38 Years After Destroying Michael Jordan, 9x All-Star Unveils Bulls Legend’s Response to Iconic Battle During Chance Encounter

By most NBA pros, fans and analysts’ standards, there’s no bigger iconic competition in the league’s history than the 1988 dunk contest. It was a nail-biter between two titans that has never been repeated again. The winner was the formidable Michael Jordan who turned the tables at the last minute. Fans and NBA stars alike can’t stop talking about that historic contest even today – even the NBA legend who lost to ‘His Airness’ by a hair.

Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins went head-to-head in the ’88 dunk contest. You’d think Wilkins would still be sore about that loss. But he revealed otherwise.

Dominique Wilkins explains his loss to Michael Jordan

It’s a moment the NBA has not forgotten. The Atlanta Hawks’ Dominique Wilkins would earn the nickname, ‘The Human Highlight Film’ for his cinematic slam dunkers that would remain in our memory. He and Jordan squared off in the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest in 1985. Then-rookie Jordan was edged out by a small margin. After injuries kept them out of the subsequent contests, their second matchup was in 1988.

The 1988 All-Star Weekend was in the Chicago Bulls‘ home ground. Jordan had not won a championship at this point but was already a star. Pushing out their competitors, Jordan and Wilkins showcased some of their finest dunks. Wilkins made two straight 50 points and his final shot scored a 45. If you ask Jordan, he’d say that shot also deserved a 50.

Jordan had the final shot left after Wilkins. He went to the opposite end of the floor, leapt from the free-throw line, double-clutched midair, and made a glorious shot. He got a perfect score and the slam dunk title. No dunk contest has lived up to that thrill since then.

Wilkins relived the moment during his recent appearance on VladTV. He revealed that he had gotten prematurely comfortable when Jordan missed his first two attempts. But he had an ‘uh-oh’ feeling after his 45.

“I thought the dunk contest was over and they’re like, ‘no, no he got one more. And so that was the famous free-throw-line dunk that he attempted twice.'”

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‘The Human Highlight Reel’ looks back on that contest with awe today. And so does Jordan.

Jordan and Wilkins caught up years after the ’88 contest

A year before the famous dunk contest, Jordan and Wilkins were famous trash-talking each other. After the contest, they can only express mutual admiration. Apart from Jordan thinking Wilkins deserved a 50 for his final shot, the latter is still amazed the pre-championship Jordan pulled the signature ‘Dr. J’ move.

It’s not only the distance from the goal that made the shot perfect. As Wilkins said on VladTV, “Back then you didn’t get too many chances to miss.” 

Shortly after the ’88 contest, the Bulls legend would claim Wilkins won in his eyes. But he didn’t that night because he was in Chicago. Wilkins also agreed. Now Wilkins says that fans certainly got their “money’s worth.”

Despite how much fans still talk about it, Wilkins said that both of them have only spoken about the contest once. It was around 30 years after the event when they ran into each other at a restaurant. “I walked up, say hello, and he said, ‘Hey man, you know you won that dunk contest.’ I said, ‘Hey, how you doin’, Mike? I forgot about the contest.'” 

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That was very cool of Wilkins to get over the loss. But he says that’s the “mutual respect” he and Jordan share. What do you think about the friendship between these rivals? Tell us in the comments!