By By KEVIN TRAVIS. Sports Editor
Though he’s having a career year, Damien Wilkins would trade some points for some more wins.
The Washington native, in his third season with the Seattle SuperSonics, is averaging 8.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. All of those stats are career-bests.
Wilkins is hitting 42.6 percent of his field goal attempts, including 36.5 percent from 3-point range, and 89.4 percent of his free throws. All of those numbers, with the exception of his field goal shooting, are career-highs.
He’s hoping to see the same out of his team. Heading into Friday’s home game against the Chicago Bulls, the Sonics were 17-29, which has them in last place in the Northwest division of the Western Conference.
After winning four of five games, the Sonics have dropped their last three. That includes a 112-102 loss to Houston, giving Seattle a franchise-tying worst 14-game road losing streak.
Wilkins took advantage of some injuries to teammates to start 14 games this season. He hit for double digits in 12 of those games, including a career-high tying 26 points in a 112-98 loss to Denver on Dec. 28.
The third-year pro didn’t start the following game.
Wilkins has played a high of 44 minutes, 32 seconds against Chicago. He played just 3 minutes and 25 seconds against Phoenix.
For the season, Wilkins is averaging 24 minutes and 36 seconds per game. He said no matter how many minutes he plays, he’ll give it his all.
With Lewis out with an injury, Wilkins has taken it upon himself to score more points and play a more instrumental role with the team.
The Sonics will look to snap their road losing streak Monday at Washington. Seattle plays at Indiana on Wednesday.
Wilkins is keeping busy away from basketball as well. He’s involved with a restaurant, Callie Mae’s Southern Cuisine &Eastern NC Style BBQ, which is located in Charlotte.
The restaurant’s web site is www.calliemaes.com.
Wilkins has also been working on his annual “Fun Day.” He will run a basketball camp June 20-22 and the “Fun Day” is scheduled for June 23.