Michael Sharod Wilks, Jr. (born May 7, 1979) is an American coach and former professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
player who currently serves as an assistant coach for the
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team plays i ...
of the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
(NBA).
College career
After graduating from
Rufus King High School
Rufus King International High School, or Rufus King, is a public magnet high school located on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, part of the Milwaukee Public Schools district. The school is ranked the 1,658th best public high school in the ...
in Milwaukee, Wilks played four years (1997–2001) of
college basketball
In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...
at
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a private research university in Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranked among the top universities ...
, where Mike majored in
Economics
Economics () is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analyzes ...
. His senior year, Mike averaged 20.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, earning
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) is an NCAA Division I conference. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the western United States with member institutions located in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Texas.
Due to mos ...
Scholar Athlete honors.
Professional career
Wilks began his professional career as an undrafted
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
. Mike wilks started his career in the
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Conference Pacific Division. The Kings are the oldest ...
Training camp, however he was waived before the season started. Wilks was drafted by the Mobile Revelers in Round 12 Pick 7 in the NBA D league draft. After Playing 6 games for the Revelers he moved to the
Huntsville Flight where he finished out the season. As a rookie in the
NBA Development League, Mike won the 2001–02 Sportsmanship Award while playing for the Huntsville Flight.
Wilks started for the 2002 season on the
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded in 1968 ...
Training Camp roster. He was again waived before the start of the 2002-2003 regular season. He returned to the
Huntsville Flight for the 2002-2003 d-league season. On December 24, 2002 he was signed to a contract by the
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays its home games at ...
where he played 6 games before he was subsequently waived on January 7, 2003. He then returned on his first of 2 10-day contracts for the
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays its home games at ...
where he then played another 9 games. After his time with the
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays its home games at ...
came to a close Wilks signed with the
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. Founded in 19 ...
on a 10 day contract, which turned into a full contract in which he played 31 out of 32 of the final games for the team.
On September 8, 2003 Wilks signed with the
Houston Rockets where he played 26 games in the season. 1 year later he did a sign and trade with the Rockets where he was traded with
Eric Piatkowski
Eric Todd Piatkowski (; born September 30, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He is the son of former ABA player Wa ...
and
Adrian Griffin
Adrian Darnell Griffin Sr. (born July 4, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA as a shooting guard ...
to the
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January ...
for
Dikembe Mutombo. On 10/26/2004 Wilks signed with the San Antonio Surs with whom he won a
title in 2005, averaging 1.8 points per game in the regular season. Wilks then signed with the
Cleveland Cavaliers Where he played 37 games. Near the 2003 deadline the Cavaliers traded Wilks and Cash to the
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics (commonly known as the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The SuperSonics competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Western Confe ...
for Flip Murray. Wilks also played the 2006-2007 season with the
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics (commonly known as the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The SuperSonics competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Western Confe ...
. He played 57 games over the 2 seasons for the Sonics.
Wilks signed for Training Camp with the
Denver Nuggets. After being waived by the Nuggets in October 2007, Wilks was re-signed four days later after
Chucky Atkins
Kenneth Lavon "Chucky" Atkins (born August 14, 1974) is an American former professional basketball player who played for nine different NBA teams throughout his career.
Basketball career
Atkins played college basketball at the University of Sout ...
suffered an injury. Mike was waived again later in November and signed by the Wizards in December 2007. On February 29, 2008 the Sonics signed Wilks to a 10-day contract. After the contract expired, he was not re-signed.
Wilks signed with the
Orlando Magic on September 30, 2008. In the pre season game on October 26, 2008 Mike tore his ACL in his right knee and missed the whole regular season. Mike was traded to the
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference ...
on February 19, 2009. After leaving the
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference ...
. Wilks spent 2009 training camp with the
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays its home games at ...
but was not signed for the season. Michael Wilks signed a contract with the
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team plays i ...
on November 26. He was waived by Oklahoma City on December 22, 2009, when the team acquired
Eric Maynor
Eric Demarqua Maynor (born June 11, 1987) is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for Virginia Commonwealth ...
. This was his second stint with the franchise.
Wilks' final NBA game was played on December 4, 2009 in a 87 - 105 loss to the
Boston Celtics where he recorded 7 points and 2 assists while playing 21 minutes off the bench.
Wilks wore number 29 throughout his NBA career (with the exception of his stint with the Spurs, in which he wore 11), as a tribute to Milwaukee's 29th Street playground where he grew up playing the game.
On August 25, 2010, he signed a deal with Polish league champion
Asseco Prokom Gdynia
Arka Gdynia is a Polish professional basketball team, based in Gdynia. The team plays in the Polish PLK. The club's sponsorship name comes from the company Asseco. Historically the team is one of the most successful in Poland, mainly because of t ...
but was waived in January 2011.
In the 2011-2012 season Mike Wilks was brought in for
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays ...
training camp but was cut before the regular season.
In October 2012, Wilks joined the
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team plays i ...
as a scout. On December 28, 2021, Wilks became the first former Thunder player to coach the Thunder as head coach
Mark Daigneault entered health and safety protocols.
NBA career statistics
Regular season
, -
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Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, 15 , , 7 , , 24.3 , , .358 , , .353 , , .724 , , 2.7 , , 2.8 , , 1.1 , , .1 , , 5.7
, -
, align="left" ,
, align="left" ,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, 31 , , 0 , , 10.5 , , .313 , , .222 , , .889 , , 1.0 , , 1.6 , , .3 , , .1 , , 2.0
, -
, align="left" ,
, align="left" ,
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, 26 , , 0 , , 5.6 , , .472 , , .600 , , .833 , , .6 , , .7 , , .1 , , .0 , , 1.9
, -
, style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;", †
, align="left" ,
San Antonio
("Cradle of Freedom")
, image_map =
, mapsize = 220px
, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, subdivision_t ...
, 48 , , 0 , , 5.8 , , .416 , , .313 , , .750 , , .5 , , .7 , , .3 , , .0 , , 1.7
, -
, align="left" ,
, align="left" ,
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
, 37 , , 0 , , 6.6 , , .288 , , .143 , , .500 , , .7 , , .5 , , .2 , , .0 , , 1.1
, -
, align="left" ,
, align="left" ,
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, 10 , , 0 , , 10.5 , , .387 , , .200 , , .655 , , 1.2 , , 1.4 , , .6 , , .0 , , 4.4
, -
, align="left" ,
, align="left" ,
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, 47 , , 4 , , 11.4 , , .468 , , .333 , , .786 , , 1.1 , , 1.7 , , .3 , , .1 , , 3.6
, -
, align="left" ,
, align="left" ,
Denver
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
, 8 , , 0 , , 15.3 , , .435 , , .400 , , 1.000 , , 1.5 , , .8 , , .6 , , .0 , , 3.0
, -
, align="left" ,
, align="left" ,
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
, 4 , , 0 , , 11.0 , , .500 , , .500 , , .000 , , 1.5 , , .8 , , .8 , , .0 , , 1.3
, -
, align="left" ,
, align="left" ,
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, 3 , , 0 , , 7.3 , , .556 , , .000 , , 1.000 , , .3 , , 1.7 , , .3 , , .0 , , 4.0
, -
, align="left" ,
, align="left" ,
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...
, 4 , , 0 , , 14.8 , , .500 , , .667 , , .500 , , 1.0 , , 1.0 , , .0 , , .0 , , 4.0
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 233 , , 11 , , 9.6 , , .402 , , .321 , , .741 , , 1.0 , , 1.2 , , .4 , , .0 , , 2.5
Playoffs
, -
, align="left" ,
2003
, align="left" ,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, 4 , , 0 , , 1.8 , , .500 , , 1.000 , , .000 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , , .8
, -
, align="left" ,
2004
, align="left" ,
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
, 2 , , 0 , , 2.5 , , .000 , , .000 , , .000 , , .0 , , .5 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0
, - class="sortbottom"
, style="text-align:center;" colspan="2", Career
, 6 , , 0 , , 2.0 , , .500 , , 1.000 , , .000 , , .0 , , .2 , , .0 , , .0 , , .5
References
External links
NBA.com profile - Mike Wilksat Basketball-Reference.com
Mike Wilksat Basketball.realgm.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilks, Mike
1979 births
African-American basketball players
American expatriate basketball people in Italy
American expatriate basketball people in Poland
American men's basketball players
Asseco Gdynia players
Atlanta Hawks players
Basketball players from Milwaukee
Cleveland Cavaliers players
Denver Nuggets players
Houston Rockets players
Huntsville Flight players
Living people
Mens Sana Basket players
Minnesota Timberwolves players
Mobile Revelers players
Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coaches
Oklahoma City Thunder players
Point guards
Rice Owls men's basketball players
San Antonio Spurs players
Seattle SuperSonics players
Undrafted National Basketball Association players
Washington Wizards players
Rufus King International High School alumni
21st-century African-American sportspeople
20th-century African-American sportspeople