Jamaal Wilkes explains the reason behind his unorthodox jump shot: "It was a matter of survival"
Jamaal Wilkes had a great NBA run, winning four titles in 12 seasons. He is also a three-time All-Star and the 1975 Rookie of the Year.
Hardly anyone expected 'Silk' to become the player he was when he entered the NBA. However, Wilkes’ flexibility allowed him to reach new heights. Jamaal showed he could play the power forward position, a necessity in his rookie year with the Golden State Warriors.
The reason behind this is that he had to adjust his game since Rick Barry played the small forward position. Regardless, he figured it out, which helped the Warriors win the 1975 title.
Playing second fiddle
Although he was a legitimate All-Star, the former UCLA Bruin fitted in well with top-heavy teams. Wilkes proved that with the Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, stepping up when it mattered the most – especially on offense. But if there is one thing in Jamaal's game that drew criticism, it was his jump shot. It was unorthodox and seen as one of the ugliest shooting forms in NBA history.
Regardless, the 6-foot-6 player’s shooting proved effective. Although it irritated coaches such as his UCLA tactician John Wooden, the main thing is that basketball somehow found its mark. Wilkes explained how his shooting style came to be via the New York Times.
“I had little choice. I used to play a lot of playground ball with guys older, bigger and stronger. It was a matter of survival. It was the only way I could get my shots off,” the 11th overall pick of the 1974 NBA Draft explained.
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Regardless of what critics said about his jump shot, Wilkes made it work. He turned out to be a reliable offensive machine. Jamaal owns career averages of 17.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in 828 regular-season games. Moreover, he had a career field goal shooting clip of 50.1%.
The unsung hero of the 1980 Finals
The three-time All-Star had his share of memorable games, but one that most may have overlooked was his role in the Lakers' 1980 NBA title win.
With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sidelined, Wilkes stepped up in Game 6 of that series, notching 37 points, ten rebounds, and two assists. However, Earvin “Magic” Johnson took most of the praise in that game. The legendary point guard finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, leading the Lakers to a title with Cap out injured.
“What everybody remembers is that Earvin (Magic) Johnson, a rookie, playing center, forward, and guard, scored 42 points and got 15 rebounds and was named the most valuable player of the championship series,” former Knicks assistant coach Butch Beard pointed out in 1981.
In the eight seasons he played with the Lakers, Wilkes averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in 33.5 minutes of action in 575 regular-season games.
The Hall of Famer’s game started to decline by the 1984-85 season. The Lakers waived him in August 1985, and a month later, he joined the San Diego Clippers on a minimum salary-deal. That stint with the Clips lasted only 13 games, as Jamaal announced his retirement in December of that year, stressing he was no longer a key contributor.
Despite the abrupt end to his career, Wilkes got his deserved recognition after getting inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. That same year, the Lakers retired Jamaal’s no. 52 jersey. UCLA would do the same in 2013, retiring his no. 52 collegiate jersey as well.
