Dominique Wilkins will get his statue.
The Basketball Hall of Famer and Hawks legend will have a statue of his likeness erected outside Philips Arena next year.
A group has contracted Hall of Fame sculptor Brian Hanlon to do the art work many believe long over due. Hanlon worked with Wilkins when he created the bust for his 2006 enshrinement. The sculpture will be unveiled on March 6, the day the Hawks host LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
“The first thing that comes to mind is that it immortalizes you,” Wilkins told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday. “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.”
The announcement was made at a press conference held by Mayor Kasim Reed in regards to the current controversy surrounding the Hawks and their search for new ownership. The erection of a statue honoring Wilkins has not been a part of the current issues facing the franchise but it apparently has simmered in the background for quite some time.
Wilkins works as a vice president in the Hawks organization and serves as the team’s television broadcast analyst.
The statue will be placed in a yet-to-be determined spot outside the front of Philips Arena in a very visible location.
Wilkins, know during his days as the ‘Human Highlight Film,’ declined to reveal what the statue will look like.
“It’s going to be a beautiful pose,” he said.
Wilkins concluded his NBA career with 26,668 points, 11th all-time in league scoring. He scored 23,292 points for the Hawks, the best in franchise history. In team history he also ranks second in steals, fourth in rebounds, sixth in blocked shots and seventh in assists.
