In 1976, the ABA was in serious financial difficulty. The league is slowly dying and it needs a second wind. Carl Sheer, who died in December 2019, then invented the Slam Dunk Contest and Julius Erving made an impression for the first contest, with his dunk from the free throw line.
Eight years later, the dunk contest made its appearance in the NBA, in Denver, during the All-Star Game. On January 29, 1984, Julius Erving and eight other participants, including Clyde Drexler and Dominique Wilkins, the late Orlando Woolridge or the immense Ralph Sampson (2m24), meet to become pioneers.
Eyes on Julius Erving
“Dr. J”, ABA legend and undisputed NBA star, is obviously the huge favorite on paper, as well as the attraction of this first NBA dunk contest.
“The whole show was built around him and we felt the electricity in the room”recalls one of his adversaries, Michael Cooper, for Bleacher Report. “To participate with the one who had won the competition in 1976 with a dunk from the free throw line, it was an honor”adds Darrell Griffith, another participant.
For others, like Larry Nance, the father of the current interior of the Blazers, challenging Julius Erving is obviously an additional motivation, but it is not the only one to participate in this event.
“I wanted a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro at the time. I wanted her so badly. As soon as I heard about this contest, I thought that with the $10,000 reward, I could have my car. I hadn’t seen the 1976 contest, but the second reason was Dr. J. The best dunker in history in my opinion. I didn’t watch a lot of basketball but I was very observant when it came to Erving. It was cool to be able to face him. “
The “prehistory” of the dunk contest
Still need to beat the 1983 NBA champion. The two players find themselves in the final and like Julius Erving, despite a new surge from the free-throw line, misses a dunk, and at the time, that counts in the notes, Larry Nance can fly to victory.
“I got my Camaro”, he says, thirty years later. “This car has been going back and forth. I’ve sold and repurchased her several times, but she’s gone now. On the other hand, the trophy is with me. “
Above all, the competition is now launched in the NBA. A few years later, the duel Michael Jordan – Dominique Wilkins made him a legend, before the memorable victories of Vince Carter of course (2000), or more recently Zach LaVine.
This 1984 edition, like the first in the 1980s, retains a unique charm, through its raw appearance.
“I don’t think anyone knew what was going to happen. Today, it’s more of a show. There were no gimmicks, players jumping over others. It was prehistoric”analyzes Clyde Drexler. “The players who are now participating are prepared and have props, people who hold the ball for them“, continues Michael Cooper. “We had our two legs, our trigger, the ball and the circle. The dunk, for me, is an individual artistic movement. You don’t jump over a car. “
