LARRY BIRD
President of basketball operations, Indiana Pacers
First thing is, I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s deserving. It couldn’t happen to a better guy. Dominique’s always been a gentleman, and he did things the right way. He was never a dirty player. He just competed on a nightly basis. He was one of our top scorers from the time he came into the league until he left, and I got to play five, six strong years against him when he was just coming up.
I always respected him. He always was on good teams. They were young. He was always on the cusp of doing something great. They had us (the Celtics) a couple times and let their foot off the pedal. Our guys got lucky and had some good quarters and ended up playing some good games against them.
Dominique and the Hawks were always right there, but never got over that one game they really needed. But that doesn’t diminish the things he did in his career. He scored a lot of points, he was a high-flier, he played the game the right way and I always had a lot of respect for Dominique.
A three-time NBA MVP and 12-time All-Star, Larry Bird was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.
ISIAH THOMAS
Analyst, NBA TV
In an era when basketball was played at its zenith, Dominique Wilkins was a force to be reckoned with on and off the court while exemplifying his tremendous talent. There was nothing more exciting to see then the incomparable Dominique play for the Hawks. He was a great entertainer, but most importantly, he was always a true gentleman.
Dominique and I have had a great friendship since our days in high school. We have been competitors and great admirers of our sport. He has always given back to his community and served as an inspiration to many and still does today.
Dominique’s love for the Hawks and the city of Atlanta is unmatched by any individual that I have ever met. When you think of the Atlanta Hawks, the first name that will always come to mind is my friend and brother, Dominique Wilkins.
A 12-time All-Star, Thomas was a 2000 inductee to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
KARL MALONE
President, Malone Properties
When you played against someone, I always had a feeling that I might sit with this guy in my living room and I might like him, but I don’t want to get too close to him because I got to compete with him. You find in your life as you get older, you kind of let your guard down. I got to know Dominique at the All-Star game in 2008, and I’m so glad I didn’t know him when we played because — and I’m not trying to be corny — he was like my brother.
The Dominique that I know, what an unbelievably great person. I don’t say this often: He can call me 24/7 if he needs me, and the only thing he has to tell me is where he is and I’ll be there. It’s like I’ve known him all my life. What an honor to be his friend.
You can’t give yourself a statue. That’s like giving yourself your own nickname. It doesn’t work like that. You got to do something. You’ve got to mean something to a franchise, on and off the court. He just played his butt off. He’s never been a guy to say, “Look at me!” But to get a statue? Now, some day, his grandkids can walk by and say, “Look! I guess Grandpa was pretty damn good.”
A 14-time All-Star, Malone was a 2010 inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
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