Eddie Lee Wilkins
Eddie Lee Wilkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 7, 1962 Cartersville, Georgia, United States |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (retired) |
| Years active | 1984–1993 |
| Known for | NBA player for New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers |
Eddie Lee Wilkins (born May 7, 1962) is a retired American professional basketball athlete. Measuring 6 feet 10 inches tall, he operated primarily as a power forward and center during his collegiate tenure with the Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs. Wilkins' professional journey spanned nine seasons internationally in Italy and Spain, as well as in the United States, including six campaigns in the NBA with the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
Early life
Wilkins completed his secondary education at Cass High School located in Cartersville, Georgia.
College career
During his time at Gardner-Webb University, Wilkins competed in college basketball, posting a career scoring average of 18.7 points per game, highlighted by a junior year average of 24.8 points. His outstanding collegiate performance earned him induction into the Gardner-Webb Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.
Professional career
In the 1984 NBA draft, Wilkins was chosen by the New York Knicks as the 133rd overall pick in the sixth round. He made an immediate impact by scoring a personal NBA debut high of 24 points and concluded his rookie year averaging 5.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest. However, he was sidelined for the entire 1985–86 season due to a severe knee ligament injury.
Wilkins commenced the 1986–87 season playing for Valladolid in Spain, where he averaged 22 points along with 10 rebounds before returning stateside to join the Rockford Lightning. In February 1987, he rejoined the Knicks roster. Notably, on November 15, 1990, he tallied 20 points within just 20 minutes against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Following the arrival of Pat Riley as head coach of New York, Wilkins was released and subsequently spent the 1991–92 season competing for Italy’s Ranger Varese. He made an NBA comeback in 1992 by signing a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately, late in the 1992–93 season, Wilkins sustained a career-ending torn achilles tendon after an on-court collision with rookie Shaquille O'Neal.
Throughout his NBA tenure, Wilkins appeared in a total of 322 games and accumulated 1,534 points.
Personal life
Wilkins’ youngest son, Evan Wilkins, pursues a career as a singer-songwriter under the stage name Ev Young.
In 1989, Wilkins established the Eddie Lee Wilkins Foundation, which was later renamed to Eddie Lee Wilkins Youth Association. Together with program director David Archer Jr., this organization provides athletic and social initiatives aimed at young people in Cartersville and the broader North Georgia region. Presently, Wilkins oversees a youth basketball league based in Smyrna, Georgia, catering to boys aged between four and six years old.