Michael Jordan vs. Dominique Wilkins

Back when the stars took part in the dunk contest!

The NBA reintroduced the Slam Dunk Contest in 1984 at its birthplace in Denver. Phoenix’s Larry Nance defeated the original Dunk contest winner Julius Erwing in the final round. Dominique Wilkins won the contest the following year, but in 1986 his Hawks teammate Spud Webb made history when he defeated Wilkins in the final, preventing him from retaining his title. Standing a mere 5 feet 7 inches tall, Webb became the shortest player ever to win the contest, a distinction that he still holds. Chicago’s Michael Jordan won back-to-back dunk contest victories in 1987 and in 1988. His victory over Wilkins in 1988 in Chicago finished with a perfect 50 dunk from the free-throw line for his third dunk to win the contest. However, the announcers did note that Wilkins was given abnormally low score for his breathtaking third dunk, a 45, allowing Jordan to win it by 2 with his perfect 50. To this day, the allegations of “home cooking” still float around surrounding the event. I think ‘Nique should have won the contest, even Jordan himself thought that Wilkins was better that day.

MJ said to Wilkins:

‘Hey, you know, you probably won. You know it; I know it. But hey, you in Chicago. What can I tell you?’

Judge for yourself; either way, it was one of the best contests in NBA history, if not the best.