Former NBA star Dominique Wilkins is widely recognized for his remarkable achievements, including winning the NBA Dunk Contest in 1985 and 1990. Despite these accolades, he still considers facing Michael Jordan one of his career’s most challenging experiences.

Wilkins recently appeared on the “All The Smoke” podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. During the appearance, Wilkins shared some memorable stories about his encounters with Jordan and highlighted the intensity and competitiveness that Jordan brought to the court.

“I played against some of the most hard-nosed, talented players who ever played this game. He was a phenomenon, and he had an attitude to go with it,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins and Jordan went head-to-head in a total of 48 NBA games, with Jordan holding a 30-18 winning record over Wilkins. The intensity of their matchups left a lasting impression on Wilkins.

“When you played against Mike, his eyes were bloodshot red every game like he was possessed. I used to say to myself, ‘I got to go to work tonight. Jesus is coming,’” he added.

Dominique Wilkins Hails Kobe Bryant as the Closest to Michael Jordan

Apart from praising Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins also shared his love and respect for the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant on the podcast. Wilkins praised Bryant’s athleticism and linked him to Michael Jordan.

“I love Kobe. Kobe’s an old-school throwback with a new-school twist. I remember when he was leaving his last game in Atlanta, and I went in the locker room afterward. I said, ‘Man, I loved the way you played the game; you never made excuses; you played hurt. You’re the last of our kind. When you leave, the last of our kind leaves with it.’ And he looked at me; he said, ‘Man, that really means a lot coming from you because a lot of the legends have told me that,’” he said.

“I said, ‘It’s true, man. I mean, you played really on a bad Achilles, which nobody’s gonna do.’ He’s the closest, to me, as a Michael-like player ever,” he added.

Wilkins faced Bryant three times throughout his NBA career, holding a 2-1 record over the Lakers star. Although they never met in the playoffs, Wilkins deeply respects Bryant and his contributions to the game.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.