Two decades ago, Dominique Wilkins was mentioned in the same breath as Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Nicknamed 'The Human Highlight Film', 'Nique was known for his deadly arsenal of high-flying, momentum-shifting slam dunks. A nine-time National Basketball Association all-star and two-time champion of the annual NBA slam dunk contest, Wilkins was immortalised in 2006, when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
But this past weekend in New Delhi, Dominique shared the court with Asia's top 50 junior basketball players (16-18 years old), rather than with Jordan or Bird. And instead of showcasing his vast array of dunks and drives, he focused on teaching fundamentals.
"That stuff means nothing," he told the attentive youngsters, referencing the crowd-pleasing moves that made him a household name in the 1980's. "Until you have a solid foundation of basketball skills and truly understand the game, the razzle dazzle won't get you to the top."
Dominique, as part of a sizable contingent of NBA players, coaches and assistants, was in India for the 2008 Basketball Without Borders -- New Delhi, a camp aimed to help participants grow as both players and people, by teaching them discipline, teamwork, respect and compassion.
Text: Matthew Schneeberger
Photographs: Dominic Xavier
Advertisement
