'Silk' in Basketball's Hall of Fame

CEBU - My era, and those other guys more ancient than me, was witness to the birth of LA’s Showtime squad. In its infancy, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had that lanky 6’6" small forward as a teammate who was a good defender, rebounder, inside player, team player and above all, a very good shooter.

Jamaal Wilkes, born Keith Wilkes 55 years ago, was always the unassuming type, not one to usually blow his horn. It could be this admirable quality that his friends suspect that hinders his selection to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The former UCLA All-American and Lakers Showtime-era stalwart is again considered by the selection committee this year. First nominated in 2000, he was dropped from the ballot after three years when he did not get a single vote from a nine-person anonymous selection committee.

This time, the former Santa Barbara High School standout has the backing of Hall of Famers who played with or against him. Bill Walton, Rick Barry, Magic and Kareem all wrote letters to the Hall, as well as John Wooden and Pat Riley, Hall of Fame coaches who coached Wilkes.

Why it took this long to get Silk to the Hall? One probability could be that after high school, Wilkes was never again the star on the team. At UCLA, he played second fiddle Walton. As a three-year starter in college, he averaged 15 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, contributing to UCLA’s consecutive 30-0 seasons and the ’72 and ’73 NCAA titles in his second and third years.

In his first pro season with the Golden State, Wilkes was awarded the top rookie and also helped the Warriors to their only NBA championship in 1975. This time, he was again overshadowed by the sweet-shooting Barry. In LA, he helped the Lakers to three titles but of course, there was Magic and Kareem.

A three-time All-Star, Wilkes averaged 17.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in his 12 seasons in the league. He had that next to ridiculous delivery of his jump shot that legendary Lakers announcer Chick Hearns coined the memorable “twenty-foot layup” term.

Since retiring in December of 1985, Wilkes has been out of basketball circulation and his lack of visibility could also be a factor. He now works as an investment advisor and is married to Valerie, his wife of 28 years. His three children are also athletes - his eldest Omar, played basketball at Kansas and California. Another son, Jordan, is a 7-foot center at Cal State. Daughter Sabreen played for one season with UCLA’s women’s volleyball team.

Laughing at the notion that his playing behind all-time greats blocked his candidacy to the Hall, Wilkes said, “I don’t know if that should be held against me, but it’s certainly a point of view. The other side of the coin is, there was a great deal of consistency not just within one dynasty but two, college and pro, and that I was part of the only championship that the Warriors have ever won. I certainly can’t dispute that notion because I did played with great players and I loved every second of it.”

UCLA and the Lakers nominated The Silk last year. In next month’s announcement of finalists, hopefully Wilkes will be on the short list. (THE FREEMAN)