Dominique Wilkins’ keynote focused on his 27 year journey managing diabetes, his transition from elite athlete to patient advocate, and why discipline and belief remain central to his philosophy.
NBA legend Dominique Wilkins opened his RISE National keynote by sharing his unexpected diagnosis with diabetes shortly after retiring from the league—an experience that forced an abrupt lifestyle change and reshaped his understanding of health and resilience. He emphasized that despite a lifetime of elite conditioning, “you find out that you have the same problems everybody else has” when life slows down after a professional sports career.
Recalling how he lost 35 pounds in just over two months after his diagnosis—weight he has kept off for 27 years—Wilkins framed diabetes not as a curse but an “opponent” he could learn to manage through discipline, education, and consistent lifestyle choices.
The need for simple chronic condition management programs
Wilkins encouraged health plan leaders to design chronic condition management programs that keep things simple and relatable. Complicated programs, he said, lose people quickly. He stressed the importance of empathy, authenticity, and lived experience when engaging patients, noting that “you’ve got to show people that you’re interested” and talk with them rather than over them.
He also underscored that patients must take ownership of their health: “I can’t want this more than you,” he said.
The importance of support systems and a winning mindset
Drawing from lessons instilled by his coaches, Wilkins highlighted the importance of structure, mentorship, and a “winner’s mindset” when guiding individuals through behavioral change. He referenced a poem called Don’t Quit that he was required to recite before every high school game, a poem she later performed from memory at his Hall of Fame induction after 27 years.
This philosophy, he said, applies as much to health as to sports: setbacks happen, but resilience and recommitment are what sustain progress.
The need for trust in health care
One of Wilkins’ strongest messages centered on improving trust between patients and clinicians, particularly for African American men who often avoid screenings. He warned that ignoring symptoms due to fear or ego can have serious consequences and said screening builds a “portfolio of your health” that allows physicians to intervene earlier and more accurately.
He also described the decades‑long relationship with his own physician—one that began with discomfort but matured into trust and proactive engagement. “If he tells me I need to come in, I go in,” Wilkins said, emphasizing that trust must flow both ways.
The need to advocate for hidden disabilities
Wilkins spoke extensively about his work as chairman of Culture City, a nonprofit focused on sensory accessibility, PTSD, autism support, and hidden disabilities. He described creating sensory rooms in sports arenas, theme parks, and public venues, enabling individuals with sensory overload to stabilize and re‑enter environments safely.
He shared a dramatic example of an autistic young man in Virginia who was wrongfully charged with attempted murder after a car accident and panic response. Wilkins and others raised $300,000 for his defense, leading to the young man’s release and full expungement—an example Wilkins said represents the heart of Culture City’s mission.
The need for generational change
Wilkins concluded by connecting health outcomes to economic and community stability. He highlighted Free Rent Atlanta and Free Rent LA, programs that provide housing, education, and financial literacy to families while incentivizing upkeep and engagement. Participants can keep quarterly stipends or invest them for compounding interest, building foundations for long‑term financial health.
This model, he said, shows that “generational change has to start somewhere”—and that giving people tools, not handouts, is essential.