Atlanta Hawks All-Star Flashback: Dominique Wilkins Was The True Winner of the 1988 Dunk Contest vs Michael Jordan

Jordan defeated Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins in the 1988 Dunk Contest

There is no player that is more iconic in Atlanta Hawks history than Dominique Wilkins. The Human Highlight Film holds several Hawks records and led them through one of their most successful periods in franchise history before being a Hall of Famer. He is one of three Hawks (Spud Webb and Josh Smith are the others) to win the NBA Slam Dunk contest, winning it twice in 1985 and 1990. 

The thing is though, his trophy case should have one more Dunk Contest trophy in it and it should have come from beating Michael Jordan in his own city. 

Wilkins was a part of one of the greatest dunk contests ever in 1988 against arguably the greatest basketball player ever, Michael Jordan, and in any other year and in any other venue, Wilkins would have won. 

But it was not in any other venue. It was held in Jordan's city of Chicago. The other problem? The judges. Here is who was judging the contest in Chicago. 

The fact that Wilkins even had a chance shows you how incredible of a performance he put on. He had already defeated Jordan once in the Dunk Contest and proven that he could go toe-to-toe with him. 

After the two Hall of Famers eliminated everyone else from the competition, the final round came down to two of the greatest dunkers to ever step on the court. Both players had already scored a 50 on their first dunk attempt. 

Wilkins threw down a windmill dunk and shockingly only got a 45 score from the judges. It was Jordan's turn to try and win the contest and despite missing the first attempt (which is another thing altogether), he dunked it from the free throw line and got a perfect 50 score. The 1988 dunk contest was over and Michael Jordan had won. 

Jordan won the dunk contest, but it sounds like even he did not think he deserved it and told Wilkins as much: 

"He [Jordan] said 'Hey, you know, you probably won. You know it; I know it. But hey, you in Chicago. What can I tell you?' "

Wilkins had a great career and is the greatest Hawk of all time. He is also the true winner of the 1988 dunk contest. 

"He did the same dunk twice and missed and still got a 50! It was great but don't get me going."

Here's MJ, Nique, Drexler & Rick Barry on what really happened in the final round of the 1988 NBA Dunk Contest pic.twitter.com/r4hkQty7c4

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 7, 2023

2024 NBA Three-Point Contest: Odds, Picks, and Predictions

Follow Jackson on X here: @jacksoncauell

Follow Hawks coverage on Facebook here: All Hawks