"We were like brothers" - Dominique Wilkins recalls the tragic accident that claimed his childhood friend's life and altered his own shortly after
Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, during the 1970s must have been unbearable at times, given the emergence of the crack cocaine epidemic, which gained significant attention a few years later. Even today, the city remains one of the most violent and crime-ridden in the US. While virtual portrayals can never fully convey life's real struggles, the acclaimed TV series "The Wire" earned praise for its authentic and realistic depiction of Baltimore's realities. But one individual who experienced this life firsthand is Dominique Wilkins.
During an interview with DJ Vlad, the 63-year-old took a trip down the harsh memory lane and recounted that life was already tough back then, but a tragic accident added to the challenges. Reflecting on the event and the victim of the accident, his own childhood friend, Wilkins, stated:
"That's traumatizing. It really is. That bothered me for a long, long time, many years. We were like brothers, and we did everything together."
A fateful incident
During those days, Wilkins and his friends didn't have any bad intentions when they took part in something young people often did, called "bus hopping," as Wilkins remembered. He guessed he was about 13 years old then. They did this to get around without paying for bus tickets. They would jump onto the back of the bus and hold onto whatever they could find. But then something unexpected happened that changed everything. Because of the rain, his friend slipped and fell on the road. Right in front of him was Wilkins, who had to watch everything unfold from the back of the bus ahead, and he continued:
"The bus behind us didn’t see him until the last second. It was too late at that point."
With a pained expression, he recounted how the bus behind them ran over his friend's abdomen. Tragically, the young boy succumbed to his injuries the next day. The enduring feelings of guilt and regret that he still carries about the mode of transportation, which led to the accident, are palpable, as he remarked:
"Doing something we probably shouldn't have been doing."
A Hollywood-like sports tale
Although this experience deeply affected him emotionally and life, in general, felt unsatisfying, leaving behind everything you're familiar with must have been exceptionally tough, especially at a young age. But that's precisely what 16-year-old Wilkins decided to do after seeing an acquaintance deeply engaged in robberies. Hoping for a better, or at the very least, a different life, he informed his mother that he intended to depart in search of a basketball career, heading to Washington, North Carolina, because of family ties. But what a turn his life would suddenly take over there, as the following events sound almost like something from a Hollywood movie script.
As Wilkins continues his story, he recalls stepping off the bus and seeing kids playing basketball. After Wilkins asked if he could join in, he must have played rather excellently, as shortly after the game, he was approached by a man who seemed to have observed the entire spectacle. This encounter marked the beginning of an acquaintance that would change his life forever. After inquiring about Wilkins' current living situation and his plans, to which Wilkins had no definite answers and was unsure both times, the man asked him to come along. To this day, Wilkins doesn't know why he even followed him.
"He took me to his house. He showed me a bedroom, showed me a kitchen, and he said: you can have all of this. The only trade-off is you have to play for my team. He was a high-school coach."
For Wilkins, the shift was remarkable - from a life surrounded by crime and drugs in Baltimore and the loss of his friend to finding shelter and enrolling in a high school in North Carolina, all within a matter of days. And it wasn't just any high school team, as he went on to explain:
"That high school team ended up going 76-1 in three years in North Carolina."
A journey of triumphs and challenges
From that moment on, his sports career took off significantly: he secured consecutive MVP awards for the team's back-to-back Class 3-A State Championships (1978–1979), gained recognition in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" segment, and then shone in the McDonald's All-American Game, alongside an outstanding and legendary group that included James Worthy, Isiah Thomas, Ralph Sampson, Sam Bowie, Clark Kellogg, Byron Scott, and John Paxson.
After attending the University of Georgia, he became the third overall pick in the 1982 Draft. While not experiencing substantial playoff success, the forward accumulated numerous All-Star nominations and clinched a scoring title in 1986. Following his illustrious career, "The Human Highlight Film" was included in the Top 75 Anniversary Team and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Amidst all the accomplishments, it's evident that Wilkins' life has been a blend of successes and challenges, with one tragic incident standing out - the loss of his childhood friend. Reflecting on his journey, it becomes apparent that the accident that claimed his friend's life significantly shaped his formative years. His departed friend would undoubtedly have taken pride in Wilkins' achievements and admired his courageous choice to move to North Carolina. It's as if his friend's presence guided him on his path, especially when he encountered his new high school coach upon his bus arrival. Despite the difficulties of growing up in Baltimore, Wilkins' resilience and determination highlight the enduring impact he has made in the realm of basketball and beyond.
