Atlanta Hawks Honor Dominique Wilkins With Bronze Statue [Photos]

Dominique Wilkins was added to a rare NBA fellowship on Thursday. His former team, the Atlanta Hawks unveiled a 13 1/2 foot statue at Philips arena.

Guests included NBA commissioner Adam Silver, the current Hawks roster and coaching staff, Hawks alumni and NBA notables such as Karl Malone, Clyde Drexler, Bernard King, Charles Oakley and Charles Barkley. The statue was created by sculptor Brian Hanlon, who settled on the pose of “anticipating the dunk.”

“We talk about being immortalized in your life,” Wilkins told the audience. “What bigger stage to stand on than to have a statue of you in front of the franchise and building that you love? I know nobody who loves this organization like I do … I bleed and breathe Hawks. Even when I played for other teams, I felt funny.”

Wilkins was an 11-time All-Star who earned the nickname “Human Highlight Film,”  for his jaw dropping dunks. Including those head to head battles against Michael Jordan during the 80’s in several All-Star weekend contests. Wilikins joins Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, John Stockman, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Kareem Abdual-Jabbar, George Mikan, Julius Earving and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only NBA players to have statues commissioned by their former franchises.