Back in 1982, the Utah Jazz thought they had struck gold by drafting Dominique Wilkins with the third pick. Fans imagined the high-flying forward joining Adrian Dantley, who had just averaged over 30 points per game, creating a duo to dominate the league. But behind the scenes, trouble was brewing—Utah Jazz was broke. A million dollars short, they were in dire need of cash to meet payroll.
Dominique Wilkins: The Man Who Saved Utah Jazz by Demanding a Trade
Wilkins, however, had other plans. Utah? Not for him. “Y’all better trade me today!” was his immediate reaction, demanding out of Utah before the ink on the draft papers was dry. And thank goodness for that, because that move, controversial as it was, saved the Jazz from near collapse.
At the time, Utah’s financial struggles were no secret within the organization. Former Jazz center Mark Eaton recalled how Jazz’s coach and general manager, Frank Layden, received a shocking call from team owner Sam Battistone. The message? The team needed a million dollars immediately to keep the lights on. That left Layden with no choice but to trade the promising Wilkins to Atlanta. In return, Utah got John Drew, Freeman Williams, and—most importantly—a million dollars.
Some would call it the worst trade in sports history. After all, Wilkins became a nine-time All-Star and one of the NBA’s greatest players. But ask the fans in Salt Lake City, and they’ll tell you a different story. “People still tell me, ‘You saved the Jazz!’” Wilkins recalled, laughing on a recent podcast. They’re right. Without that deal, the franchise might have packed up and left Utah entirely.
Wilkins never had any intention of donning a Utah Jazz jersey. Even if the team had been financially stable, Wilkins admitted he wasn’t interested. His heart was in Atlanta, where he’d gone to college. “I wasn’t going,” he said, recounting the moment the Jazz told him he’d be playing power forward. “At 210, 215 pounds? No way.”
Thankfully, the stars aligned, and Dominique got his wish. Hank Aaron, the legendary baseball star, stepped in and urged Hawks owner Ted Turner to make the trade happen. “Trade whoever you have to,” Aaron insisted. And so, Wilkins was shipped off to Atlanta, where he would go on to become a Hawks legend.
Looking back, the deal worked out better than anyone could’ve predicted. Wilkins thrived in Atlanta, becoming a Hall of Famer and securing a spot on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Meanwhile, the Jazz used that one million dollars to keep the team afloat, eventually drafting Karl Malone and John Stockton—a duo that would become one of the most iconic pairings in NBA history.
In the end, Wilkins’ bold move not only saved his career but also secured Utah’s basketball future. Talk about a win-win!
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