Jamaal Wilkes facts for kids
Wilkes with UCLA c. 1971
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 2, 1953 Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| High school | |
| 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 | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 14,644 (17.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,117 (6.2 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,050 (2.5 apg) |
Jamaal Abdul-Lateef (born Jackson Keith Wilkes; May 2, 1953), known as Jamaal Wilkes, is a retired American basketball player. He played as a small forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a three-time NBA All-Star and won four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. His nickname was "Silk" because of his smooth playing style. He is now in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Wilkes played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. He was named an All-American twice. He also won two NCAA championships with legendary coach John Wooden. The Golden State Warriors picked him in the first round of the 1974 NBA draft. In his first year, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year. He helped the Warriors win a league title. Wilkes won three more NBA championships with the Lakers. His jersey number 52 was retired by both the Bruins and the Lakers.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
Jackson Keith Wilkes was born in Berkeley, California. He was one of five children. His father was a Baptist minister. The family moved to Ventura, California, when he was in the second grade. He went to Washington Elementary School and Cabrillo Middle School. He skipped the fifth grade in school. His older sister Naomi also skipped grades. She played basketball and helped him learn the game.
When he was a junior at Ventura High School in 1969, Wilkes was named the best player in his league. Before his senior year, his family moved to Santa Barbara, California. Wilkes decided to move with them. He played for Santa Barbara High School with future NBA player Don Ford. They led their team to 26 wins in a row. Wilkes was named the California Player of the Year. He was also chosen as a prep All-American by several sports magazines.
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. One day, a UCLA band member saw Wilkes play and said his moves were "smooth as silk." This led to his famous nickname, "Silk."
In Wilkes' sophomore year (1971–72), he joined the UCLA varsity team. The team had won five national championships in a row. Wilkes, along with Bill Walton and Henry Bibby, became a starter. The Bruins had a perfect 30–0 season. They won games by a huge average of 30 points. Wilkes averaged 8.2 rebounds per game. UCLA won the national title game against Florida State. Wilkes scored 23 points and had 10 rebounds in that game.
Wilkes averaged 14.8 points in his junior year. He was named a first-team All-American. UCLA had another perfect 30–0 season. They won their 61st game in a row, breaking a record. They won the championship final against Memphis State. Wilkes scored 16 points and had seven rebounds.
In his senior year, UCLA's winning streak reached 88 games before they lost. Wilkes averaged a career-high 16.7 points per game. He was again 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. He also had a high field goal percentage of 51.4. Wilkes was also a great student, named a first-team Academic All-American three times. He graduated from UCLA in 1974 with a degree in economics.
NBA Career Highlights
Golden State Warriors Success
The Golden State Warriors picked Wilkes in the first round of the 1974 NBA draft. He was the 11th player chosen overall. In his first season (1974–75), few thought the Warriors would win a championship. Wilkes became a starter early in the season. He played power forward even though he was slim. He averaged 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.
In the playoffs, Wilkes played strong defense. The Warriors swept the 1975 NBA Finals against the Washington Bullets. The next season (1975–76), he was chosen for his first NBA All-Star Game. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice. His scoring improved to 17.8 points per game.
After three years with Golden State, Wilkes decided to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent. He wanted a fresh start and to be closer to his family in Southern California.
Los Angeles Lakers "Showtime" Era
Wilkes started strong with the Lakers in 1977–78. He averaged 12.9 points. The next season, he had his best pro season yet, averaging 18.6 points. For five seasons, from 1978 to 1983, he was the Lakers' second-highest scorer, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In the 1979–80 season, the Lakers added Magic Johnson. Wilkes moved to small forward, which was his natural position. He played a big part in the Lakers' fast break offense. He averaged 20 points per game that season. He helped the "Showtime Lakers" win three NBA championships (1980, 1982, 1985).
One of his most famous games was Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals. He scored a career-high 37 points and had 10 rebounds. Even though Magic Johnson had an amazing game too, Wilkes' performance was crucial. Johnson himself said, "Jamaal Wilkes had an unbelievable game."
Wilkes had his best scoring season in 1980–81, 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 again. Wilkes scored 27 points in the final game.
In 1983, Wilkes was chosen for his third All-Star selection. In 1983–84, he missed some games due to illness. He played less after that. In the 1984–85 season, he suffered a serious knee injury. He missed the rest of the season and the playoffs. The Lakers still won the 1985 NBA Finals.
The Lakers later waived Wilkes because of his injury and team salary rules.
Los Angeles Clippers and Retirement
In 1985, Wilkes signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. However, he was out for almost a month with a sprained ankle. On December 24, 1985, Wilkes announced his retirement after a 12-year career. He felt he could no longer contribute enough to the team. He said he wanted to leave the game without limping. His professional teams had never missed the playoffs before joining the Clippers.
Player Profile and Legacy
Wilkes was nicknamed "Silk" for his smooth moves on the court. He rarely dunked the ball. He preferred a layup off the glass, which his college coach John Wooden taught him. Wilkes was not flashy, but he was very effective. He played well without always needing the ball. He could shoot from outside and drive inside. He also rarely turned the ball over.
Wilkes had a unique but very reliable jump shot. He released the ball in a corkscrew motion behind his ear. He developed this shot as a child to play against bigger opponents. Coach Wooden said he never tried to change it because Wilkes always made his shots.
Wilkes was not very muscular, but he was strong and rarely injured in college. He was quiet on the court and did not show much emotion. He focused on winning over individual awards. He once said, "you can debate who the best player was or wasn't, but you can't debate who won or lost."
Wilkes was never the main star on his championship teams. He played a key supporting role. He was always in the shadow of stars like Bill Walton at UCLA, Rick Barry with Golden State, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson with the Lakers. He was great at whatever his team needed, whether it was scoring, rebounding, or defense.
Lakers' announcer Chick Hearn called his jump shot the "20-foot layup" because he was so consistent. Many people, including his coaches, praised Wilkes for his selfless play and consistent performance. Coach Wooden said Wilkes was his ideal player.
For his NBA career, Wilkes scored 14,664 points (17.7 per game) and had 5,117 rebounds (6.2 per game). He shot 49.9% from the field. He played in three All-Star Games and was 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. On December 28, 2012, the Lakers retired his No. 52 jersey. UCLA also retired his college number, 52, on January 17, 2013. His number was also retired by both Ventura and Santa Barbara High Schools.
Later Years and Personal Life
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 started his own financial advising firm. He also wrote his autobiography, Smooth as Silk: Memoirs of the Original, in 2015.
In 2000, Wilkes became the vice president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Stars in a new basketball league.
Wilkes married his second wife in 1980. They had three children: two sons and a daughter. His older son, Omar, played basketball at the University of California, Berkeley and became a sports agent. His younger son, Jordan, also played basketball at Berkeley and later joined the Lakers' staff. Wilkes' daughter played volleyball for UCLA.
Wilkes also acted! He played the main character in the 1975 movie Cornbread, Earl and Me. He also made a guest appearance on the TV show Trapper John, M.D. in 1981.
Wilkes converted to orthodox Islam near the end of 1974. He legally changed his name to Jamaal Abdul-Lateef in 1975. However, he continued to use Jamaal Wilkes for public recognition.
Images for kids
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Wilkes with UCLA c. 1971
See also
In Spanish: Jamaal Wilkes para niños
