Tough decisions will never make everyone happy. The actions of a few were ascribed to many. Home is truly where the heart is. Time heals all wounds.

In a nutshell, that’s what Friday night’s ESPN SEC Storied “Dominique Belongs to US” documentary told watchers about “Dr. Dunk,” Dominique Wilkins, the young man who led the Washington High School basketball team to two state championships, who was revered by teammates, classmates and basketball fans, destined to be the hometown boy who would go places — many places.

He did go places, all the way to the NBA Naismith Hall of Fame, but when he went, he didn’t take Washington with him. And with good reason.

The ESPN documentary follows Wilkins’ story, from his upbringing in the Baltimore projects, where he hit the courts to bring cash home, helping to support his family from a very young age, to his move to Washington, where, once his athletic prowess became known, he was welcomed open-armed. He was a star — a star who turned his back on the ACC, and the North Carolina schools courting him, in favor of a fledgling basketball program at the University of Georgia. In turn, Washington turned its back on Wilkins.

Wilkins’ family received death threats. Bricks were thrown through their home’s windows. His mother’s car, vandalized. Finally, the family packed up and left during the night. They never looked back.

That is until last December, when Wilkins’ number was retired by Washington High School. Officially made “Dominique Wilkins Day,” a parade was held in his honor, a gathering at the civic center brought fans out, old and new. Accompanying Wilkins and his wife to Washington was the film crew from ESPN, documenting his return.

At the crux of the matter is college athletics, an issue that continues to raise eyebrows and spur investigations. In the documentary, both Karl Malone and Doc Rivers talk about the culture of athletic recruitment during that era. They’re clear that there was money involved — money, cars, parties, etc. — with each college upping the ante to sway new recruits. It was just the way things were then, they said, and the documentary dances around whether Wilkins was actually paid to go to Georgia. It was assumed the case then and, apparently, that was what made some Washingtonians angry.

They had no right to that anger, especially without all the facts.

Thirty-five years later, the documentary makes clear why Wilkins made the choices he did. He did what he had to do. It was why he moved to Washington, to play under Coach Dave Smith and hone his basketball skills. It was why he chose Georgia. It was why he left Georgia after his junior year and went pro — to support his family. At a young age, he had to carry that weight, when others his age were just playing ball for the fun of it.

But in Washington, a vocal few, a vindictive few, even a violent few, judged him for it. They were wrong to do so.

In the end, after decades of conflict, Wilkins appears to have made peace with the past and with Washington. For Washington, reaching out the olive branch, inviting him home again, playing a role in the resolution of a painful past, was only the right thing to do. In the end, Washington doesn’t look so bad.