HISTORY of the SLAM DUNK
According to Wikipedia, a dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air, controls the ball above the horizontal plane of the rim, and scores by putting the ball directly through the basket with one or both hands — in other words, probably the most amazing thing you'll see in basketball.
Here are 3 slam dunk facts you probably haven't heard of:
#1 The First Slam Dunk
For the first “traditional” slam dunk—or, at least, the first regular dunker—you’d probably have to look to JOE FORTENBERRY. 6’8” Fortenberry was the first player to dunk in an organized game. Legendary Kansas basketball coach Phog Allen detested dunks and, in his 1937 book, wrote, “Dunking does not display basketball skill—only height advantage.”
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#2 Lew Alcindor rule
In the 1967-'68 season, the NCAA announced it was BANNING the slam dunk from all competitions. In their words, it "was not a skillful shot," It is widely believed that the ban was enacted because of UCLA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - It was nicknamed the "Lew Alcindor rule"
David Thompson, one of the greatest dunkers of all time, played the entirety of his college career during the ban. Thompson dunked once, and it was during the final home game of his senior year. He received a standing ovation from the crowd. The ban lasted until the 1976-'77 season.
#3 The First Women to Dunk
Georgeann Wells 6'7" sophomore at West Virginia University was the FIRST WOMEN to dunk the basketball in 1984.
The epitome of the modern slam dunk is Vince Carter's dunk over 7'2" Frenchman Frédéric Weis in the 2000 Olympics. The slam dunk will never be banned again. Long live the slam dunk.
