- Dominique Wilkins grew up in a single-parent household
- Wilkins started working when he was 12 years old and that was also when he first dunked
- Wilkins managed to buy a house for his mother when he was just 18
Dominique Wilkins’ story on how he got to the top is an incredible one. During an interview with DJ Vlad, Wilkins shared how he was able to buy his mother a house when he was just 18 and when he first started dunking.
“I had to become the man of the house at a very early age,” Wilkins said. “So I told my mom when I was 12 (that) I was going to the pros and I’m gonna take care of her, and she never had to work again. As a little kid having a single parent, they give you one of those pats on the backside, ‘That’s nice,’ but I meant it.”
Wilkins was determined to help his mother and started working before he was even a teen.
“So, I worked from the time I was 12 to the time I was 18,” Wilkins continued. “I bought my mom my first home. And (of) all the things I’ve ever accomplished in my life, that’s the thing I’m most proud of.”
He certainly should be very proud to be able to accomplish something like that at that age.
Wilkins’ father was dealing with some issues and couldn’t be there for his family. He left at a very early age, and Wilkins didn’t see him for eight years.
Later in the interview, he revealed the age at which he started dunking.
“I started dunking (at) 12 or 13-years-old,” Wilkins stated.
(starts at 0:16 mark):
The fact that he was able to dunk at that age is really impressive. It shouldn’t be a surprise then that he went on to get the nickname, “Human Highlight Reel” in the NBA.
Wilkins more than fulfilled the promise he made to his mother. He played 15 seasons in the NBA and finished with averages of 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.
Wilkins made nine All-Star teams, and the 63-year-old was included in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team as well.
Dominique Wilkins Was Protected By Gangsters When He Was Growing Up
Wilkins grew up in a difficult neighborhood, but there were two things that saved him. The first was his mother, and the second, was his incredible basketball talent.
During this interview, Wilkins shared how gangsters in Baltimore protected him when he was growing up. They viewed him as the first one who could get out of that neighborhood and told everybody not to touch him.
His mother also took care of the neighborhood, so everyone there looked out for her as well. It meant that even in a potentially dangerous environment, Wilkins was given a platform from which he could go on to shine.
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