The Golden Age of the Dunk
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Dwight Howard is one of the poster boys for the dunk.
It’s no question, this generation of basketball is dominated by the slam-dunk. Almost every NBA player can do it, and when they do, they dare to defy gravity en route to a hair-raising, emotion demanding play that dazzles the eyes. It tends to be so commonplace, and it is certainly apparent: the dunk is a true staple of the game now. I’m not talking about the big men down low throwing down dunks from a standing position, I’m talking about the full speed break-away dunks, one’s that make you wonder if the Earth might have tilted just a little after that monster slam. And while it’s inception is rather unclear, it’s use over the years is not. It’s been drilled into our minds over time, and despite it’s overall simplicity, the dunk is one of the most powerful plays in sports.
On paper the dunk looks bland. Look at box scores and dunks only appear as 1 attempt, 1 make, and 2 points. On shot-carts, it looks even less impressive, as a 0 or 1 foot make. Even radio broadcasts can’t do the dunk justice, as no matter how much any announcer describes it, one’s imagination can only do so much. The dunk is a striking play that demands attention from the eyes. Conventional words cannot truly pay it the homage it deserves.
Few plays in other sports are so simple on the score sheet but so emotionally charged. Anyone that has been to a close game knows that a well timed dunk can almost lift the roof off of an arena.The home run in baseball and a kickoff or punt return touchdown in football come close, but doesn’t quite achieve the same emotion. And what about blown dunks? Fly balls to the warning track or returns that end up at the 5 yard line are not embarrassing at all, not like missing a dunk.
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Nate Robinson dunking over Dwight Howard during the 2009 NBA All-Star Dunk contest. He won the contest with this dunk over Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.
We’ve been privileged over the past few years with some amazing dunks, both in games and in the Dunk Contest held every All-Star weekend. Sheer power, athleticism, and creativity fuel these monstrous displays of the human body. Nate Robinson of the Boston Celtics (he won it while with the Knicks, though) won last year, as well as in 2009 and 2006, displaying amazing dunking talent at only 5’9. Then there’s the classic “LeBron James with no regard for human life” dunk over Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, which got played almost every day during this summer as LeBron inched toward his departure from Cleveland. Realistically, you can search for “awesome NBA dunk (insert your favorite player here)” on YouTube and will get results.
I’ve had the privilege of seeing a few great dunks in my day, including a dunk by the 29th pick of the NBA draft by the Orlando Magic Daniel Orton back in high school when he broke the backboard. The crowd reaction is the most important thing. The dunk is mostly a motivational tool. It pumps up the team, and, if at home, the crowd, energizing the field of play for the next minute or so. On the road it provokes the opposing team’s crowd, throwing salt in the wounds of a big lead or goading the crowd to get louder in a close contest. It impresses, invigorates, and excites, all in a matter of seconds. Watch the greats as the throw one down, and watch the crowd go wild. When Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, or Dwight Howard dunk in close games at home, the lid is almost lifted on their respective arenas, and the building explodes with cheers. In sports where scoring is traditionally high, that rarely happens.
As the players soar above the hardwood, Charles Darwin revels in the evolution of humans, and Sir Isaac Newton tries to rethink the idea of gravity. Over the history of basketball, the dunk has been showcased more and more. And in 2010, the dunk will be just as important as ever. Here’s to the dunk.
-Justin Wright
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Great article about the dunk. It’s been a crucial part of popularizing basketball and you have perfectly encapsulated just why.