2011 Atlanta Hawks Player Review: Damien Wilkins

by Kris Willis on May 31, 2011 8:29 AM EDT

Shortly after Joe Johnson was diagnosed with an injured elbow, the Atlanta Hawks signed Damien Wilkins as a free agent to help provide some wing depth while Johnson was out. When Wilkins was brought in, he was asked by Hawks coach Larry Drew to provide energy at the defensive end of the floor. The Wilkins name isn't quite synonymous with the word defense and Damien had never really been thought of as a great defender in any of his other NBA stops.

However, to his credit, Wilkins brought a lot of energy to the team with most of that centered at the defensive end of the floor. Damien made enough of an impression on his teammates and his coaching staff that he ended up sticking with the team for the remainder of the season even if he had to jump through some hoops to make it happen. Atlanta waived Wilkins on Jan 5 just a few days before his contract would have been guaranteed for the remainder of the season. Atlanta then resigned Wilkins to a pair of 10-day contracts before finally picking up the tab for the rest of the season.

Damien Wilkins appeared in 52 regular season games for the Hawks and eight more in the playoffs. He averaged a career low 13 minutes and 3.5 points per game. Wilkins did post a career high in Field Goal percentage but that had to do more with his reduction in attempts than anything else.

At 31 years of age, Wilkins was at a crossroads in his career last season when Atlanta signed him. His career has taken him from Seattle to Oklahoma City and then to Minnesota. He was out of the league before signing with the Hawks. He is not the type of player that the Hawks should want in the starting lineup on a nightly basis but he can bring some value to the team. Given Atlanta's financial situation, it is very likely that Wilkins finds his way back onto the team for next season.

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He may not be the option for starting at the 3

but the hustle and spark he provides off the bench should warrant him at least competing for a spot on the bench. Definitely the type of role player that the Hawks need to add to the bench, even if it is as a 10th -12th man.

Will making it back to the Eastern Conference Semis give Larry Drew another year at the helm?

by Nique Fan on May 31, 2011 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

I agree

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on May 31, 2011 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Probably the stats show Damien is not as good a defender as he appears (Mario West also had “energy”), but I’d take him on defense over the other current options at SG. And he’d be an acceptable backup at SF if the Hawks trade Williams or Smith.

by redwards95 on May 31, 2011 10:27 AM EDT reply actions

I think it is a stretch to ask him to defend guards

He is much more suited as a back up small forward in my opinion

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on May 31, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Probably true but when the alternative is Jamal Crawford, give me Wilkins.

by redwards95 on May 31, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Have to agree with you there

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Jun 1, 2011 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd rather him start than Marvin right now

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jun 1, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

by Hawk n the Ham on Jun 1, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Wilkins never showed the promise that he showed when he came out of high school. He was supposed to be this superstar but ended up as a major dud.

by Jeffrey Thompson on May 31, 2011 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

That was because

everyone expected him to be as good as his Dad or maybe even his uncle. That is some pretty big expectations for any high school player to meet

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Jun 1, 2011 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions

It didn’t help when his father and uncle were pushing him, either, huh?

by Jeffrey Thompson on Jun 1, 2011 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Whose family doesn't create unreal expectations for the children?

In my job I see that everyday.

I mean you are completely right, Damien never was what he was expected to be but that was because he was too often compared or expected to be like Dominique

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Jun 2, 2011 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Nowhere close to his uncle...

I can see his father in his game, though nowhere near that level of success. A step below his dad.

http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Jun 2, 2011 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Wlikins at least was much more useful than Mo Evans

Who was just out of his element, and also out of position as the back-up SF. Wilkins was, in fact, useful enough that it’s easy to forget that Mo Evans was even a part of the team this year, despite being terrible.

My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.

by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT

by Bronn on May 31, 2011 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

If I remember right

Wilkins first game with the Hawks, he had to come in off the bench to pressure Lebron. And if my memory serves correct, he did one inspiring bang up job on the queen.

by Hawk n the Ham on Jun 1, 2011 3:32 AM EDT reply actions