Dominique Wilkins throws down a one-handed jam with Atlanta in 1989.
With over 5,000 players in NBA history, at least one player was born on every day of the calendar year – including three leap day ballers. Our day-by-day breakdown of the players born on each day of the year continues.
Below are the most notable NBA players born on Jan 12.
Dominique Wilkins (1960)
The Human Highlight Film earned that nickname by showcasing some of the best athleticism the NBA has ever seen. Wilkins started things when he was taken third overall in the 1982 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, but a draft-day trade sent him to the Atlanta Hawks. He became an Atlanta legend, spending 12 of his 15 seasons with the Hawks. Wilkins made nine straight All-Star appearances in Atlanta, leading the league with 30.3 points in 1985. He also received MVP votes in seven seasons, finishing second in 1985. All of that is backed by his dunking ability with five Dunk Contest invites and two wins (1985, 1990). Wilkins closed his career with small stints for the Clippers, Celtics, Spurs and Magic before retiring in 1999. He averaged 24.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals throughout his 15-year career and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. Wilkins does analyst commentary for Hawks broadcasts today.
Campy Russell (1952)
Russell was the eighth overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft after a stellar collegiate career at Michigan, spending his first six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made his sole All-Star appearance in 1978. The small forward averaged 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals in his final five seasons with the Cavaliers. An injury shortened his career, limiting Russell to playing just three games over his final three seasons before his retirement in 1985.
Want to see every NBA player born on January 12? Here is the rest of the list in chronological order:
- Jim Ray (January 12, 1934)
- Art Becker (January 12, 1942)
- Joe Kennedy (January 12, 1947)
- Claude Terry (January 12, 1950)
- Charles Jones (January 12, 1962)
- Scott Burrell (January 12, 1971)
- Robert Hite (January 12, 1984)
- Hamady N’Diaye (January 12, 1987)
- Jamel Artis (January 12, 1993)
- Bonzie Colson (January 12, 1996)
- Xavier Tillman Jr (January 12, 1999)
