You’ve seen the silhouette. It’s on every pair of sneakers, hoodies, and backpacks from Chicago to Shanghai. But if you think that iconic image is actually a photo of Michael Jordan dunking, you’ve been lied to for nearly forty years.
It wasn't a dunk. It wasn't even a game.
Basically, the most famous "dunk" in history was a ballet move. In 1984, before MJ even played a professional minute for the Bulls, photographer Jacobus "Co" Rentmeester took him to a grassy hill in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He didn't ask Jordan to drive to the hoop. He asked him to perform a grand jeté—a specific ballet leap. Jordan jumped straight up, splayed his legs like a dancer, and held a basketball in his left hand.
Nike eventually recreated the shot in Chicago with the skyline in the background, turned it into a silhouette, and the Jumpman was born. But the "dunk" itself? Pure theater.
The Night the 1988 Michael Jordan Dunking Photos Changed Everything
If you want the real stuff, you have to look at February 6, 1988. Chicago Stadium. The air was probably thick with the smell of popcorn and anticipation. This wasn't a staged photoshoot; it was a war between MJ and Dominique Wilkins.
Walter Iooss Jr., a legend behind the lens for Sports Illustrated, was there. He knew he needed something special. He actually talked to Jordan three hours before the contest. Imagine that—just walking up to the GOAT and asking for a tip.
"Michael, can you tell me which way you're going to go?" Iooss asked.
Jordan looked at him like he was nuts. Then, he agreed. He told Iooss he’d point his finger on his knee to signal his direction before he went out. When the time came for the final dunk, Jordan pointed left. Iooss moved right.
The result was the definitive free-throw line leap. Jordan took off, tucked his legs, and seemed to hang in the air long enough to sign an autograph. Iooss captured it at 1/1000th of a second. It’s the photo where you can see the sheer concentration on MJ's face—the tongue wasn't out yet, but the focus was terrifying.
Why That 1988 Photo is Technically "Impossible"
A lot of people think Jordan just jumped and the camera clicked. Nope.
Sports photography back then was a nightmare of manual focus and limited film. You didn't have 30-frames-per-second digital bursts. You had one shot. If you blinked, you missed the career-defining moment.
The lighting in the old Chicago Stadium was notoriously hit-or-miss. Iooss had to strobe the entire arena to get that crisp, "frozen in time" look. This is why michael jordan dunking photos from that era look so different from modern ones. They have a depth and a "pop" that modern digital sensors struggle to replicate.
The Controversy Behind the Frame
Here is the thing no one likes to talk about: Jordan might have lost that contest if it weren't in Chicago.
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Dominique Wilkins was arguably better that night. He was "The Human Highlight Film." His windmill dunks were violent. They shook the rim. But when Jordan took off from the stripe, the hometown crowd went nuclear. The judges gave him a perfect 50.
Years later, MJ actually admitted it. He told reporters that if the contest had been anywhere else, Dominique probably takes the trophy home. But the photos don't record the score. They record the hang time. And in the photos, Jordan looks like he’s literally flying, while everyone else just looks like they’re jumping.
Collecting Vintage Type 1 Photos
If you’re looking to own a piece of this history, you better have deep pockets. We aren't talking about posters you buy at a mall. We’re talking about "Type 1" original photographs.
A Type 1 photo is a 1st-generation image, developed from the original negative within two years of the shot being taken. These are the "holy grails" for collectors.
- The 1985 Star Slam Dunk Supers: These are oversized cards/photos that are incredibly rare in high grades. A BGS 8 can fetch over $1,500.
- PSA/DNA Certified Originals: A "Tongue-Out" original from the 1990 Finals can easily clear $800.
- The "Cradle Dunk" vs. Rockers: Photos of Jordan's "Cradle Dunk" from his rookie year (1984) against the Knicks are currently some of the most sought-after items because they capture the raw, pre-championship Jordan.
How to Spot a Fake "Iconic" Shot
The internet is flooded with "vintage" Michael Jordan dunking photos that are just reprints from the early 2000s. Honestly, it’s a minefield.
Look at the paper. Real vintage press photos were often printed on fiber-based paper or early resin-coated stock that has a specific weight and smell. If the back of the photo is perfectly clean and white, it’s probably a modern knockoff. Real ones have "slugs"—the typed descriptions glued to the back—or date stamps from the newspaper archives they came from.
Also, check the grain. Modern AI-upscaled photos look too smooth. They look "plastic." Original 80s photography has a beautiful, gritty film grain that gives the image its soul.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you want to dive deeper into this world without getting scammed or just to appreciate the art, here is what you should actually do:
- Search for "Type 1 Michael Jordan" on auction sites: Look at the backs of the photos. Study the stamps from the Chicago Tribune or Associated Press. That’s where the history is.
- Watch the "Jumpman" documentary: It covers the legal battle between Co Rentmeester and Nike. It’s a masterclass in how a single image can be worth billions.
- Visit the National Portrait Gallery: They occasionally cycle through sports legends, and seeing a large-format print of MJ in person is a completely different experience than looking at a phone screen.
- Check the "slug" information: If you find a vintage photo, the text on the back often tells you the exact date, the lens used, and the shutter speed. It's a hidden diary of the game.
The 1988 dunk wasn't just a sports moment. It was the birth of a global aesthetic. We don't just look at those photos to see a guy put a ball in a hoop; we look at them because, for a split second, Michael Jordan made us believe gravity was optional.