Damien Lamont Wilkins (born January 11, 1980)[1] is an American former professional basketball player and basketball executive who played in the National Basketball Association for ten seasons. He is the General Manager and Head of Basketball at Overtime Elite.[2] He is the son of retired 13-year NBA veteran Gerald Wilkins and nephew of nine-time NBA All-Star, Hall of famer Dominique Wilkins.
Diligence in the weight room helped Wilkins have a big summer league and shine in preseason action for the Sonics, allowing him to make the team. After working after practice, Wilkins got his shot towards the end of his rookie season and scored 21 points at Portland on March 24, 2005.[5] Wilkins would start seven games the rest of the way as the Sonics battled injuries. He proved himself in the 2005 Playoffs when injuries struck again, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and five steals in the Sonics' Game 4 win over San Antonio.[6] A restricted free agent in the summer of 2005, Wilkins received an offer from the Minnesota Timberwolves in August 2005,[7] which the Sonics matched within 7 days.[8]
Wilkins playing for the Sonics.
In the 2007 season, the departure of Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen made Wilkins a starter. On November 16, 2007, he scored a career-high 41 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in a game against the Atlanta Hawks.[9]
On September 28, 2010, he was signed by the Memphis Grizzlies, but he was waived at the end of training camp on October 21.
On December 3, 2010, he signed a contract with the Atlanta Hawks after Joe Johnson's injury.[11] The Hawks released him after one month.[12]
On January 8, 2011, the Atlanta Hawks signed Wilkins to a 10-day contract.[13] On January 28, 2011, the Hawks signed him for the remainder of the season.[14]
On September 30, 2013, he rejoined the Atlanta Hawks.[17] On October 14, 2013, he was waived by the Hawks.[18]
In December 2013, he signed with the Beijing Ducks of China.[19][20] In his first game for the Ducks, he recorded 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist in a 106–99 victory over Liaoning.[21]
On November 1, 2014, he was selected by the Iowa Energy with the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Development League draft.[23] On February 4, 2015, he was named to the Futures All-Star team for the 2015 NBA D-League All-Star Game.[24] On April 20, he returned to Indios de Mayagüez.[25]
After initially signing with a Venezuelan team for the 2015–16 season, Wilkins was swayed into re-entering the NBA following the injury to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of the Charlotte Hornets. He and his agent contacted the Hornets and the two parties came to an agreement on a non-guaranteed training camp contract on October 5, 2015.[26] On October 16, he officially signed with the Hornets.[27] However, he was waived by the Hornets a week later after appearing in three preseason games.[28] Two days later, he signed with Guaros de Lara of the Venezuelan League.[29]
On August 15, 2017, Wilkins signed with the Indiana Pacers, returning to the NBA for the first time since 2013.[32] On January 7, 2018, Wilkins was waived by the Pacers.[33] On February 1, 2018, Wilkins returned to Greensboro Swarm.[34]
