Michael Jordan on why the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest is still a fond memory: "That was the connection that I remembered the most about Dominique and myself"

Yahoo

2 days ago

By 1988, Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins had already established themselves as the premier dunkers in the NBA. Wilkins had already won the 1985 contest, defeating Jordan in the final round.
Jordan, hungry for revenge, had captured the 1987 title while Wilkins was sidelined due to injury. So when both were healthy and primed for battle in '88, the hype was through the roof.
A special contest
The 1988 contest was hosted in Chicago. Under the bright lights of the All-Star weekend, the pair of high-flyers delivered one of the greatest shows of pure and raw creativity.
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But beyond the contest itself, it was a showcase of North Carolina basketball talent. Both players honed their skills in the Tar Heel State — Wilkins in Washington and Jordan in Wilmington.
"Two North Carolina boys going at it," Jordan said. "People don't realize he was from Washington, North Carolina. I'm from Wilmington — two extremes. And it gives us great pride in that type of showmanship; that's always going to be a connected bond between me and him."
Jordan continued: "It was a part of the phase of the creativity and the uniqueness of what those individuals brought to the game itself. It wasn't defining who we were, it was a part of who we were and being that both players came from North Carolina, that was the connection that I remembered the most about Dominique and myself."
In the contest proper at the United Center, both superstars came out strong. The Atlanta Hawks star threw down a signature two-handed windmill.
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The Chicago Bulls star responded with a smooth double-pump jam. The judges scored them nearly evenly, setting up the perfect showdown.
As the final round approached, Wilkins threw down a ferocious two-handed windmill from the baseline, shaking the backboard and sending the Chicago crowd into a stunned silence. The judges, however, controversially gave him a 45 — a score that many still debate to this day.
Jordan, with his dunk title on the line, stepped up for the last dunk. He started at the opposite end of the court, dribbled down and took off from the free-throw line. As he soared through the air and defied gravity, he made the dunk. The crowd erupted, and the judges handed him a perfect 50.
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Jordan's nostalgia
Wilkins proved he could go toe-to-toe with the greatest. Though he and "His Airness" had different styles, they shared a connection deeper than basketball.
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Both players hailed from North Carolina and were athletic superstars. They won two slam dunk titles apiece and scoring titles — although Jordan won 10 again to Wilkins' one.
Jordan also formed a dynasty in Chicago, winning six championships and six Finals MVP awards. Wilkins, on the other hand, never found championship success with the Hawks, where he spent the majority of his career. Even though he couldn't follow Mike in terms of the championships or overall quality of play, Dominique was ahead of his time. And contrary to popular belief, he wasn't just a dunker.
"I love the art of dunking because I used it as a tool for intimidation, but the problem is people think that's all I did," Wilkins said. "I've had games where I had 40 or more points and only had like one or two dunks in the entire game. People don't realize that I was a complete scorer. I could shoot the 3. I could play inside and outside. I was a nightmare for guys in the midrange."
It's probably because Dominique played in the '80s and not many people today have watched his games. They've watched his highlights and dunks were a major part of those, but Wilkins could do it all.
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