Millions of NBA fans remember the epic dunk contests featuring Michael "Air" Jordan vs Dominique Wilkins, The Human Highlight Film. They were spectacular dunkers. The modern day focus on those dunk contests sometimes ignores that the on court rivalry was a huge part of NBA history. Dominique validated his greatness against the GOAT. It could certainly be argued that Michael Jordan vs Dominique Wilkins was the single most explosive rivalry in NBA history.

When the Bulls & Hawks played? You could cut the anticipation with a knife. Jordan vs Wilkins match-ups were "circle the calendar" type days. And the last thing you wanted to endure was a loss, where your favorite player was outscored.

Michael Jordan vs Dominique Wilkins produced some of the highest scoring head to head match-ups, in NBA history. Jordan & Wilkins combined for 25 games of 35 points or more, during the rivalry, against each other. This was an explosive rivalry that was must-see-TV for basketball fans all around the world.

From their first contest in December 1984 where Jordan outscored Wilkins 34 to 26, all the way up until their final contest in November 1996 where Jordan outscored Wilkins 35 to 25... these 2 competitors battled in the most entertaining rivalry in NBA history.

Head to Head lifetime regular season averages (45 games):
Michael Jordan - 31.6ppg, 52.0%fg, 35.7%3pt, 85.0%ft, 7.1reb, 6.2ast, 2.6stl, 0.9blk
Dominique Wilkins - 29.8ppg, 47.8%fg, 32.7%3pt, 81.9%ft, 6.8reb, 2.8ast, 1.4stl, 0.6blk

How great was Dominique? Well, Dominique Wilkins outscored Michael Jordan in 48% of the games they played in. Start putting this man on your Small Forward lists, please. Dominique Wilkins outscored Michael Jordan in 22 of 45 regular season games & 1 of 3 playoff games. From 12/26/91 - 3/20/91 Bulls & Hawks played 3x, and Dominique Wilkins outscored Michael Jordan in 3 straight games which was Dominique's longest streak of games, in which he outscored Michael Jordan.

Head to Head lifetime playoff averages (3 games):
Michael Jordan - 34.3ppg, 52.6%fg, 46.2%3pt, 88.2%ft, 6.7reb, 4.3ast, 1.7stl, 1.7blk
Dominique Wilkins - 30.0ppg, 42.7%fg, 25.0%3pt, 76.7%ft, 5.3reb, 3.0astl, 1.0stl, 0.3blk

Michael Jordan went 27-18 vs Dominique Wilkins during the regular season & 3-0 against Dominique Wilkins during the playoffs.

In this contest right here you'll witness 2 of the most athletic facial dunks (22:24) & (23:00), in NBA history. This is the type of action fans expected during this rivalry, and saw quite often.

Jordan & Wilkins were extremely competitive with each other, even though they played different positions. They were always attempting to best each other & it was fun to watch. The dunk contests were only a small part of this rivalry.

TIMESTAMPS:
2:39 - Game begins
2:55 - Dominique Wilkins bank shot
4:04 - Michael Jordan hang time bank shot and 1
5:00 - Michael Jordan driving layup
6:00 - Moses Malone dunk
6:19 - Horace Grant dunk
6:38 - Michael Jordan put back dunk
8:09 - Scottie Pippen layup
8:15 - Dominique Wilkins layup
8:25 - Michael Jordan driving layup and 1
10:00 - Jordan to Pippen dunk
10:38 - Michael Jordan steal & breakaway dunk
11:10 - Spud Webb transition floater and 1
12:04 - John Battle jumper
13:32 - Dudley Bradley jumper
15:52 - John Battle driving layup and 1
16:26 - Michael Jordan acrobatic layup
16:35 - Michael Jordan blocks Antoine Carr
17:25 - John Battle jumper
17:58 - Spud Webb to Moses Malone layup
18:55 - Jack Haley brutal hard foul on Dominique Wilkins
20:12 - Dominique Wilkins signature baseline spin move vs Scottie Pippen
20:37 - Reggie Theus steal & layup
20:54 - Scottie Pippen jumper and 1
21:29 - Michael Jordan put back
21:50 - Dominique Wilkins put back dunk
22:04 - Moses Malone blocks Charles Davis
22:24 - Dominique Wilkins thunderous revenge dunk on Jack Haley
23:00 - Michael Jordan revenge dunk on Moses Malone & Dominique Wilkins and 1
23:30 - Ultra slow mo replay of Jordan's dunk on Dominique & Moses
24:30 - Doc Rivers driving layup
24:51 - Michael Jordan pull up jumper
25:05 - Dominique Wilkins driving finger roll layup
25:16 - Michael Jordan turnaround fadeaway jumper
25:39 - Michael Jordan baseline fadeaway jumper
26:00 - Dominique Wilkins jumper
26:50 - Michael Jordan blocks Antoine Carr
27:51 - Doc Rivers driving layup and 1
28:12 - Michael Jordan jumper
28:22 - Doc Rivers jumper
29:23 - John Battle jumper
29:42 - Jon Koncak jumper
30:15 - Spud Webb floater and 1
30:53 - Spud Webb drive & kick to Koncak
32:15 - Cliff Levingston pull up jumper
33:12 - John Battle bank shot
33:40 - Moses Malone jumper
34:17 - Michael Jordan breakaway dunk and 1
35:30 - Jordan to Pippen layup
35:57 - Scottie Pippen layup
36:12 - Michael Jordan jumper
36:38 - Michael Jordan driving layup
36:55 - Michael Jordan jumper
38:02 - Michael Jordan jumper
38:35 - Michael Jordan free throw
41:50 - John Battle jumper
41:58 - Dominique Wilkins blocks Scottie Pippen
42:24 - Michael Jordan clutch free throws