 |
|
|
DAMIEN WILKINS
Seattle Sonics
6'6" Guard
2005-06
SEASON
|
Update - February 27th
NEWS
Two
coaching changes by the mid-season mark, and sporadic playing
time, left Damien in a position to question what the organization
was doing with him. After a surprising rookie season, the
Minnesota Timberwolves tried to sign him as a free agent - only to
have Seattle match the 15 million dollar deal. So why weren't they
using him?
Perhaps
it was because of depth at his position or maybe the new coaches
didn't understand his game, but that seems to be behind everyone
now. Some trades were made, the inevitable injuries struck,
and a new coach has resulted in increased minutes.
With the increased minutes have come substantial production.
Look below for the results that came with the increased minutes.
And all
the while, Wilkins just kept on working hard and kept his
reputation in tact without complaining.
Notice
how he is being rewarded for his hard work and patience.
RECENT GAMES
|
Date |
Opp |
Result |
Min |
FGM-A |
3M-A |
FT |
OFF |
DEF |
TOT |
AST |
ST |
PTS |
|
Feb 25 |
at
Heat
|
106-115 |
35 |
3-10 |
1-2 |
3-4 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
10 |
|
Feb 24 |
at
Magic
|
89-102 |
46 |
9-15 |
0-1 |
3-4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
21 |
|
Feb 14 |
at
Bucks
|
91-106 |
26 |
3-6 |
0-0 |
4-4 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
|
Feb 12 |
vs.
Nuggets
|
112-120 |
48 |
9-17 |
0-1 |
3-3 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
4 |
2 |
21 |
|
Feb 10 |
vs.
Hawks
|
99-91 |
36 |
7-12 |
0-1 |
12-13 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
26 |
|
Feb 04 |
at
Mavericks
|
91-110 |
19 |
7-9 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REBOUNDS
|
|
|
Date |
Opp |
Result |
Min |
FGM-A |
3M-A |
FT |
OFF |
DEF |
TOT |
AST |
ST |
PTS |
|
Jan 30 |
vs.
Blazers
|
111-116 |
11 |
4-6 |
0-0 |
3-4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
|
Jan 26 |
vs.
Mavs
|
97-104 |
25 |
3-9 |
0-1 |
5-5 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
|
Jan 25 |
at
Jazz
|
113-94 |
27 |
5-8 |
0-0 |
5-6 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
15 |
|
Jan 22 |
at
Suns
|
152-149 |
15 |
3-3 |
1-1 |
4-4 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
11 |
|
Jan 20 |
vs.
Raptors
|
113-121 |
13 |
4-8 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
|
Jan 16 |
at
Warriors
|
93-109 |
39 |
7-12 |
2-3 |
2-2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
|
Jan 14 |
at
Clippers
|
72-98 |
42 |
5-13 |
1-1 |
2-5 |
4 |
6 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
13 |
|
Jan 13 |
vs.
Heat
|
104-117 |
23 |
5-11 |
0-2 |
2-2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REBOUNDS
|
|
|
Date |
Opp |
Result |
Min |
FGM-A |
3M-A |
FT |
OFF |
DEF |
TOT |
AST |
ST |
PTS |
|
Dec 31 |
vs.
Grizzlies
|
96-100 |
38 |
5-7 |
0-1 |
2-2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
12 |
|
Dec 29 |
at
Nuggets
|
112-105 |
37 |
5-10 |
0-1 |
2-2 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
8 |
3 |
12 |
2004-05
May 21st
With Rashard Lewis down with a toe injury, Damien saw significant
minutes in games 4,5, and 6. He had 15 points off the bench
in the game four win and 10 pts. on 3 of 4 shooting (1-1 from
three) in 27 minutes of the decisive game six. A couple of
missed free throws, breakaways (one was blocked, the other waived
off for an off. foul), along with an offensive goal tending call
on a dunk in traffic, cost Damien a chance to have a huge game
that might have made the difference. Still, the rookies defensive,
hustle, and poise kept earning him minutes over other veterans on
the team. Damien's future looks bright, especially with all
this experience in the brightest of shows that will
"season" him in a hurry.
April 15th
Activated March
18th from the injured list, Damien made his first appearance
against the Lakers on March 20th. Then, on the following
Thursday, March 24th against the Trailblazers, Rashard Lewis left
the game after the first quarter because of a flare-up of patellar
tendinitis. Wilkins replaced him and ended up sparking the
Sonics. He scored eight points during one stretch of the second
quarter, earning the right to start the second half. Then, with
the Sonics trailing 91-89 with just over a minute left in the
game, Wilkins took over, scoring the game's final seven points,
including a go-ahead 3-pointer, to earn the Sonics a win. Overall,
he had 21 points in the game in 28 minutes of play.
Over the next five
games, Wilkins averaged 10.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20.4
minutes of action, shooting 54.1% from the field and 50.0% from
3-point range. His averages would have even been higher if it
wasn't for the 6 minute cameo appearance against the Knicks.
His high games were the 21 pt. game at Portland, 17 at home
against Portland a week later, and 20 pts. against Sacramento,
through games up until April 14th. His appearance in a loss
against the Mavericks on National TV led commentator Bill Walton
to note that Damien was keeping the Sonics in the game and
deserved more minutes. He was 2 for 2 from the three point
line and scored 10 pts. overall on 4 of 6 from the field.
"He's made a
difference," said Coach Nate McMillan. "He's basically
been an X-factor . . . since the injuries. You could really say he
was the difference in those two games, his scoring, his defense,
his fresh legs; the energy, the scrappy play."
"I really
haven't surprised myself," said Wilkins.
"I always felt that if my preparation was good and I was
disciplined enough to stay in shape, stay sharp and continue to
get in the gym early
to get shots up and familiarize myself with the plays as much as I
could, I knew once I got on the floor I'd be able to make
something happen. It's been easier to do those type of things when
you have the confidence of your teammates and your coaching staff
behind you."
The true measure of
Wilkins' behind-the-scenes development is that Wilkins has made
key contributions to a pair of Sonics victories at the defensive
end of the court. Considered by the coaching staff a defensive
liability at the start of the season, Wilkins has now emerged as
something of a stopper. At Portland, he stole the ball from Joel
Przybilla with six seconds left and the Blazers down three,
sealing the win with a dunk at the other end. Then in Memphis,
Wilkins forced a key turnover with 17 seconds left and the Sonics
clinging to a one-point lead, tipping the ball off of Shane
Battier and out of bounds to earn possession.
Damien with the
Saucier boys, Johnathan and Joshua after a December, 2004 game against
Pitt.
|
CAREER
HIGHLIGHTS
 2004-05
Seattle Sonics
Undrafted
free agent who made the team out of training camp because of
strong preseason, work ethic, and natural talent. (click
here for article) Played sparingly in the beginning of the
season then was placed on the disabled list. Activated
March 18th and finished season as part of the playing rotation,
often as one of the first players off the bench. Presently seeing
key minutes in 2nd round of playoffs against San Antonio. DRAFT
CAMP
Wilkins
scores 20 in Chicago finale
Jun 11, 2004
Damien, who played in the Chicago pre-draft camp
three years ago, had 20 points and eight rebounds to
pace Team 5 (3-0) to a 76-68 win over Team 4 (1-2) in
the Chicago pre-draft camp finale. His 20 points came on
seven of 14 shots from the field.
2003-04
Georgia
Damien
scored a
season
high 26 pts. in Georgia's rout over Arkansas. He was 11-14
from the field and 3-3 from behind the three point arc. . . . Wilkins
led Georgia with
17
pts. and 7 rebounds in a loss to #19 Mississippi St. . .
. After
24 games, he is averaging 13.4 pts, 6 rebounds and almost 3 assists.
Georgia is 11-9. . .Was second on the team in scoring, rebounds, and assists. 
2002-03
Georgia
The
best sixth man imaginable, a more-than-capable sub at
several positions on the floor. Played key roles in Georgia’s
narrow victories over Tennessee and Auburn in mid-January.
. . . Third on the team in assists with 71, having handed out a
career-best eight vs. Gonzaga. Also led Georgia with six
assists in win over LSU on 1/5.
. . . Helped restore Georgia’s control of the Auburn game
Jan. 25 with two straight buckets, the latter a steal and
breakaway dunk. . . Was outstanding in the Dogs’ loss to
Texas, with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. 2001-2002
Sat out as transfer
from North Carolina St. 2000-2001
- N.C. State
One
of three team captains. Averaged 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds
and 2.7 assists. . . • Scored a career-high 25 in OT win at
Florida State. 1999-2000
- N.C. State
Set NC State freshman records for starts (34) and
minutes played (1,083). He also finished the season ranked in the top
five freshmen in school history in scoring
(389), rebounding (197) and assists (77).
A
co-winner of the squad's
Most Improved Player award, he finished the season strong by averaging
18 points in two ACC Tournament games on the way to all-tourney honors.
He was the only freshman in the league to lead his team in minutes
played, and his 2.77 offensive rebounds per game ranked fifth among all
ACC players. In league action, he ranked 10th in free-throw percentage.
Was
named to the ACC All-Freshman team and All-ACC Tournament teams.
Posted 21 double-digit scoring games and three double-doubles. Led
the team in scoring 10 times.
One
of 30 players selected to compete at the 2000 USA Basketball
Men’s National Team Trials
|
