Wilkins left the University of Georgia after his junior year, where he was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the 1982 NBA Draft. Reluctant to play with the Jazz, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks several months after the draft. Prior to his last three seasons (with the Celtics, Spurs and Magic) Wilkins never averaged fewer than 20 points per game and captured a scoring title in 1985-86 with an average of 30.3 points per game.

Wilkins, in addition to his eleven seasons with the Hawks, had short stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Boston Celtics, Panathinaikos Athens (a professional team in Greece, with whom he won his first title, the European Clubs' Championship and the Greek Cup), Fortitudo Bologna (a professional team in Italy), the San Antonio Spurs, and the Orlando Magic before he retired in 1999.

Wilkins was instrumental in the Hawks' prominence in the 1980s, when the club recorded 50-win seasons four times during the decade. As Wilkins entered his 30s, and the Hawks started to require an all-around contribution from their star, Wilkins evolved into an all-around player, averaging 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the 1990-91 season.

Wilkins, a nine-time NBA All-Star and the winner of two NBA Slam Dunk Contest, registered 26,668 points (one of only 12 players to do so) and 7,169 rebounds in his NBA career.

Wilkins' nickname was the "The Human Highlight Film" for his Erving-esque athleticism, and highlight reel dunks which helped him to win two NBA Slam Dunk Contest titles. His trademark dunk was a powerful one or two handed windmill. His duels in the contest with the young Michael Jordan are widely considered to have been the best slam dunk contests ever.