The 1985 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is widely heralded as one of the greatest dunk contests of all time….as it showcased two of the highest flyers of the time in Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins….along with fellow competitors Clyde Drexler, Julius Erving, Darrell Griffith, Larry Nance, Terence Stansbury, and Orlando Woolridge….as both Nance and Erving had first round byes due to their finishing 1st and 2nd in the previous year’s contest.
The first round was highlighted with the only perfect score of 50 for the round by Terence Stansbury….on a 360 statue of liberty dunk. The other two highs from the round were two 49’s both performed by Dominique Wilkins….as Clyde Drexler, Darrell Griffith and Orlando Woolridge were eliminated after the 1st round…..Michael Jordan, Terence Stansbury and Dominique Wilkins all advanced.
The semi-finals only had one perfect score of 50….which was scored by Michael Jordan on his last dunk when he jumped from the free throw line and slammed it home with one hand. Both Terence Stansbury and Dominique Wilkins each scored a 49 in this round. The two that advanced to the finals were Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins….as Julius Erving, Larry Nance and Terence Stansbury were all eliminated.
In the final round Dominique Wilkins scored two 50s….when on the 1st Wilkins bounced off the backboard and reversed it home with two hands….and on the 2nd he performed a huge two hand windmill dunk that sealed the victory for him. The final scores were Michael Jordan 136 and Dominique Wilkins 147….as this was the 1st of many battles for slam dunk supremacy fought between Michael and Dominique….with round one going to Dominique.
Any way you cut the pie….this is MUST SEE TV for any and all basketball fans….cuz when you get to see MJ vs. Nique in the Slam Dunk Contest….it just doesn’t get any better than that.
