How is Dominique Wilkins NOT a first ballot hall of famer?

[BRObedoza]

Wilkins falls short of Hall on first try

By TIM TUCKER
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/31/05
Dominique Wilkins was informed Thursday that he will not enter the Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, the former Hawks superstar told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"I was shocked," said Wilkins, the ninth leading scorer in NBA history. "I think everybody will be when they hear that announcement."

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The announcement of this year's inductees won't come until Monday, but Wilkins said he received word from a Hall of Fame official Thursday afternoon that he came up short in the voting.

"I got a call that I wasn't going in this year but that I'm eligible again next year," Wilkins said. "I'm disappointed about it, but I'm confident that I will be going in in the very near future. My career speaks for itself."

Wilkins' career seemingly brimmed with Hall of Fame-type credentials: 26,668 total points, 24.8 points per game, nine All-Star Game selections. The Hawks had considered him all but a shoo-in.

"The news is disappointing this year," Hawks part-owner Michael Gearon Jr., a longtime fan and friend of Wilkins', said Thursday night. "Dominique is a very special person, and he was a great basketball player.

"Hopefully the Hall will recognize Dominique's enormous accomplishments next year," Gearon said, "and hopefully he'll have an opportunity then to be in the Hall with the other great players."

The Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Mass., and officially called the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, includes not only former NBA stars, but also stars of women's and international basketball. Owners, pro and college coaches and other "contributors" also are eligible.

Wilkins was named one of this year's 16 finalists for the Hall in February. Finalists are chosen by screening committees and must get 18 of 24 votes - 75 percent - from the "honors committee" for induction.

"I have no idea" why the voters bypassed him, Wilkins said, "but over the years I've learned to be very strong and deal with things as they come. . . I just have to sit back and wait.

"Of course, I'm disappointed, definitely, not to go in on the first ballot. I have done just as much as some guys who have gone in. . . . Some of my peers have gone in, and I want to be in amongst those guys. But I've learned to stay hopeful and confident in my life.

"Hey, next year it's going to be a different ballgame," he said. "Hey, we might not be having this same conversation next year."

Wilkins, known as the "Human Highlight Film," played his college ball at the University of Georgia and his first 11-plus NBA seasons for the Hawks. He is the franchise's all-time leading scorer.

Traded by the Hawks in February 1994 in one of the most controversial deals in Atlanta sports history, Wilkins ended his NBA playing career in 1999.

Now a Hawks vice president, Wilkins had made preliminary plans to travel this weekend to college basketball's Final Four in St. Louis, where this year's Hall of Fame inductees will be named on Monday.

"I'll be staying home now," Wilkins said.

Just heard about this on NBA on TNT. The only thing that I can think of was that he didn't win a championship, but come on, everything Jordan did was compared to Dominique. He'll make it eventually, but if he isn't a first ballot lock, who is?

 

[BRObedoza]

bump up just to see if i'm the only one who knows who dominique wilkins is

 

[venk]

'Nique the Freak! Man, he should just get in for playing at a super star level after that awful injury.

 

[Sex Smurf]

Human Highlight Film?

Definitely one of the greatest.

maybe THE best dunker of all time

 

[HamSupLo]

This is a freakin' joke.

 

[95SS]

Complete ballot - My opinion on the right

North American Finalists
Jim Boeheim - YES
Hubie Brown -
Jim Calhoun - YES
Maurice Cheeks
Adrian Dantley
Dennis Johnson - YES
Joe Dumars - YES
Bernard King
Chet Walker
Dominique Wilkins - HELL YES

Women's Finalists
Van Chancellor
Sun Gunter

Intl Finalists
Sandro Gamba
Hortencia Marcari

Veteran Finalists
John Isaacs
Johnny Kerr

 

[dsfunk]

who is getting in?

 

[wheresmybacon]

9th on the all-time scoring list with something like ~26,000 points. I can't believe he didn't get in. Charles Barkley was going off on that today on the Dan Patrick radio show...

What a shame.

 

[95SS]

Originally posted by: dsfunk
who is getting in?

They announce it Monday, IIRC.

 

[TheNinja]

do they only allow a certain number into the hall per year? i know in baseball they do, so perhaps some other people got it b/c everyone figured Wilkins has a shot next year too....still no excuse.

 

[95SS]

Originally posted by: TheNinja
do they only allow a certain number into the hall per year? i know in baseball they do, so perhaps some other people got it b/c everyone figured Wilkins has a shot next year too....still no excuse.

I don't think so, looking back at the inductions over the years, there were 9 inductees in 1992, 8 in 1993, and 7 in 2003.

 

[chrisms]

Wilt Chamberlain will always be the best

 

[DeepBlu]

Originally posted by: TheNinja
do they only allow a certain number into the hall per year? i know in baseball they do, so perhaps some other people got it b/c everyone figured Wilkins has a shot next year too....still no excuse.

They don't do that in baseball.

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: DeepBlu

Originally posted by: TheNinja
do they only allow a certain number into the hall per year? i know in baseball they do, so perhaps some other people got it b/c everyone figured Wilkins has a shot next year too....still no excuse.

They don't do that in baseball.

In football?

 

[BRObedoza]

Originally posted by: 95SS
Complete ballot - My opinion on the right

North American Finalists
Jim Boeheim - YES
Hubie Brown -
Jim Calhoun - YES
Maurice Cheeks
Adrian Dantley
Dennis Johnson - YES
Joe Dumars - YES
Bernard King
Chet Walker
Dominique Wilkins - HELL YES

Women's Finalists
Van Chancellor
Sun Gunter

Intl Finalists
Sandro Gamba
Hortencia Marcari

Veteran Finalists
John Isaacs
Johnny Kerr

just wanted to update. Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim, Sue Gunter, Hubie Brown, Hortencia Marcari were inducted. NONE of the NBA players were inducted this year. Joe Dumars, Dominique Wilkins, Mo Cheeks, Bernard King, and even Dennis Johnson didn't make it. Surely they're locks to get in eventually, but I don't understand why not even ONE of those guys didn't make it in this year.

 

[iamme]

i'm sure they'll get in eventually, but i figured Joe Dumars and 'Nique would get in for sure.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: 95SS
Dominique Wilkins - HELL YES

And it was a travesty that he was left off the 50 greatest as well. :frown:

 

[95SS]

WTF?? I knew about 'Nique, but no DJ or Dumars?? What were these people smoking?? :frown: