When you use the terms windmill, 360 jam or thunder boom, it could be assumed you are talking about new developments in weather-detection equipment. If you are a basketball fan, you know that these terms are popular names for various types of dunks. Of all the basketball players who have influenced the dunk, there are four who put their own special touch on its evolution -- Julius Erving, Darryl Dawkins, Spud Webb and Michael Jordan.
Dr. J
Julius Erving, better known as Dr. J, was one of the pioneers of the dunk. Dr. J had mastery of the windmill, where both arms make a full circular motion and culminate with an arc and follow-through at the rim to complete the dunk. His other dunk specialties included rock the ball and the one-handed palm dunks shown on many NBA highlight videos. His ability to electrify crowds and raise their level of interest in the game was a driving force in the annual NBA Slam-Dunk Contest, held on All-Star Weekend.
Chocolate Thunder
Darryl Dawkins was not only a unique addition to the NBA for his age, but also his dunking prowess. Dawkins was a 1975 first-round draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers. At age 18, he went from high school in Orlando, Florida, straight to the NBA. In November 1979, Dawkins made national headlines and broadcast highlights when a dunk against the Kansas City Kings shattered the backboard into small pieces, delaying the game and wowing the country. Three weeks later, he did it again. A few days after that, the NBA ruled that breaking a backboard was an offense that would result in a fine and suspension. Dawkins named the backboard-breaking dunk "The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam, Glass-Breaker-I-Am-Jam." He named other dunks as well: the Rim Wrecker, the Go-Rilla, the Look Out Below, the In-Your-Face Disgrace, the Cover Your Head, the Yo-Mama and the Spine-Chiller Supreme. The 76ers also kept a separate column on the stat sheet for Dawkins' self-created nicknames: Sir Slam, Dr. Dunkenstein and Chocolate Thunder.
Size Doesn't Matter
An entirely new concept was introduced to the dunk shot in 1986. Anthony Webb, better known as "Spud," as a tribute to his height, was a fourth-round selection of the Detroit Pistons in the 1985 NBA draft. At the time of his selection, he was the shortest player in NBA history, standing only 5 feet, 6 inches tall. His first six professional seasons were spent with the Atlanta Hawks. When Webb surprisingly entered the 1986 slam-dunk contest, it was thought to be a publicity stunt by many league observers. When Webb defeated Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins in the finals, it was a highlight reel for years to come.
Air Jordan
Jordan was not only a superstar for his overall basketball prowess, but he also revolutionized many aspects of both the art and science of the modern dunk. His legendary setback to Wilkins in the 1985 dunk contest finals was a fan favorite. In only his second year with the Bulls, fans anticipated his performance each time he took the floor. By 1987, he had already established himself as a perennial NBA all-star and purveyor of the slam dunk. This was supported by the fact he became the first in league history to win consecutive dunk-contest titles. His legendary free-throw line takeoff was his signature dunk that became the poster for an entire generation of youth.
The Future
Since its introduction to basketball, the dunk has electrified crowds and provided basketball at all levels with a unique excitement and energy. As of 2011, the NBA had seen a reduction in its number of participants in the annual dunk contest. Superstars such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal have elected not to participate, whether to avoid injury or make personal appearances, prompting suggestions that the golden age of the dunk has passed.
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