than he was. I was like a little kid. That was special.”

Dominique Wilkins: “Many, many years. Decades. I had been ‘21’ since high school, and when I first got that number I hated it. I said, ‘Why do I have to wear 21? Coach said, ‘Well, that’s the only number left.’ It stuck.”

Dominique Wilkins: “I’ve kept up with a lot of the guys. Nobody knows where he’s going to be drafted, but hopefully Asa can come in and develop his skills in the hopes that he’s ready. A lot of times you go through a developmental stage, so hopefully he can go there and make an immediate impact.”