ATLANTA -- Atlanta Hawks forward Dominique Wilkins, named an All-Star hours earlier, ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a game against Philadelphia Tuesday night and will be out for the season.
Wilkins was injured while dribbling uncontested in the front court with just under six minutes remaining in the quarter. He began hobbling and limping on his left leg and was able to get himself to the Atlanta bench, where he collapsed and had to be carried off the court on a stretcher.
'I knew the season was over,' Wilkins said in a statement released after the Hawks' 110-109 victory. 'I'll be back. I'm not worrying about getting back this year. I wish I could find the words to tell you how disappointed I am.
'It was one of those situations where when it happened, I knew that this year was over and that I had to look forward to next year because I knew it was pretty bad.'
Wilkins was taken to Piedmont Hospital where it was diagnosed he ruptured his Achilles heel and would miss between six to nine months. Wilkins had his leg placed in a cast.
'When I was sitting in the emergency room, I just couldn't believe it was me,' Wilkins said. 'When guys blow out a knee pretty bad, they never really come back the same. But I've seen guys with Achilles injury and be able to do the same things before they got hurt. It hurts more emotionally than physically. Larry (Bird) had both Achilles operated on and he was able to come back in a big way.'
Wilkins was later able to return to the court on crutches where he received a standing ovation with just under two minutes remaining in the game.
Atlanta team physician Dr. David Apple said, 'The injury is a rupture of a major (tendon) that allows him to run and jump and even walk. It needs to be repaired and 99 percent of the time, is successful.
'We think he will come back and be the same old 'Nique. It's a mental problem to be out six-to-nine months and not be able to do anything but walk around, especially since when he had been so active and injury-free all of his career.'
Prior to this season, Wilkins had missed just 18 games, but never more than four in any one season during his nine-year NBA career.
Apple said Wilkins will undergo surgery in the next few days and the cast will remain on for eight to ten weeks. He will then be placed in brace-supported shoes. Wilkins, 32, will begin rehabilitation immediately after the cast is removed.
'Forces come together that exceeds the strength of the tendon and it pops,' Apple said. 'The tendon will be somewhat affected by the scar tissue, but with the muscle that Dominique has in that area, it can pick up the slack in that area. He can come back to the same degree he has been.'
Wilkins entered the game needing just 33 points to achieve 20,000 and become only the 17th player in NBA history to accomplish the feat. He scored 8 points.
Wilkins, who was second in the league in scoring with a 28.6 average, becomes the third marquee superstar to go down this season. Los Angeles Lakers All-Star guard Magic Johnson announced his retirement prior to the season after testing positive for the HIV virus and Boston 's Bird has been in and out of the lineup because of back problems.
