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2017-18 Pacers Player Reviews: Damien Wilkins

By Tony East

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 18: Damien Wilkins #12 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the season game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 18, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 18: Damien Wilkins #12 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during the season game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 18, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Damien Wilkins Indiana Pacers
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 6: Damien Wilkins #12 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball during the preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 6, 2017, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Good

The best thing Damien Wilkins did in Indiana was to leave a lasting influence on the team.

Jim Ayello wrote a story about exactly that for the Indianapolis Star As Wilkins departed, he received nothing but glowing reviews from Nate McMillan: “He was very vocal in the locker room, he was always talking to guys, grabbing them in-game and calming them down, encouraging them and supporting them. In practice, he was that guy who lifted other guys on days they didn’t feel like working. He was normally the first guy in the building to get his work in. He was the pro we thought we were getting.”

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Wilkins himself had nice things to say about his time in Indiana, too. “I hope, based on what people told me all the time around here, that I inspired them in some way to not give up on their dreams,” said Wilkins.

He was the perfect veteran. He was a positive voice for the younger guys and a steady and calming presence for everyone. A pro’s pro.

On the court, Wilkins’ play mirrored his off-court impact: a steady hand. He was always ready when he got called in to play, even though he only hit the court for 152 total minutes spanning 19 games.

He played defense adequately enough, he rarely turned the ball over (only five times in total), and he filled in the gaps as Indiana’s stop-gap starter when Bojan Bogdanovic had an ankle injury. In his only start, he dropped in 11 points and hit three deep balls. He filled in perfectly.

Wing depth, camaraderie, and veteran leadership. Is there anything more you can ask of a 38-year-old? Nope, and that is why Wilkins had an overwhelmingly positive impact in Indiana.

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