Jamaal Wilkes, also known as “Silk”, is a former professional basketball player who was known for his smooth and effortless style of play. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and a three-time NBA champion. Wilkes was a two-time NCAA champion and a three-time All-American at UCLA. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1976 U.S. Olympic basketball team.

Wilkes was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 1974 NBA draft. He was an immediate contributor to the team, averaging 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in his rookie season. Wilkes was named to the All-Rookie team and was also selected to the All-Star team in his second season. He was a key member of the Warriors team that won the 1975 NBA championship.

In 1977, Wilkes was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he teamed up with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to form one of the most dominant teams in NBA history. Wilkes was an integral part of the Lakers’ three consecutive NBA championships from 1980 to 1982. He was also selected to the All-Star team in 1983 and 1984.

Wilkes retired from the NBA in 1986 after 12 seasons. He finished his career with averages of 17.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. Wilkes is remembered as one of the greatest players of his era and one of the most versatile players in NBA history.

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