Despite Exposing Michael Jordan?s Admission to Failure, NBA Legend Once Confessed to Harsh Reality Set Around Facing MJ

NBA legend Michael Jordan was a fierce competitor. Ever since he stepped into the league, Jordan competed with his peers on all fronts. MJ was not just a great scorer; he was equally good on the defensive end as well. The six-time NBA champion did it all and won almost every accolade there is. However, there have been doubts or questions about some of his individual accomplishments. Especially Jordan’s 1988 Slam Dunk title. The finalist from the contest once talked about the reality of facing MJ.

The Chicago Bulls legend was one of the most athletic players the league has ever seen. This helped the five-time NBA MVP play above the rim, and it has given the fans mouth-watering highlight reels of dunks and mid-air finishes.

An NBA legend on locking horns with Michael Jordan?

Michael Jordan put the basketball world on notice when he came second in the 1987 MVP voting. He then cemented himself as one of the biggest stars in the league by winning the Slam Dunk contest that year. Some incredible high-flyers competed in the contest displaying their aerial ability. However, one of the best dunkers ever, Dominique Wilkins, missed the contest because of an injury.

So, the 1988 Slam Dunk contest had massive expectations as fans wanted Jordan and Wilkins to go against each other. As the fans expected, the two stars went toe to toe with some mind-boggling dunks. It was arguably one of the best dunk contests ever and also the most controversial as well. As MJ won the title for the second straight year, many believed that Nique should have won it in the final round.

Sam Smith touched on the incident in his book There Is No Next. In one instance he shared a quote from Wilkins about the dunk contest. The Atlanta Hawks legend said that he and MJ wanted to compete with each other in the dunk contest and put on a show for the fans. He then opened up about the reality of facing the Hall of Famer.

Wilkins said, “When I played against Mike, I knew if I wasn’t at the top of my game,?I would get embarrassed. If he came down at me and got a dunk, I’d have to come back and dunk to get my guys going. Mike didn’t want to be your friend.”

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He also noted that he and MJ did not socialize back then and barely shook hands. Wilkins added that was also the case with other stars like Larry Bird back then.

Dominique Wilkins on Jordan’s admission about the 1988 dunk contest

Dominique Wilkins recently stated that Michael Jordan admitted he should not have won the 1988 Slam Dunk title. During an appearance on the podcast Knuckleheads, Wilkins said, “I saw Michael and his wife at the hotel at the All-Star Weekend. I walk over to say hello to him and his wife, and as I go over,?he says, ‘Yeah, Nique, you won the dunk contest.'”

In another instance, MJ admitted that he would’ve given the title to Wilkins for his impressive final dunk. Notably, the nine-time NBA All-Star only received 45 points for his second dunk in the final round according to a report from Sports Illustrated.

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