Dominique Wilkins tells us the 5 best moments of his career

The Hawks have been holding “Nique Week,” a week-long celebration of the life and career of team legend Dominique Wilkins. On Thursday, the team unveiled a 13.5-foot tall, 18,500-pound granite statue of Wilkins that will make its permanent home outside of Philips Arena.

I chatted with Wilkins and asked him to name the most memorable moments of his storied career.

“The first thing is, as a rookie, meeting Dr. J. That’s the first. I was in awe, because he was the king. He still is the king. I told him that I admired him and that everything I did as a player was in emulation of him. Man, that was a special moment for me.”

“I was having a super year that year. That was a memorable year. I was playing on a different level that year. I think it was determination and the will to win. I mean, I wanted to win at all costs.”

“I think one of the things that really stands out is when we won our first division title with the Hawks. That was a memorable moment because it was a year where we were so proud of each other. We pulled so hard together in a very tough conference and were able to win 57 games. We really came together that year. That was a big, big memorable moment for me. It was a monumental moment.”

”One of the biggest things in my life, becoming a Hall of Famer. That was like dying and going to heaven. It’s actually immortalization. No one knows that they can become a Hall of Famer. You want to become an All-Star player and win a championship. Those are the things you talk about. You never talk about, especially early in your career, about being a Hall of Famer.

“I cried the day of the event. I said, ‘I’m not gonna cry,’ but I cried. To myself, of course, because I wasn’t going to let anybody see it. That’s that ego. But, man, that was a moment in life where the world knows how great you are. Forever.”

”Having a statue of yourself placed in front of your arena in the city that you love. It is an unbelievable moment. I’m still floating on cloud nine. It’s beautiful. He captured every essence of me and my personality.

There’s 11 of us in the NBA -- Jordan, Dr. J, Karl Malone, Stockton, Magic, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Hakeem, Scottie Pippen, [George Mikan]. And now me. I said to Dr. J last night, ‘Here we are. A man I used to idolize and gawk over your statue. And now I have a statue of my own.’ It’s unbelievable.”

(Photo via the Hawks)