Jamaal Wilkes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jamaal Wilkes

Wilkes with UCLA c. 1971
Personal information
Born	(1953-05-02) May 2, 1953 (age 72) Berkeley, California, U.S.
High school	Ventura (Ventura, California) Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, California)
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
College	UCLA (1971–1974)
NBA Draft	1974 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Pro career	1974–1985
Career history
1974–1977	Golden State Warriors
1977–1985	Los Angeles Lakers
1985	Los Angeles Clippers
Career highlights and awards
4× NBA champion (1975, 1980, 1982, 1985) 3× NBA All-Star (1976, 1981, 1983) 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1976, 1977) NBA Rookie of the Year (1975) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1975) No. 52 retired by Los Angeles Lakers 2× NCAA champion (1972, 1973) 2× Consensus first-team All-American (1973, 1974) 2× First-team All-Pac-8 (1973, 1974) Second-team All-Pac-8 (1972) No. 52 retired by UCLA Bruins
Career statistics
Points	14,644 (17.7 ppg)
Rebounds	5,117 (6.2 rpg)
Assists	2,050 (2.5 apg)

Jamaal Wilkes, born Jackson Keith Wilkes on May 2, 1953, is a famous American basketball player. He played as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA). People called him "Silk" because of his smooth moves on the court. He won four NBA championships during his career. Wilkes was also a three-time NBA All-Star. He was later honored by being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wilkes played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He won two NCAA championships with them. He was chosen in the first round of the 1974 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. In his first season, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. He helped the Warriors win a league title that year. Wilkes won three more NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. This was during their exciting "Showtime" era. After a brief time with the Los Angeles Clippers, he retired. Both the UCLA Bruins and the Lakers retired his jersey number, 52, to honor him.

Wilkes also acted in a movie. He played the main character, Cornbread, in the 1975 film Cornbread, Earl and Me.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Jackson Keith Wilkes was born in Berkeley, California. He was one of five children. His father, L. Leander Wilkes, was a Baptist minister. The family moved to Ventura, California, when Jamaal was in second grade. His father became a pastor there.

Wilkes was called Keith because he did not like the nickname Jackie. He skipped the fifth grade in school. His older sister, Naomi, also skipped two grades. She was good at basketball and helped him learn the game. She later went to Stanford University at a young age.

High School Success

As a junior at Ventura High School in 1969, Wilkes was named the league's player of the year. Before his senior year, his family moved to Santa Barbara, California. His father became a pastor at a church there. Wilkes decided to move with his family, even though he was student body president at Ventura High. His coach supported his decision.

At Santa Barbara High School, Wilkes played with future NBA player Don Ford. They led their team to 26 wins in a row. Wilkes was named the California Interscholastic Federation Class AAAA Player of the Year. He was also named a prep All-American by several groups.

College Career at UCLA

In his first year at the University of California, Los Angeles, Wilkes played on the freshman team. They won all 20 of their games. This team included future stars like Bill Walton. One day, a UCLA band member saw Wilkes make a move and said it was "smooth as silk." This is how Wilkes got his famous nickname, "Silk."

Wilkes playing against Texas in 1971

Winning Championships with UCLA

In Wilkes' second year (1971–72), he joined the UCLA varsity team. They had already won five national championships in a row. Wilkes, Walton, and Greg Lee became starters. The team had a perfect 30–0 season. They won games by an average of over 30 points. Wilkes averaged 8.2 rebounds per game. UCLA won the national championship game against Florida State. Wilkes scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds in that game.

In 1972–73, Wilkes averaged 14.8 points. UCLA had another perfect 30–0 season. They broke the record for most consecutive wins, reaching 61. They won the championship final against Memphis State. Walton scored 44 points, and Wilkes added 16 points and seven rebounds.

UCLA started the 1973–74 season with an 88-game winning streak. This streak ended when they lost to Notre Dame. UCLA reached the semifinals of the 1974 NCAA tournament. They lost in overtime to NC State. Wilkes finished his senior year averaging 16.7 points per game. He was chosen for the All-America first team.

In his three years at UCLA, Wilkes' teams had an amazing 86–4 record. He was a very consistent player. He averaged 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Wilkes also did well in school. He graduated from UCLA in 1974 with a degree in economics.

NBA Career Highlights

Golden State Warriors Years

The Golden State Warriors drafted Wilkes in 1974. He was the 11th pick overall. He was filming a movie, Cornbread, Earl and Me, and did not train much. He arrived at rookie camp out of shape. But he quickly worked hard to get in shape.

In his first season (1974–75), Wilkes became a starter after only eight games. He played power forward alongside Rick Barry. Wilkes averaged 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. The Warriors were not expected to win a championship. But Wilkes helped them sweep the 1975 NBA Finals. He was praised for his strong defense in the playoffs.

In the next season (1975–76), Wilkes was named to his first NBA All-Star Game. He averaged 17.8 points. He was also chosen for the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice. The Warriors reached the Western Conference finals but lost.

After three years with the Warriors, Wilkes signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He wanted a fresh start closer to home in Southern California.

Los Angeles Lakers: The "Showtime" Era

Wilkes joined the Lakers in 1977. He had a good start, but injuries limited him in his first season. He bounced back in his second season, averaging 18.6 points. For five seasons, from 1978 to 1983, he was the Lakers' second-highest scorer, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In 1979, the Lakers added Magic Johnson to their team. Wilkes also moved to small forward, which was his natural position. He had been playing power forward for his whole NBA career. This change helped him play even better. He averaged 20 points per game that season. He helped the "Showtime Lakers" win three NBA championships (1980, 1982, 1985).

One of his most memorable games was Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals. He scored a career-high 37 points and had 10 rebounds. Magic Johnson also had an amazing game, but Wilkes' performance was crucial.

In 1980–81, Wilkes had his best scoring season, averaging 22.6 points. He also played in the 1981 NBA All-Star Game. In 1981–82, he averaged 21.1 points. The Lakers won the 1982 NBA Finals. Wilkes scored 27 points in the final game. He received his third All-Star selection in 1983.

In 1983–84, Wilkes missed games due to a stomach virus. He returned for the playoffs but was not in top shape. The Lakers reached the finals but lost. In 1984–85, Wilkes started the season as a forward. However, he tore ligaments in his left knee in February 1985. This injury ended his season. The Lakers went on to win the 1985 NBA Finals without him.

After his injury, Wilkes had to learn to walk again. The Lakers released him in August 1985.

Los Angeles Clippers and Retirement

In September 1985, Wilkes signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. However, he was out for almost a month with a sprained ankle. On December 24, Wilkes announced his retirement. He felt he was not contributing enough to the team. He said he wanted to leave basketball while he could still walk without limping. His professional teams had never missed the playoffs before joining the Clippers.

Player Style and Legacy

Wilkes was nicknamed "Silk" because of his smooth moves. He rarely dunked the ball. He preferred a layup off the glass, which his UCLA coach, John Wooden, taught him. Wilkes was not flashy, but he was very effective. He could shoot from outside and drive to the basket. He rarely lost the ball.

Wilkes had a unique jump shot. He released the ball with a corkscrew motion over his head. He developed this shot as a child to compete against bigger players. Coach Wooden did not change it because Wilkes always made his shots.

Many people thought the slender Wilkes would not be strong enough for the NBA. But he was strong and rarely injured. He was quiet on the court and did not show much emotion. He focused on playing well without arguing with officials.

Wilkes always put winning first. He was often overshadowed by bigger stars like Bill Walton, Rick Barry, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson. But he was a key part of every championship team he played on. He contributed wherever the team needed him, whether it was scoring, rebounding, or defending.

Honors and Recognition

For his NBA career, Wilkes scored 14,664 points (17.7 per game). He also had 5,117 rebounds (6.2 per game). He played in three All-Star Games. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice.

Wilkes was inducted into the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. In 2012, he was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His former teammates, including Walton, Barry, Abdul-Jabbar, and Johnson, presented him at the induction ceremony.

On December 28, 2012, the Lakers retired Wilkes' No. 52 jersey. On January 17, 2013, UCLA also retired his college number, 52. Both Ventura and Santa Barbara High Schools also retired his number.

Coach John Wooden once described his ideal player. He said the player should be a good student, polite, a good team player, and strong on defense and offense. Then he added, "Why not just take Jamaal Wilkes and let it go at that." This shows how highly Wooden thought of him.

Acting Career

Wilkes made his first movie appearance in 1975. He played the main character, Nathaniel "Cornbread" Hamilton, in the drama Cornbread, Earl and Me. He also made a guest appearance on the TV show Trapper John, M.D. in 1981.

Life After Basketball

After retiring from basketball, Wilkes worked in real estate. He then moved into financial services and motivational speaking. He co-authored a book called Success Under Fire: Lessons For Being Your Best In Crunch Time. In 2003, he co-founded Jamaal Wilkes Financial Advisors. This company helps people manage their money. In 2015, he released his autobiography, Smooth as Silk: Memoirs of the Original.

In 2000, Wilkes was hired as vice president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Stars. This was a new team in the American Basketball Association (ABA).

Personal Life

Wilkes married Valerie in 1980. They had three children: two sons and a daughter. His older son, Omar, played basketball at the University of California, Berkeley. He later became a sports agent. His younger son, Jordan, also played basketball at Berkeley. He later joined the Lakers' basketball operations staff. Wilkes' daughter played on the UCLA volleyball team.

Wilkes converted to orthodox Islam in 1974. He legally changed his name to Jamaal Abdul-Lateef in 1975. However, he continued to use his birth surname, Wilkes, for public recognition.

In 1990, Wilkes was stopped by police officers. He believed he was stopped because of racial profiling. He filed a complaint about the incident.

NBA Career Statistics

Source:

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1974–75	Golden State	82	—	30.7	.442	—	.734	8.2	2.2	1.3	.3	14.2
1975–76	Golden State	82	82	33.1	.463	—	.772	8.8	2.0	1.2	.4	17.8
1976–77	Golden State	76	—	33.9	.478	—	.797	7.6	2.8	1.7	.2	17.7
1977–78	L.A. Lakers	51	—	29.2	.440	—	.716	7.5	3.6	1.5	.4	12.9
1978–79	L.A. Lakers	82	82	35.5	.504	—	.751	7.4	2.8	1.6	.3	18.6
1979–80	L.A. Lakers	82	82	37.9	.535	.176	.808	6.4	3.0	1.6	.3	20.0
1980–81	L.A. Lakers	81	—	37.4	.526	.077	.758	5.4	2.9	1.5	.4	22.6
1981–82	L.A. Lakers	82	82	35.4	.525	.000	.732	4.8	1.7	1.1	.3	21.1
1982–83	L.A. Lakers	80	80	31.9	.530	.000	.757	4.3	2.3	.8	.2	19.6
1983–84	L.A. Lakers	75	74	33.4	.514	.250	.743	4.5	2.9	1.0	.5	17.3
1984–85	L.A. Lakers	42	8	18.1	.488	.000	.773	2.2	1.0	.5	.1	8.3
1985–86	L.A. Clippers	13	1	15.0	.400	.333	.815	2.2	1.2	.5	.2	5.8
Career		828	245	32.9	.499	.135	.759	6.2	2.5	1.3	.3	17.7
All-Star		3	0	18.0	.481	—	1.000	4.7	2.3	1.3	.0	11.0

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1975	Golden State	17	—	29.6	.446	—	.702	7.0	1.6	1.5	.8	15.0
1976	Golden State	13	—	34.6	.430	—	.778	7.9	2.2	.9	.6	15.9
1977	Golden State	10	—	34.6	.429	—	.821	8.0	1.6	1.6	.6	15.5
1978	L.A. Lakers	3	—	36.0	.469	—	.545	8.7	2.7	1.0	.3	12.0
1979	L.A. Lakers	8	—	38.4	.477	—	.676	8.5	2.0	1.9	.3	18.4
1980	L.A. Lakers	16	—	40.8	.476	.000	.815	8.0	3.0	1.5	.3	20.3
1981	L.A. Lakers	3	—	37.7	.438	.000	.667	2.7	1.3	.3	.3	18.0
1982	L.A. Lakers	14	—	38.2	.502	.000	.776	5.0	2.6	1.1	.2	20.0
1983	L.A. Lakers	15	—	39.3	.498	.000	.614	6.0	3.4	1.3	.7	19.9
1984	L.A. Lakers	14	—	14.0	.400	.000	.636	1.9	.6	.3	.1	4.5
Career		113	—	33.6	.465	.000	.727	6.4	2.2	1.2	.5	16.1

See also

In Spanish: Jamaal Wilkes para niños