The statue was dedicated on March 2, 2015, during a private ceremony at the arena, which is the home venue for the Hawks.

[2] By the time his playing career had ended, Wilkins was a nine-time NBA All-Star and had won the 1985 and 1990 Slam Dunk Contests, earning him the nickname "The Human Highlight Film".

[5] Speaking about the statue, Hanlon stated that he wanted to honor Wilkins's contributions to both the team and to the city of Atlanta.

[6][7] Guests in attendance included Wilkins, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the current Hawks players and coaches, and several former players from Wilkins's era, including Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, Julius Erving, Bernard King, Karl Malone, and Dikembe Mutombo.

[6] A day after the dedication ceremony, the statue was officially unveiled to the public and erected outside the arena, near the main entrance.