On This Day (Jan. 12)

Notable events from NBA history that occurred on January 12.

Dominique Wilkins’ Birthday

On this day in 1960, Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins was born in Paris, France. A nine-time All-Star and member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team, Wilkins averaged 24.8 PPG and 6.7 RPG in 1,074 career games.

The reliable Wilkins is one of only six players in NBA history to average 25 or more PPG for at least 10 straight seasons (minimum 50% of team’s games):

• 18 — LeBron James (2004-05 to 2021-22)

• 11 — Jerry West (1961-62 to 1971-72)

• 11 — Karl Malone (1987-88 to 1997-98)

• 10 — Dominique Wilkins (1984-85 to 1993-94)

• 10 — Shaquille O’Neal (1993-94 to 2002-03)

• 10 — Allen Iverson (1998-99 to 2007-08)

Wilkins’ total of eight 2,000-point seasons has only been eclipsed by four players:

• 12 — Karl Malone

• 11 — Michael Jordan

• 10 — LeBron James

• 9 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

• 8 — Dominique Wilkins

• 8 — Alex English

• 8 — Kobe Bryant

Wilkins is one of only two players in NBA history to record a 50-point game on his birthday, pouring in 53 points for the Atlanta Hawks versus the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 12, 1987. The other player to do so is the Los Angeles Lakers’ Shaquille O'Neal, who scored 61 points on March 6, 2000, also versus the Clippers.