“I'm going to kick his a**”: Dominique Wilkins had a furious response when Michael Jordan made an outrageous statement
Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins had intense battles back in the 1980s. The two highfliers loved to go at it on the basketball court, but the six-time NBA champion took it to another level by visiting Wilkins in the team's locker room.
On April 16, 1987, the Atlanta Hawks were on the road to battle the Chicago Bulls. While preparing for the game, Wilkins suddenly got an untimely visitor in his locker room.
In a recent 2023 interview with journalist DJ Vlad, Wilkins told the details of what was said between him and Jordan:
"We are in Chicago, Michael walks into our locker room in suit and tie and I'm like what this son of a gun coming to our locker room for," Wilkins said.
"I'm thinking to go to in the training room or something and he walks by me and he walks by Kevin Willis, he gets to Randy with me, taps on his leg, and said, 'Lace them up. It's going to be a long night' and I'm shocked."
Trying to get back at Jordan's trash talk, Wilkins just wanted to say something back at him for having the confidence to threaten his team and lashed out at Scottie Pippen. Although he wanted to say something back to Jordan for threatening his team, Wilkins lashed out at Scottie Pippen. –
"I ain't know what to say so he's walking out – and I just yelled something," Wilkins said. I said, "Well, you tell that Scottie Pippen, I'm going to kick his a**' – I didn't know what to say. He had 60 that night."
Michael Jordan finished with 61 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, one assist and one block. Meanwhile, Dominique Wilkins tallied 34 points, six rebounds and three assists, and the Atlanta Hawks got a 117-114 road win.
Dominique Wilkins was amazed by Michael Jordan's competitive nature
The "Human Highlight Film" competed against the likes of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Julius Irving, Isiah Thomson and Charles Barkley in his 14-year NBA career.
But Dominique Wilkins feels that Michael Jordan has a competitive drive that may be above anyone else in NBA history.
"He competes in everything," Wilkins said. I don't care what it is. It could be in the golf course, anywhere. Drinking a glass of water, it doesn't matter who could drink the fastest. He's going to bet on it. He's so competitive that way, but that's what makes him so great because his willingness to not accept losing. And there's only a few in this game to ever do that."
WATCH: Dominique Wilkins reflects on competing against Michael Jordan
Dominique Wilkins is hailed as one of the best scorers and dunkers in the history of the NBA. He joined Michael Jordan on the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team that was honored during the 2022-23 season in Cleveland, Ohio.