University of Georgia Athletics
Damien Wilkins Signs With Charlotte Hornets
October 19, 2015 | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ga. --- Former Georgia Bulldog Damien Wilkins returned to the NBA last week when he signed a free agent contract with the Charlotte Hornets.
Wilkins played for Georgia from 2002-04 and was co-captain of the Bulldogs as a senior when he averaged 12.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He wasn't selected in the 2004 NBA Draft but has played nine seasons in the league with Seattle, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Atlanta, Detroit and Philadelphia. Wilkins has played in 563 NBA games, with 149 starts, and owns career averages of 6.3 point, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 31.8 minutes per contest.
The Orlando native joins the Hornets most recently from Indios de Mayaguez of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional League in Puerto Rico where he averaged 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 31.8 minutes per contest. Wilkins also spent part of the 2014-15 season with the NBA D-League's Iowa Energy, logging a league-high 1,891 minutes, averaging 20.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 37.8 minutes per game, earning 2015 NBA D-League All-Star and third-team All-NBA D-League honors.
In addition, Wilkins competed on the U.S. National Team for the 2015 Pan American games in Toronto, averaging 13.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 25.2 minutes per game. He helped lead the Americans to a bronze medal.
Wilkins is the the son of Gerald Wilkins, who enjoyed a 14-year NBA career with the Knicks, Cavaliers, Grizzlies and Magic. He also is the nephew of UGA and NBA legend Dominique Wilkins. Damien Wilkins will wear number 21 with the Hornets. That is the same number his uncle wore at Georgia and is the only retired jersey in Bulldog Basketball history.
