Before they battled in the NBA, Wilkins saw a glimpse of Jordan’s greatness in college.

Dominique Wilkins was one of the best players of his era; he was a multi-time All-Star, made seven All-NBA teams, and even came close to winning an MVP award a couple of times. However, at first, he was held off by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and when those two finished their careers, it was Michael Jordan’s time to shine.

Wilkins actually met Jordan much earlier in his career while the two were still at college when MJ was a 19-year-old freshman at North Carolina. Wilkins was just finishing his college career with the University of Georgia when the two first met in a game that surprised Georgia’s star player.

“I said, ‘Who is this kid right here, man?’” Wilkins said in an interview.

Wilkins’ physical play sets the tone early

At the time, the best player for the Tar Heels was James Worthy, who was picked No. 1 overall in the next NBA Draft, so Wilkins had his eyes on him, as he had something to prove.

“We were playing Carolina and the first time James Worthy and I had a chance to play against one other since high school,” Wilkins said. “In high school we came out the same area, but never played against each other.”

He even decided to play a little bit dirtier just to set the tone and admitted that he wanted to show Worthy that he wouldn’t have an easy game.

“We are going back and forth. So the first play of the game I went up and I caught Worthy’s finger,” he said. “I wanted to, you know, set the tone. I threw it like six rows in the stands.”

Jordan’s late-game takeover

Wilkins had 19 points in that game, and Worthy had 19 points as well, and managed to lead North Carolina to a 66-57 victory over his high school rival’s team, but not without help.

“Worthy was having a hell of a game, I was having a hell of a game. In the last two minutes of the game, a young kid, Michael Jordan, took over by himself,” Wilkins remembers.

Even though North Carolina was leading at the half, it was getting really close in that game by the end, when with two minutes on the clock, Jordan made a 3-point play, which put the Tar Heels ahead by 6 points.

“I knew he was going to be a great pro. I didn’t know he was going to be that good,” Wilkins said.

That team was led by Worthy and Perkins, but a young freshman once again came in clutch and finished the game with 12 points. After that season, Wilkins and Worthy both declared for the NBA Draft, continuing their rivalry at the biggest stage. Worthy was the top pick in it, and Wilkins was picked third overall by the Utah Jazz and traded to the Atlanta Hawks.