1996-10-04, By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer
马刺签下威尔金斯 - 威尔金斯同意签署一份为期一年的合同
奥斯汀 - 马刺球迷希望现年 36 岁的多米尼克·威尔金斯（Dominique Wilkins），这位曾经被人们称为“人类电影精华”的球员，还能为新赛季保留一些实力。在老将前锋查克·珀森（Chuck Person）因背伤而缺席训练营，并可能缺席整个赛季的情况下，威尔金斯于周四与马刺达成协议。
“希望，”马刺控球后卫艾弗里·约翰逊（Avery Johnson）说，“他能用那些震耳欲聋的扣篮让阿拉莫穹顶沸腾起来。我认为他还有很多潜力。”
目前，威尔金斯将参加球队的训练营训练，并从今天在德克萨斯大学开始学习马刺主教练鲍勃·希尔（Bob Hill）战术体系的细微之处。
威尔金斯上个赛季在希腊打球，预计他将在周四晚些时候抵达奥斯汀，目前无法联系到他。珀森是上赛季马刺替补席上得分最高的球员，这次他没有随队前往。
“我认为你首先要承认我们失去了查克，”希尔说。“这对我很痛苦。我们会非常想念他。我们必须找到一个能够完成查克部分工作的人。”
也就是说，马刺需要九次入选全明星阵容的威尔金斯来提供一些得分能力。
他可能会在肖恩·埃利奥特（Sean Elliott）之后担任替补小前锋。
“他是一位优秀的得分手，”希尔说。“他经常获得罚球机会。他擅长运球突破。他让我们更有竞争力，也更令人兴奋。”
预计威尔金斯将签署一份为期一年的合同，工资很可能是联盟规定的最低工资 247,500 美元。马刺已经超过了工资帽，他们只能支付最低工资。
“我们认为他是一位非常出色的球员，”马刺篮球运营副总裁格雷格·波波维奇（Gregg Popovich）说。“我们也考察了一些其他球员。但当我们知道有机会得到他时，这简直是毫无悬念。”
在本周早些时候，得知珀森的背部出现问题后，马刺迅速行动签下了威尔金斯。在球队周三发布公告称珀森将缺席整个训练营后，波波维奇透露他正在考虑签下一名球员。
“其他球队也有意签下（威尔金斯），”波波维奇说，“所以我们决定要尽快行动。”
珀森的合同还剩两年，本赛季他将获得 220 万美元的薪水，下个赛季将获得 250 万美元。他的一些队友想知道他是否会长时间缺席。
“你永远不知道背伤会怎么样，”前锋肖恩·埃利奥特说。“他可能两周后就感觉好了，也可能需要手术。你就是不知道。”
希尔拒绝讨论如果珀森回来，轮换阵容会发生什么变化。
“我们到时候再过那座桥吧，”希尔说。“现在，我们想要在场上拥有最好的阵容。如果他回来，我们到时候再解决这个问题。”
球员们对这件事的心情很复杂。一方面，他们意识到威尔金斯很有可能在替补席上带来活力。另一方面，他们也为珀森感到难过，珀森是一位在过去两个赛季为球队做出重大贡献的球员。
“我们失去查克，损失很大，”马刺中锋大卫·罗宾逊（David Robinson）说。“我们的球员没有得到足够的认可，但查克去年打出了他职业生涯最棒的一年。我们失去查克的损失，很难用一个球员来弥补。”
约翰逊说他为珀森感到难过。
“我为查克感到难过，”约翰逊说。“我不知道他（回归）的时间表。他去年为我们打出了职业生涯最棒的一年。他真的脱颖而出。失去查克，得到多米尼克，这让人又悲伤又高兴。”—
多米尼克·威尔金斯
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1995-96 赛季：效力于希腊联赛的帕纳辛奈科斯雅典队。
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职业生涯数据：984 场常规赛场均得到 25.8 分，6.8 个篮板。
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亮点：连续 9 年入选 NBA 全明星阵容；在总得分榜上排名第八，总得分 25,389 分（在现役球员中排名第一）；保持着 NBA 单场不失误罚球数的记录：1992 年 12 月 8 日对阵芝加哥的比赛中，23 罚 23 中。
图片由道格·塞赫里斯提供
多米尼克·威尔金斯（21 号），与戴尔·埃利斯（Dale Ellis）在一起，是马刺队的新成员。
点击查看原文：Spurs geet reel, sign Dominique - Wilkins agrees to 1-year deal
Spurs geet reel, sign Dominique - Wilkins agrees to 1-year deal
AUSTIN - Spurs fans are hoping that 36-year-old Dominique Wilkins, known in his younger days as the “Human Highlight Film,” has a few more reels of talent in reserve for the coming season. Wilkins agreed to terms with the Spurs on Thursday in the wake of a back injury that will keep veteran forward Chuck Person sidelined through training camp and possibly into the season.
“Hopefully,” said Spurs point guard Avery Johnson, “he can bring the Alamodome down with those thundering dunks. I think he has a lot left in him.”
For the time being, Wilkins will work out with the team in camp and learn the nuances of Spurs head coach Bob Hill’s system starting today at the University of Texas.
Wilkins, who played last season in Greece, was expected to arrive in Austin late Thursday night and wasn’t immediately available for comment. Person, the team’s top scorer off the bench last season, did not make the trip.
“I think you first have to address the fact that we lost Chuck,” Hill said. “That’s tough for me personally. We will desperately miss him. We had to find someone who could do some of the things Chuck did.”
Namely, the Spurs need Wilkins - a nine-time NBA All-Star - to provide some scoring.
He will likely play small forward off the bench behind Sean Elliott.
“He’s a great scorer,” Hill said. “He gets to the foul line a lot. He’s good off the dribble. He brings us some credibility and some excitement.”
Wilkins is expected to sign a one-year contract, apparently at the NBA minimum salary of $247,500. The Spurs, over the salary cap, were restricted in paying anything more than the minimum.
“We think he’s a heck of a player,” said Gregg Popovich, Spurs vice president of basketball operations. “We looked at some other players. But when we knew we had a chance to get him, it was a no-brainer.”
The Spurs moved quickly to sign Wilkins after it was learned earlier this week that Person was having problems with his back. After the team issued a release Wednesday saying that Person would miss all of the training camp, Popovich disclosed that he was considering signing another player.
“There were other teams who had interest in (Wilkins),” Popovich said, “so we decided we better move as quickly as possible.”
Person has two years remaining on a contract that will pay him $2.2 million this season and $2.5 million next season. Some of his teammates are wondering whether he will be lost for a long period of time.
“You never know with a back,” forward Sean Elliott said. “He could come in in two weeks and feel good, or maybe he has surgery. You just don’t know.”
Hill declined to discuss what might happen to the playing rotation if Person returns.
“We’ll cross that path when it happens,” Hill said. “Right now, we wanted to get the best team out there on the floor. Then if he comes back, we’ll answer that at that point.”
Players had mixed emotions about the turn of events. On one hand, they realize that Wilkins will likely provide a spark off the bench. On the other side of the story, they feel sorry for Person, a player who has been a major contributor for two seasons .
“We lose a lot with Chuck,” Spurs center David Robinson said. "Our guys don’t get enough credit, but last year Chuck had his best
year ever. What we lose with Chuck is very difficult to replace with one player."
Johnson said he was hurting for Person.
“I’m sad for Chuck,” Johnson said. “I don’t know what his time frame (for return) is. He had one of his best years ever for us last year. He really stood out. To lose Chuck and to get Dominique, it’s both sad and glad.” - - -
Dominique Wilkins
- 1995-96: Played for Panathinaikos Athens of the Greek League.
- Career stats: Averaged 25.8 points, 6.8 rebounds through 984 regular season games.
- Highlights: Named to nine-straight NBA All-Star teams; ranks eighth on the all-time list in total points with 25,389 (first among active players); holds NBA record for most free throws made in a single game without a miss: 23 of 23 against Chicago on Dec. 8, 1992.
PHOTO BY DOUG SEHRES
Dominique Wilkins (21), shown with Dale Ellis, is the newest member of the Spurs.
By Jerry Briggs Express-News Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News