Poll: Which NBA team would Dominique Wilkins have played for in '95-'96 if he hadn't left overseas for Greece?
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Seattle SuperSonics as a backup SF behind Detlef Schrempf
0%
0 0%
Portland Trail Blazers as a backup SF behind Clifford Robinson
33.33%
1 33.33%
Detroit Pistons as a backup SF behind a young sophomore Grant Hill
33.33%
1 33.33%
Orlando Magic as a starter and mid-tier scorer at SF
33.33%
1 33.33%
Total 3 vote(s) 100%
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Dominique Wilkins' NBA team in '95-'96 if he hadn't left for Greece
#1
The Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers or Detroit Pistons, all those teams who lacked significant small forward depth that year.

After parts of 12 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, and part of the '93-'94 season with the Los Angeles Clippers, Dominique Wilkins found himself with the Boston Celtics in '94-'95 as a free agent. Wilkins' entire Hawks' career averages were 26.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks over the course of 882 games, averaging at least 36-37 minutes as an Atlanta Hawks' megastar. Generally, Wilkins made 9.9 out of 21.3 shot attempts which led to his .467 FG% for his Hawks career.

As you will find out, Nique's brief 25-game stint with the Clippers had him averaging 29.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks playing at least 37-38 minutes. As a Clipper, Nique made 10.7 out of 23.7 shot attempts, giving him a .453 FG% as a Clipper. 

But by the time he suited up for the Celtics in '94-'95, Dominique Wilkins averages of 17.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks playing 31 minutes per game, along with generally making 6.4 out of 15.2 shot attempts (42.1 FG%) indicated a quiet season for his standards, but also meant that he started playing more of a team game and fit within the C's system.

His '94-'95 season averages weren't too shabby for a guy who had long recovered from his torn achilles tendon in '91-'92, and also not too shabby for a guy who was just starting to play a more team-oriented game instead of his traditional flashy superstar slam dunker game.

But why didn't any NBA team come calling for his services in '95-'96 at all? Surely the Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers and the Detroit Pistons lacked significant SF depth. Detlef Schrempf, Clifford Robinson and Grant Hill were all manning their respective starting SF spots for their teams, but lacked a significant backup to relieve them at times.

How many points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in how many minutes do you think Dominique Wilkins would've averaged if he found an NBA team for '95-'96 instead of toiling away overseas to Greece? And what will become of how many shots do you think he'll make or attempt?

Probably none of those as I don't think Nique would have come off the bench at the time. He would have wanted a starter spot. Those teams (Seattle, Portland, Detroit, etc.) I don't see him beating out Detlef Schrempf (Seattle), Clifford Robinson (Portland) and a young sophomore by the name of Grant Hill (Detroit) for the starting five role. Orlando would have been a good fit imho. A young team needing some veteran leadership, I think Nique deserved to start over Dennis Scott. Wilkins didn't need to be the main scorer, the Magic had Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway and Nick Anderson tasked with shouldering the scoring load, and they also had Shaq and Horace Grant for defense and rebounding too. Nique could have been the difference in the '95 Finals if he joined a year earlier ('94-'95) instead of playing for the Boston Celtics.
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#2
It's a tough one but I'd pick the Pistons. He'd been way more useful than Roe...

Btw, why is this sticky? Laugh
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#3
Hehe, good question @buckstims. You think Dominique Wilkins would accept a backup SF role behind Grant Hill in '95-'96 for the Detroit Pistons if Nique hadn't gone over to Greece, yet assuming that he'd be better and a huge upgrade on Lou Roe, a fringe NBA backup for Detroit and Golden State.
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#4
I voted for Orlando because Wilkins deserved a starter position. And as stated above by Michael Whiteacre, I doubt Wilkins would settle with backup role.
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