Who was first NBA player to dunk?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 06, 2026
A brief history of the dunk
Who started dunking in the NBA?
During the 1940s and 1950s, 7-foot center and Olympic gold medalist Bob Kurland was dunking regularly during games.
When was dunking first allowed in the NBA?
By the 1960s the big men had made their presance in the NBA felt. Guys like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlin could dunk, but it was more of a force then finesse and style. It wasn't until the late 60s that the modern dunk was invented, and it wasn't invented in the NBA.
Who was the first person to do a dunk?
Fortenberry flop
The first documented player to dunk in an organized game was 6-foot-8 Joe Fortenberry, and he did it in short-shorts.
When was the dunk banned?
1- The Slam Dunk
Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dominated his opponents because he was a master of this move. To limit the player's dominance, the NCAA banned the slam dunk from 1967 to 1976.
29 related questions foundWho was the shortest person to ever dunk?
Given the fact that Muggsy Bogues didn't ever dunk in-game, the title of “shortest NBA player to dunk” belongs to Spud Webb. Measuring just 5-foot-7, Spud Webb not only dunked in games, but even won the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Who has the most dunks in NBA history?
The title for “The most dunks in the world” will undoubtedly go to Dwight Howard. He holds the record for the most dunks in the NBA since 1996. The person having the most slams in a game in history is Wilt Chamberlain. He has held the title since he played on 25th March 2019, when he set the record with 27 slams.
Was the slam dunk ever banned in the NBA?
While it became a standard move in the NBA by the 1970s, dunking was banned in the NCAA for nine years when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the first superstar to regularly dunk the ball. He dominated so thoroughly that officials decided dunking gave teams an unfair advantage.
Who scored the first 3 pointer in NBA history?
Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics is credited with making the first three-point shot in NBA history on October 12, 1979. The season opener at Boston Garden was more remarkable for the debut of Larry Bird (and two new head coaches).
Who was the first black basketball player?
On October 31, 1950, 21-year-old Earl Lloyd becomes the first African American to play in an NBA game when he takes the court in the season opener for the Washington Capitols. Lloyd grew up in Jim Crow Virginia and went to West Virginia State, where he was the star of the school's championship basketball team.
Who did the first alley oop?
It was invented by a couple of college students at Oklahoma Baptist University. Others say that David Thompson and his teammates Monte Tow and Tim Stoddard at North Carolina State University (Thompson had a 44-inch vertical and certainly popularized the attack for college athletes).
What is a tomahawk dunk?
Basketball. A shot made by jumping high into the air and pushing the ball through the basket with a sharp downward motion, thought to resemble a blow made with a tomahawk.
How many dunks does Steph Curry have?
Looking at Stephen Curry's dunk statistics
He has a total of 26 dunks in his 13-year career and the last time he did so was in the 2018-19 season.
Who is the best dunker ever?
Top Ten Dunkers Of All Time
- #7 Jason Richardson.
- #6 Julius Erving.
- #5 Shawn Kemp.
- #4 Kobe Bryant.
- #3 Michael Jordan.
- #2 Dominique Wilkins.
- #1 Vince Carter.
- Honorable mentions:
How many dunks has Shaq made?
Although Big Shaq retired in 2011, his 2,626 career dunks stood until the 2017-18 NBA season. Of all the players on the top-five list, O'Neal has been retired the longest, with Tyson Chandler (1,735) joining him after the 2019-20 season.
How many times has LeBron dunked?
He is followed by two fellow Lakers DeAndre Jordan (2,237 career dunks) and LeBron James (1,949 career dunks).
Can 6ft person dunk?
To summarize, with a height of about 6 feet, you can dunk a basketball very quickly. But people of shorter height can still fully afford to dunk. Although that means you will have to go through more intense muscle training and vertical jumps. With effort and luck, you will likely dunk.
When did the NBA raise the rim?
Since about 1987 to the present, it's been about 6-foot-7. That means that players today have a much easier time playing above the rim. Legendary basketball coach Pete Newell suggested in a 2013 New York Times Op-Ed that the NCAA and NBA raise their hoops to 11 feet.
Who can dunk from the free throw line?
Forty-plus years later, it's still serving as a benchmark for basketball's most fearless flyers.
- JULIUS ERVING – 1976.
- MICHAEL JORDAN – 1985, 1987, 1988.
- MIKE CONLEY – 1992.
- SERGE IBAKA – 2011.
- SHELBY MCEWEN – 2014.
- ZACH LAVINE – 2016.
Who can dunk in the WNBA?
WNBA Players Who Can Dunk
- Lisa Leslie.
- Michelle Snow.
- Candace Parker.
- Sylvia Fowles.
- Brittney Griner.
- Jonquel Jones.
- Liz Cambage.
Did Wilt Chamberlain ever make a 3 pointer?
NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain would have turned 77 years old today. He holds 71 NBA records, 62 of them by himself, including most points in a game (100), most rebounds in a game (55) and most minutes per game in a season (48.53, thanks to overtime).