Eddie Lee Wilkins

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Eddie Lee Wilkins

| image =

| width =

| caption =

| number = 21, 45, 55

| position = Power forward / center

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 10

| weight_lb = 220

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|05|07}}

| birth_place = Cartersville, Georgia, U.S.

| high_school = Cass (Cartersville, Georgia)

| college = Gardner–Webb (1980–1984)

| draft_year = 1984

| draft_round = 6

| draft_pick = 133

| draft_team = New York Knicks

| career_start = 1984

| career_end = 1993

| years1 = {{nbay|1984|full=y}}

| team1 = New York Knicks

| years2 = 1985

| team2 = Connecticut Colonials

| years3 = 1986

| team3 = Westchester Golden Apples

| years4 = 1986

| team4 = Valladolid

| years5 = 1986

| team5 = Rockford Lightning

| years6 = {{nbay|1986|end}}

| team6 = New York Knicks

| years7 = 1987

| team7 = Staten Island Stallions

| years8 = 1987–1988

| team8 = Savannah Spirits

| years9 = 1988

| team9 = Quad City Thunder

| years10 = 1988

| team10 = Jersey Shore Bucs

| years11 = {{nbay|1988|start}}–{{nbay|1990|end}}

| team11 = New York Knicks

| years12 = 1991–1992

| team12 = Ranger Varese

| years13 = {{nbay|1992|full=y}}

| team13 = Philadelphia 76ers

| bbr = wilkied01

| highlights =

CBA All-Star (1988){{cite web|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AA&page=4&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Ray%20Hall%22%20basketball&docref=news/0ED02A4331CA4199|title=CBA all-stars|accessdate=April 4, 2023|date=January 22, 1988|work=USA Today|page=5C}}

}}

Eddie Lee Wilkins (born May 7, 1962) is an American former basketball player. A 6'10" forward/center{{cite news |author1=Curtis G. Bunn |title=Eddie Lee: Good grades for passing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition-eddie-lee-good/125496895/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |work=Newsday |date=13 October 1989 |page=163 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} who played college basketball for the Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, Wilkins played professionally for nine seasons in Italy, Spain and the United States, include six seasons in the NBA for the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Early life

Wilkins graduated from Cass High School in Cartersville, Georgia.

College career

Wilkins played college basketball at Gardner-Webb University where he averaged 18.7 points during his career. During his junior season, he averaged 24.8 points per game. In 1991, he was inducted into Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Eddie Lee Wilkins (1991) – Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame |url=https://gwusports.com/honors/gardner-webb-athletics-hall-of-fame/eddie-lee-wilkins/103 |website=gwusports.com |access-date=29 May 2023}}

Professional career

Following his college career, Wilkins was selected by the New York Knicks in the sixth round (133rd pick overall) of the 1984 NBA draft. In his debut, he scored an NBA career high 24 points.{{cite news |author1=Dick Young |title=Newest Knicks show knack for winning |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-newest-knicks-show-knack-for/125497928/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |work=The Record |date=29 October 1984 |page=49 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} During his rookie season, he averaged 5.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He missed the entire 1985–1986 season with torn knee ligaments.{{cite news |title=The Wilkins file |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-the-wilkins-file/125497365/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |work=Newsday |date=23 February 1987 |page=86 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

Wilkins started the 1986–1987 season with Valladolid in Spain where he averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds before returning to the United States and signing with Rockford Lightning. In February 1987, he signed back with the Knicks.{{cite news |author1=Gary Binford |title=Wilkins enjoys second time around |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-wilkins-enjoys-second-time-aroun/125497264/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |work=Newsday |date=23 February 1987 |page=84 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

On November 15, 1990, he scored 20 points in 20 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers.{{cite news |author1=Steve Adamek |title=Knicks combinations unlocking victories |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-knicks-combinations-unlocking/125496763/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |work=The Record |date=21 November 1990 |page=E3 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

When Pat Riley came to New York, Wilkins was released. He spent the 1991–92 season in Italy with Ranger Varese before returning to the NBA the next season, signing a 2-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.{{cite news |author1=Phil Jasner |title=Sixers sign Eddie Wilkins for 2 years |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-sixers-sign-eddi/125497044/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |date=14 October 1992 |page=68 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} Towards the end of the 1992–93 season, on April 15, 1993, the Sixers were playing the Orlando Magic, who were led by rookie Shaquille O'Neal. On a rebound attempt, Wilkins and O'Neal collided and became entangled. Wilkins tore his achilles tendon, missing the remainder of the season. His career was effectively ended.{{cite news |title=Injury may end Wilkins' career |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-city-daily-news-injury-may-end/126717677/ |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=The Park City Daily News |agency=Associated Press |date=18 April 1993 |page=5B |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

In his NBA career, Wilkins played in 322 games{{cite news |author1=Bret McCormick |title=Eddie Lee Wilkins (1980–84) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-eddie-lee-wilkins-1980-84/125496963/ |access-date=29 May 2023 |work=The Herald |date=21 February 2018 |page=B2 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} and scored a total of 1,534 points.

Personal life

File:Eddie Lee Wilkins Jerseys.jpg

His youngest son Evan Wilkins, better known by his stage name Ev Young is a singer-songwriter.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In 1989, he established the Eddie Lee Wilkins Foundation, which later became the Eddie Lee Wilkins Youth Association. With the help of program director David Archer Jr., Wilkins and the association began providing athletic and social intervention activities for youth in the Cartersville and North Georgia area. Wilkins currently runs a youth basketball league in Smyrna, Georgia for youth boys ages 4 – 6.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

References

External links

[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wilkied01.html Stats] at basketball Reference
[http://www.elwyouth.org/ Eddie Lee Wilkins foundation website]

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:Basketball players from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:CB Valladolid players

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs men's basketball players

Category:Liga ACB players

Category:New York Knicks draft picks

Category:New York Knicks players

Category:Pallacanestro Varese players

Category:Sportspeople from Cartersville, Georgia