who won the dunk contest in 1976?
by Brett » Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:55 pm, Post But Spud Webb, a diminutive guard for the Atlanta Hawks, stunned everyone in 1986 by throwing down a variety of creative slams. What happened to the showcase for the game's greatest leapers? jump of 41 inches in the final round (97.7 vs 93.7). Cedric Ceballos livened up an otherwise dull contest in 1992 by putting on a blindfold, running in from midcourt and dunking. In arguably the best performance in the event's history, he executed a succession of breathtaking dunks, including one in which he stuffed his right arm through the rim and hung by his elbow. A dunk contest in connection with an all-star game was first staged by the ABA in 1976. It wasn’t the NBA’s idea, however. Starting in the ABA as far back as 1971, he was used to being explosive on the court and playing with flair, and he even went on to win the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest. He lost in 2009 when he good-naturedly let Nate Robinson jump over him in the finals. What few people remember is that Dr. J didn't win that contest. 77001-77096+77098-77099+77201-77210+77212-77213+77215-77231+77233-77238+77240-77245+77248-77249+77251-77259+77261-77263+77265-77275+77277+77279-77280+77282+77284+77287-77293+77297+77299. Before MJ ever took off from the free-throw line landing one of the most-iconic shots in sports, "Dr. J" Julius Erving did it way back in the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest. FROM THE FREE THROW LINE! All rights reserved Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks won the NBA dunk contest for a second straight year in 2010, but Saturday's event at All-Star weekend in Los Angeles lacks the star power that made it so exciting in its early years. 1976: The very first slam-dunk contest is won by Kentucky Colonels center Artis Gilmore, who electrifies the crowd by making airborne love to one cheerleader from each ABA team en route to a windmill slam. All of the Dunks received a score of 50 for the dunk and won the Dunk contest. DAVID FALK(Michael Jordan's agent): Michael made the All-Star Game … Belinelli won the contest in 2014, the same year he became an NBA Champion, with a score of 24 out of 34. Though he lost in his first try in 1985, Michael Jordan owned the competition in 1987 and '88, cementing his place as the game's greatest leaper. The dunk contest is back, my friends. Creativity and showmanship have always been a part of the event -- and sometimes gamesmanship. New changes to the final round of the 1991 Slam dunk contest, the competitor allowed three dunks, two highest scores add up for the final score. At the age of 24, he's done. On February 6th, 1988 the most iconic dunk of all time occurred at the hands of Michael Jordan in the NBA dunk contest during all-star weekend. Julius Erving won the first ABA dunk contest back in 1976, famously dunking from the free throw line. The event got a little silly in 2005 when contestants had to use another player as part of their routine. 1 1. LaVine might have won the contest in 2016 in one of the greatest head-to-head battles ever, but Aaron Gordon’s mascot-assisted dunk still is the best single slam from the event. Dr. J's iconic dunk from the free throw line was the first of its kind when the legend pulled it off in 1976. At the behest of our peerless leader Ray, I'm posting a three-year-old story I shared earlier with RemembertheABA readers. Suns point guard Steve Nash, an avid soccer player, kicked and headed the ball to Amare Stoudemire. Dr J was a great dunker, but Jordan can alwayz one up him, Dawkins wouldnt win, he was too big on power dunks, Nique lost to Jordan, Kobe only won one dunk contest, and it was a crappy one. But it didn't use to be that way. After a bit of negotiation, Hillman agreed to put up the $15,000 check he’d just won in the NBA Slam Dunk Tournament and Musburger pledged another $10,000 from CBS in a winner-take-all match dunking match between Dr. Dunk and Dr. J. by Robert Bradley » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:38 am, Post Back in 1976 when the ABA held the first ever Slam Dunk Contest, Julius “Dr. A player can end up doing a rim hanging dunk, a glass shattering sunk, even a backboard bending dunk. On January 27, 1976 at McNichols Sports Arena during halftime of the 1976 ABA All Star Game the first-ever Slam Dunk Contest was held, which was won by Julius Erving of the New York Nets over David Thompson of the Denver Nuggets, Artis Gilmore of the Kentucky Colonels, and George Gervin and Larry Kenon of the San Antonio Spurs. Thanks in large part to Super Man Dwight Howard. Further regarding Dr. J and his lack of involvement in the 1976-77 Tournament: Anyone know if there's a complete list of participants anywhere? For you Wilt Chamberlain fans, he is excluded because his career ended in 1973. J”, is one of the most iconic and influential dunkers in all of the NBA. J” Erving was already the titular King of the Dunk but with the emergence of new high-fliers like David Thompson, the league apparently decided to pay a little cash for which it would host a little cooning. He did win a dunk contest. It's amazing enough for a 5-foot-6 runt to dunk a basketball on a 10-foot rim. On both occasions, Dominique Wilkins was at the receiving end of Jordan’s infamous staredown. As he focused on becoming the game's best player, however, he never participated again. With a vertical jump at 44 inches, he defeated top dunker Shawn Kemp with the vertical. Fittingly, it was won by Julius Erving, the embodiment of the … 1 decade ago. Okay, so this is from the ABA Slam Dunk Contest, but it still can't be left off this list. The concept came from the struggling ABA, who wanted to make a splash at their annual All-Star Game. Berzirk. Jordan won two Dunk competitions during his time with the Chicago Bulls, in 1987 and 1988. Julius Erving won the first dunk contest held by the ABA in 1976, then highlighted the NBA's first event eight years later by taking off from the free-throw line. Spud Webb only won because he is so short, just like that 5'9" guy who won this last one. Author of THE BASKETBALL DRAFT FACT BOOK: A HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL'S COLLEGE DRAFTS. Irving and Thompson squared off in the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest; the first-ever slam dunk competition in professional basketball. Julius Erving, who'd won the 1976 contest, impressed the crowd with a free-throw line dunk, but was upset by Suns forward Larry Nance. Malik V. 1 decade ago. In the 2016 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Zach LaVine dunked from the free throw line on three occasions: One Hand, Windmill, and Between the Legs. Use of this website (including any and all parts and components) constitutes your acceptance of these TERMS OF USE and UPDATED PRIVACY POLICY. All meet the criteria for a dunk. And now? Julius Erving won the first dunk contest held by the ABA in 1976, then highlighted the NBA's first event eight years later by taking off from the free-throw line. Kenny "Sky" Walker put on a pretty good show in 1989, but he was one of many no-names to win the competition and never achieve much in the league. Dwight Howard is the closest thing to a superstar who has competed in the dunk contest in years. NBA Dunk Contest - 1988. History 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest. The event no longer featured the likes of Michael Jordan, just the so-called "Baby Jordan" whose NBA career was short and otherwise without distinction. BUT, forced to pick a winner, Dr. J -- who won the inaugural ABA Dunk Contest in 1976 -- says Gordon's final dunk was justtttttttt a little better than Derrick Jones Jr.'s jam. In 1984, the NBA expanded its All-Star Game to include special events on the day before the game, including a legends game and a slam dunk contest. The 1985 competition may never be matched for star power. Erving's victory in the first-ever dunk contest, at halftime of the ABA All-Star Game in 1976, set the standard for all who followed. 1 0. The next season, Dominique Wilkins won the first of his two titles, followed by his teammate Spud Webb, who at … It was held during halftime of the 1976 ABA All-Star Game. SPUD WEBB (current G League coach; 1986 slam dunk champion): They had the dunk contest in Indy [in 1985] that Dominique won. Larry Nance did. Many stars see it as beneath them to participate. The dunk contest originated in the ABA in 1976 but because … And he sure didn't save the competition. The dunk contest was part of basketball culture and that culture dictated that the best came to play each all-star weekend. Nate Robinson won it a record-setting 3 times while Wilkins, Jordan, Jason Richardson and Zach LaVine won the contest twice. by rlee » Fri Jan 07, 2011 12:45 am, Post Other instances of dunks from a distance abound. All but Erving and Dawkins, an Orlando native and alumni of Evans High School, were NBA dunk-contest champions, though Erving did win the ABA contest in 1976. By taking off from the free-throw line – a nod to Dr J’s slam at the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest – Jordan earned a perfect 50 before a delirious Chicago Stadium crowd. Robinson is one of six players to have won the dunk contest more than once and one of four to win the dunk contest in back-to-back years. 3 0. fidgy92. Following the fusion of ABA and NBA, a further slam dunk competition did not take place until 1984. Michael Jordan had won the dunk contest the year prior and was arguably in the athletic prime of his career. But it was Dominique Wilkins, the "Human Highlight Film", who beat them all with a stunning display of grace in the air and power at the rim. DOG ASIDE: The 1978 NBA Gatorade Slam Dunk Contest from Atlanta featuring Pacers Terrance Stanbury, Cavs Roy Hinson, Knicks Gerald Wilkins, Kings Terry Tyler, Blazers Jerome Kersey, Bucks Paul Pressey and the diminutive eventual winner Hawks Spud Webb…an all time favorite in the slam dunk contests because of his altitude and creativity while standing only 5′ 7″. Larry Nance won the first dunk contest, but Julius Erving came back to Denver and did what everyone hoped, running from one end to the other and re-creating that famous dunk. The free throw line dunk, now a standard in dunk contest fare, made people fall out of their seats when Dr. J first pulled it off in the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest. When did they hold the opening round? 1 decade ago. by Robert Bradley » Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:21 am, Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited, The merger, Kareem, Walton, Dr. J, Magic and Bird. The NBA didn't even hold a dunk contest in 1998, then cancelled all All-Star festivities because of a lockout the next year. he won the very first ever. by mtamada » Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:10 am, Post 1986 - Spud Webb's 360 dunk But Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks ended up winning after leaping over Kenyon Martin, who was sitting in a chair. The NBA All-Star Dunk Contest is organized annually at the All-Star Weekend by the National Basketball Association . Robert Bradley's post of 3/2/10 is centrally cited here but without attribution ( & no mention of Robert or APBR): ↳ Biographical Research and Publications, The First (1976-77) NBA Slam Dunk Champion. “We had to come up with a concept that would get everyone’s attention,” Denver Nuggets general manager Carl Scheer said.. “We were in serious trouble. But, once he established himself, he never competed again. Other. He won the very 1st Slam Dunk contest in 1976 during the ABA All-Star game. The Orlando Magic center won in 2008 after putting on a Superman cape, taking off from the free-throw line and throwing the ball in the basket (he never quite reached the rim). by Robert Bradley » Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:43 pm, Post Help | Viewer Feedback | Press | Advertise With Us | Jobs | FOX Cincy | RSS | Site Map Do Not Sell my Personal Info. That year Jordan lost to ‘Nique in a phenomenal final. Dee Brown won the 1991 Slam Dunk Contest. During the ABA's first and only Slam Dunk Contest in 1976, he outgunned David Thompson, George Gervin, Artis Gilmore and Larry Kenon with a daring leap from the free-throw line. Since then, it's been mimicked a few times as a staple of the Slam Dunk Contest. Some players fear injuries. The "S" on Howard's T … Nate Robinson has won the slam dunk contest a record three times (2006, 2009, 2010). Among others, he upset his teammate Dominique Wilkins, the defending champ. He did win a dunk contest. The competition opened in Denver in 1976 by the American Basketball Association (ABA), when NCAA allowed the slam dunk. The field boasted Julius Erving, Clyde Drexler and a promising rookie named Michael Jordan. For the record, modern history starts with the merger of the NBA and ABA in 1976. FS1 | FOX | FOX News | Fox Corporation | FOX Sports Supports | FOX Deportes, ™ and © 2020 Fox Media LLC and Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. One may also ask, what shoes was MJ wearing when he dunked from the free throw line in the classic 1988 slam dunk competition? Skeptics insisted he had to have been able to see, at least a little bit, but whatever. After a two-year hiatus, the dunk contest returned in 2000 and recaptured the public's imagination thanks to Vince Carter. Kobe Bryant started making a name for himself as a rookie in 1997 by winning the dunk contest. BUT, forced to pick a winner, Dr. J -- who won the inaugural ABA Dunk Contest in 1976 -- says Gordon's final dunk was justtttttttt a little better than Derrick Jones Jr.'s jam. The Slam Dunk Contest first took place in 1976. Learn basketball history. There's no better example of what happened to the dunk contest than Harold Miner's victories in 1993 and 1995. by Brett » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:02 pm, Post In his first dunk contest since 2009, the 2008 champion flashed back by once again donning a Superman cape on his second dunk. Julius Erving, also known as “Dr. The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has had really famous winners, among them Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter. The first NBA Slam Dunk Contest was held in the same city -- Denver -- as the 1976 ABA Slam Dunk Contest. Spud Webb topped Wilkins in ’86 (Jordan was injured), MJ won back-to-back titles in ’87 and ’88 and the rest is history. Post And the event lost its luster for years.