April 3

His basketball skills were so great that he was called the “human highlight film.”

Dominique Wilkins was born in 1960 in France, where his father was serving in the Air Force. After playing high school basketball in North Carolina, Wilkins came to the University of Georgia in 1979 to play for coach Hugh Durham. Wilkins lit up the scoreboard, averaging more than 21 points a game, and still holds the single-season scoring record for the Bulldogs. Georgia retired his #21 in 1991, the only men’s basketball player so honored.

From UGA to the NBA, Wilkins became one of the most exciting players in league history. Nique played 12 of his 15 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and his slam dunks became legendary. He was a nine-time all-star, led the league in scoring in 1986, and was elected into the NBA’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

One of the greatest basketball players ever was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame on April 3, 2004, Today in Georgia History.