Michael Jordan’s Soaring Dunk on Robert Reid Electrifies 67,596 Fans at the Hoosier Dome
The summer of 1984 carried a special magic for basketball fans across the United States. Just weeks before the Los Angeles Olympics, the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team—stacked with future legends—was touring the country in exhibition matchups against NBA veterans. On one unforgettable night inside the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, a then-21-year-old Michael Jordan stole the spotlight with a thunderous dunk over Houston Rockets forward Robert Reid, sending shockwaves through the crowd of 67,596 spectators.
Jordan, who had just been drafted third overall by the Chicago Bulls, was still technically a college star fresh off his decorated career at North Carolina. But the exhibition showcased why he was already being touted as the future face of the NBA. Against seasoned professionals, Jordan was fearless, attacking the rim with a ferocity that had the audience rising to its feet long before he even touched the ball. His posterizing dunk on Reid would become one of the defining highlights of that Olympic tune-up tour.
The Hoosier Dome crowd, already the largest to ever witness a basketball game at the time, erupted in awe as Jordan elevated, cocked the ball back, and slammed it home over the outstretched arms of Reid. The play wasn’t just two points—it was a statement. Fans knew they were witnessing the rise of something bigger than the game itself. The atmosphere that night felt less like an exhibition and more like the dawn of a new basketball era.
Jordan’s teammates on that 1984 Olympic squad, which included future Hall of Famers like Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin, were just as stunned as the fans. “It was like playing with a comet,” one teammate later recalled. “Every time he touched the ball, you could feel the whole building holding its breath, waiting to see what he’d do next.” The dunk on Reid became the signature highlight of that Indiana showdown.
Robert Reid, a respected veteran known for his defense, later admitted that Jordan’s move was something he couldn’t stop—even if he had seen it coming. “He just had another gear,” Reid said years afterward. “You don’t expect a kid fresh out of college to go at you like that, but Jordan didn’t play scared. He played like he belonged.”
The exhibition games were meant to prepare the U.S. squad for Olympic competition, but they ended up serving as Jordan’s unofficial introduction to the world stage. His confidence, athleticism, and competitive fire left fans buzzing about what he might accomplish once the Games began. For many, that dunk against Reid symbolized the moment Jordan transitioned from promising draft pick to the game’s next great superstar.
The Hoosier Dome crowd, already record-breaking in size, added to the mythology of the event. Nearly 68,000 people could say they saw Jordan’s brilliance before his NBA career even tipped off. The sheer volume of the roar inside that massive arena spoke volumes about the excitement surrounding the young Tar Heel. Reporters at the time described the moment as “an explosion of sound and flashbulbs” unlike anything basketball had ever seen.
Of course, Jordan would go on to lead the 1984 Olympic team to a gold medal, averaging a team-best 17.1 points per game. But for those who were inside the Hoosier Dome that night, the dunk on Robert Reid became a cherished memory and an early chapter in the legend of Michael Jordan. Long before he became “Air Jordan,” he had already given fans a glimpse of what was to come.
Looking back today, the play stands as more than just a dunk—it was a symbol of transition. The NBA was about to enter a new era, and on that summer night in Indiana, Michael Jordan announced that he was ready to carry the torch. For 67,596 lucky fans, the legend began in midair, above Robert Reid, with a single unforgettable slam.
