Episode 37: Dominique Wilkins

On the 37th episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is joined by Atlanta Hawks legend and Basketball Hall of Fame forward Dominique Wilkins, as we get ready for the 2021 NBA Playoffs (12:42 – 27:06). But first, he checks in with TommyFreezePops (Tom Carroll), where the guys take a look at the 2021 NFL schedule, focusing on three of their favorite matchups on the slate – Tom Brady’s return to New England in week 4 (01:40), QB storylines aplenty for Packers vs. Saints in week 1 (04:20), and the Browns opening their season on the road in Kansas City for an AFC Divisional Round rematch (07:16).We then move to our interview with Dominique, where he discusses a wide array of topics: why he refused to play for the team that drafted him, the Utah Jazz (14:31); the age he realized he could be a dominant force in the game of basketball (15:32); looking up to Dr. J, and the advice he got from his childhood idol (16:26); how he got the nickname “Human Highlight Reel” (17:26); why “home cooking” may have robbed him of a 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest win (18:23); why he never practiced his dunk contest dunks ahead of time (19:22); the two players he thinks are the best dunkers in today’s NBA (20:33); what he looks for when he judges the NBA Dunk Contest (20:47); this week’s edition of “The Name Game,” with thoughts on Trae Young, Randy Wittman, Doc Rivers, Gregg Popovich, Red Auerbach, Moses Malone, Spud Webb, Sidney Moncrief, Mark Jackson and David Robinson (21:23); and how special it was for him to get a statue outside the arena in Atlanta (26:05).Then, TommyFreezePops is joined by Kevin Rogers for his weekly check-in with the experts from VegasInsider.com (38:01 – 45:44). The guys preview the first round of the NBA Playoffs, focusing on three key matchups – Boston taking on the heavily favored Brooklyn Nets (39:22); the MVP front-runner taking on a playoff darling, as Jokic and the Nuggets take on Lillard and the Blazers (41:19); and the Knicks making their return to the postseason as they take on Trae Young and the Hawks (43:00).Finally, we close things out with Morten’s “Game Winner” – a weekly segment where Morten monologues his biggest takeaway of the week. This week, Morten talks about Memorial Day – coming up in a few weeks – and why it’s so important to honor our military (45:44).