Sixers player evaluation: Damien Wilkins

Share

Damien Wilkins

Position: Guard/forward

Status: Unrestricted free agent

Signature game of 2012-13
Wilkins poured in 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting in Denver on March 21. It was Wilkins’ 13 points in the second half that put the Sixers up by five points with 14 seconds left to go in the game.

It was also Wilkins’ foul on Corey Brewer’s three-point attempt with 2.1 seconds left in the game that led to the Sixers’ 101-100 loss.

Strangely, the Sixers were 0-3 in game in which Wilkins scored 20-plus points.

From March 21: “I was just trying to challenge the shot aggressively and not give him a clean look, but I was a little too aggressive and I cost my team a win tonight,” Wilkins said. “It was interesting with a lot of misfortunes, but even still, I can’t foul a guy shooting a three-pointer when we are up two. We didn’t deserve to win that game and over-aggression cost us one.”

Wilkins in 2012-13
Wilkins made an impression on head coach Doug Collins and his teammates the second he stepped into the gym before training camp. A nine-year NBA veteran, Wilkins’ teammates voted him the players’ representative and his was a strong voice in the locker room.

Though Wilkins didn’t see much playing time early in the season, he finished the year strong and Collins cited his emergence in the starting lineup as the reason the Sixers were able to string together some wins over the final two months.

In 32 games before the All-Star break, Wilkins averaged 1.8 points and 9.2 minutes per game. After the break, Wilkins appeared in 29 games with 21 starts to average 11.3 points per game while shooting at a 49.4 percent clip.

Prospectus
Wilkins is an unrestricted free agent and would be a valuable addition to a contending team. It would serve the Sixers well if they were to bring back Wilkins, who played for the veteran minimum in 2012-13. Wilkins’ game is all grit, hustle and determination and his attitude off the court reflects that. In comparison to other one-year players like Nick Young, Wilkins clearly made the most significant contribution.

On Damien Wilkins …
“He has great basketball I.Q., and the thing I love about him is he always prepares himself to play. When you’re on the road you see him get up, he’s the first one to come down and he has a breakfast sandwich spot in every city. You can set your watch by him and I always believed that when you have guys get ready like that and have structure, it helps them play more consistently.

“The coaches, we all trust him completely.”

--Doug Collins, March 17, 2013

Contact Us