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Damien Wilkins is a man on a mission. Still seeking another opportunity in the NBA, the guard returned to the G League and the 13-26 Greensboro Swarm, where he spent much of last season.
He rejoined the Swarm on Feb. 1 and has taken full advantage of the opportunity.
Appearing in six games this month, Wilkins is demonstrating his versatility. He’s averaging a team-best 29.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. And, despite being 38 years per game, he’s doing it while playing almost 34 minutes per game.
The 41 points he scored on Sunday against Long Island was a career high. And before that game, he sent out a tweet with good vibes.
YOU CAN DO IT!!!
— Damien Wilkins (@dwilkins3000) February 25, 2018
Wilkins signed with the Pacers in the fall, and remained on the roster for 39 games. He started in his last with the team on Jan. 6, a dominant 125-86 win over the Chicago Bulls.
Pacers officials decided to waive him before his contract became guaranteed for the rest of the season. Currently, their roster is full but Trey McKinney Jones will soon be coming off a 10-day contract.
“There’s the buyout list but we won’t know about that and sometimes we get surprised by who gets bought out,” Pacers President Kevin Pritchard said earlier this month about the open roster spot at the time. “And then we got the overseas look, guys coming back from China or Europe. And then, we really try to cultivate this G League [relationship]. We’ll look there first. I’d like to really see if we’re developing those players and getting them ready for the NBA because we put a lot resources into that.”
As for Wilkins…
“I’ll be back [in the NBA],” he told me on the podcast last month.
“It’s important to me and my career, my life, and my goals to finish out this season on an NBA roster. I just want to finish this year — and whatever happens after this year, I can accept it. I’ll take it because I’m ready for it. But it’s a goal of mine to finish this year out.”
He’s obviously a great influence in the locker room, but he’s showed that he still has game left.
How does Damien Wilkins follow up his 37-point performance Friday? By dropping 41 points today. He is averaging 31 PPG over his last 5 games.#ThisIsSwarm pic.twitter.com/vxZJCFo8CI
— Greensboro Swarm (@greensboroswarm) February 25, 2018
[Photo: @greensboroswarm on IG]