NBA All-Star: Dominique Wilkins remembers 1988 Dunk Contest duel with Michael Jordan
Watch the 70th NBA All-Star Game, along with the Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge live from 11.30pm on Sky Sports Arena this Sunday
Saturday 6 March 2021 16:49, UK
NBA icon Dominique Wilkins remembers his 1988 All-Star Dunk Contest duel with Michael Jordan.
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Dominique Wilkins' famous head to head with the six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan in Chicago forms part of the rich history of All-Star weekend, one that continues on Sunday with the 70th instalment of the event in Atlanta - the team with which Wilkins made his name.
Not only that, but he will also serve as judge for the Dunk Contest, which takes place at half-time of the All-Star Game this year, alongside Spud Webb, Jason Richardson, Dee Brown and Josh Smith.
Wilkins, known as the 'Human Highlight Reel', led going into the final round before Jordan completed his trio of slams with his iconic free-throw line dunk that scored a perfect 50 and earned 'His Airness' a second straight Dunk Contest triumph.
Three decades later Wilkins recalls: "I think it was the greatest Dunk Contest ever because you had two great players competing. I wanted to know who the best was. The energy in that place on that night was unbelievable.
"Dunking was a part of my game that I cherished and going against a guy with the same type of ability like Michael Jordan... he was electrifying.
"We didn't practice those dunks before the contest. Michael would tell you the same. It was spur of the moment. We thought up those dunks as the contest was going on.
"It was a great rivalry. 'MJ' and I have a great deal of respect for another. But my plan was to win. 'MJ' was coming to win too so I had to bring my A-game. I came with an A-plus game but it still didn't work!
"I saved my best dunk, a two-handed windmill, for last. The dunk before that I got a 50 so I knew I was going to get a 50 on the last one."
Wilkins was awarded a score of 45 for his final dunk and remembers: "I thought, 'OK, something's not right here'."
Jordan's free-throw line dunk and the perfect 50 it was awarded sealed victory for the Chicago Bulls star on his home court.
"I thought I won. He thought he won. The fans thought he won more than I did," says Wilkins. "But we both put on an amazing show and I was not disappointed. It was a close contest and it could have gone either way. The fans got their money's worth. It was the best of all time. It was a flat-out show."
Watch the 70th NBA All-Star Game, along with the Dunk Contest, 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge live from 11.30pm on Sky Sports Arena this Sunday
