The Human Highlight Film is about to become a more prominent part of the fan experience at the Atlanta Hawks' Philips Arena. Former Hawks star and Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins will have a statue erected in his image outside the arena in 2015.
Atlanta's greatest basketball star will be commemorated on March 6, 2015, the day LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers come to town, with the handiwork of Hall of Fame sculptor Brian Hanlon, who also worked with Wilkins for his Hall of Fame bust.
Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed made the announcement at a Tuesday press conference.
The specific location of the statue is undetermined, though it reportedly will be prominently displayed. Wilkins, who serves as a Hawks vice president and a broadcast analyst for the FOX Sports regional network SportSouth, spoke with the AJC on the honor, though he declined to reveal the statue's exact pose:
"The first thing that comes to mind is that it immortalizes you. There is no better feeling in the world to know that you will be recognized for the rest of your life and even after you are gone it’s still going to be there.
One of most important things, not just for me but for the city of Atlanta, is it’s a sign of appreciation for what they’ve done for me. This city made me who I am."
An All-American at the nearby University of Georgia, Wilkins played 12 NBA seasons in Atlanta, averaging 24.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He ranks among the franchise's top 10 in nearly every single significant statistical category, and now he'll be officially recognized for his contributions.
