Michael Jordan entered the NBA during the league’s truly golden years. The NBA was stacked with an incredible array of talent, and players competed with incredible intensity. That meant that every night was an all-out battle for Mike.
In the face of such daunting opposition, Jordan never flinched and earned a reputation for never backing down from a challenge.
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MJ took on many future Hall of Famers, but some matchups felt more personal to him. Among his toughest rivals, one name often stood out – Dominique Wilkins, the Atlanta Hawks high-flyer who could inflict as much damage on his opponents as Jordan.
“Of all the guys I play against there’s one who definitely makes me rise to the occasion,” MJ said on “Michael Jordan’s Playground,” referring to Wilkins.
Jordan felt that Wilkins always brought out the best in him. Unsurprisingly, the feeling was almost mutual.
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“We love to play against each other,” Nique said of Mike in the documentary. “It’s a thrill to watch him play. When we play against each other, we have a some serious battles.”
MJ and Nique’s iconic duels
Jordan and Wilkins indeed had a series of iconic duels that proved how much they pushed each other to the limit. In a December game in 1986, the two prolific scorers went toe-to-toe from tipoff to the final buzzer in what was later called “The Shootout.”
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MJ scored 41 points, while The Human Highlight Film dropped a career-high 57 points to lead the Hawks to a 123-95 victory.
“They go back to like ‘The Shootout,'” Isiah Thomas said. “They just go back and forth. Jordan had 30 at the quarter, Dominique had 22 at the quarter and they be pointing at each other and like, come on with it and they just go at it.”
“It’s good competition,” Zeke added. “They’re not trying to hurt each other, but they’re playing hard against each other. They both trying to win and after the game they probably go out to the bar.”
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Knowing Jordan, he did not let Wilkins have the last laugh. Late in that very season, MJ avenged his loss and exploded for 61 points on Wilkins and the Hawks. However, the Hawks still won the game, 117-114.
Though Jordan and Wilkins had several memorable games, what NBA aficionados remember the most is their historic dunk contest showdown in 1988. Both legendary dunkers pulled off spectacular tricks, but in the end, it was Michael who beat Nique with a free-throw line slam.
The only player MJ couldn’t dominate
Wilkins may have been the player who forced Jordan to unleash his entire offensive arsenal whenever they faced each other, but apparently, MJ didn’t have any problems dealing with him. Though Nique was explosive, Mike could also match and even beat him on the court.
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That was never the case whenever Jordan played against Julius Erving. According to Michael, Dr. J was the only player he couldn’t dominate. Not because he couldn’t stand a chance, but because he didn’t want to.
“I had a couple of good games against Philadelphia during my first season,” MJ once admitted in a separate discussion. “But I couldn’t do anything when I was matched up with Julius because I had so much admiration for him. I was just happy to be on the same floor.”
After so many stories have already been told, it’s fascinating to discover yet another interesting fact about Jordan. Now, fans have a better understanding of how MJ viewed his toughest opponents.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.