On Sunday, the best players in the NBA displayed their superior skills on the basketball court during the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. Although the players are living their dreams by excelling in a sport they fell in love with as kids, there will come a time when they are no longer physically able to compete as professional athletes. As a former NBA All-Star, Dominique Wilkins knows how it feels to be torn from the game of basketball due to retirement. Wilkins, who now serves as Vice President of Basketball for the Atlanta Hawks, recently sat down with rolling out sports to speak on life after the NBA, the art of dunking and offered a few tips for young black men who are seeking achievement.
You are one of the most prominent players to have ever played in the NBA. How was it for you when you realized that you could no longer play in the league?
It was hard because I had played basketball all of my life. To go from playing every day to not playing at all was difficult. Even when you do something that is successful, it still doesn’t give you that same feeling that you get from playing basketball. Players will eventually grow into that role of adjusting to life after basketball, but it takes a while.
So what is the secret to transitioning to life outside of basketball?
It takes patience, commitment and you have to build relationships. The relationships that you build now will dictate what you become in the future. You have to build that infrastructure early.
You are a 2-time NBA Slam-Dunk Champion. Do you think the art of dunking has changed since the late 1980s?
Dunking was a form of entertainment for us and the fans in the 1980s. It was a fun time to be a part of that era. It was a great time to be a part of basketball. I don’t think the art of dunking has changed, but the top players don’t get involved anymore.
What advice do you give to young black men who are searching to find their way?
You can never give up. You always have to be willing to sacrifice your time and efforts to be successful. It takes commitment to be successful as a young man. It also takes respect and loyalty that you’re willing to give to something you believe in. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t be successful.
Along with serving as the VP of Basketball for the Atlanta Hawks, Dominique Wilkins is a spokesperson for diabetes, a sports analyst and a supporter of the Center for Health Transformation.
