- Dominique Wilkins was a surprise omission from the NBA’s 50th Anniversary team
- Wilkins thought it was a joke that he was left off
- Wilkins would eventually make the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team
In 1996, the NBA revealed its 50th Anniversary team to celebrate the true greats of the game. There was one notable exclusion from that list, though, as Dominque Wilkins didn’t make it in, and he was understandably not too pleased about it.
“That was a joke because, at that time, I was the seventh all-time leading scorer in history,” Wilkins said on Vlad TV. “And so I’m like, ‘What?’ But life comes full circle, I’m top 75, and then you see some of the rankings and see where I’m ranked. I’m ranked between 20 and 35. So I’m like, ‘Well, how did I miss the top 50?’”
It is still a big mystery why he was left out considering his resume, but Wilkins is somewhat at peace with it now.
“But it doesn’t really matter at this point,” Wilkins continued. “You’re a part of the 75 greatest players to ever play. So for me, I’m cool with that.”
(starts at 0:55 mark):
Being included in the 75th Anniversary team seems to have washed away some of that disappointment that the 63-year-old had. While there would be many who felt they should have made that team, Wilkins probably had the strongest case.
Dominque Wilkins Should Have Been On That Team
It is easy to see why Wilkins would have felt disrespected by the omission, as the Atlanta Hawks icon was among the ten leading scorers in league history at that point.
He was also a nine-time All-Star and everyone else who had at least nine appearances, was on the team. Wilkins had made one of the All-NBA teams on seven occasions by then as well, and everyone else with six made it.
Whether you believe his resume in isolation deserved it or not, everyone else who accomplished what he did, made it in.
At least, the mistake of excluding Wilkins, who averaged 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for his career, was rectified by having him on the 75th Anniversary team.
The Biggest Snub From The NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team
Wilkins was the biggest snub from the 50th Anniversary team and that title for the 75th Anniversary team went to another former Atlanta Hawk.
Dwight Howard was shockingly left out and to this date, it makes no sense to me that he wasn’t included. That team was chosen in 2021 and by that time, Howard’s resume was more than deserving of it.
He had won an NBA championship, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and was an eight-time All-Star. Howard had made one of the All-NBA teams eight times and one of the All-Defense teams five times, too.
Howard felt disrespected by the snub from the NBA 75 Team, and you certainly can’t blame him for feeling that way. Perhaps, just like with Wilkins, he’ll make it the next time the NBA releases an anniversary team, which would be the NBA 100.
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