On January 29, 1984, Larry Nance won the first NBA slam dunk contest
In 1976, the ABA was in serious financial difficulties. The league is slowly dying and needs a second wind. Carl Scheer, died in December 2019then he invented the dunk contest and Julius Erving made the mark for the first contest with his dunk from the free throw line.
Eight years later, the dunk contest appeared 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 and the giant Ralph Sampson (2m24), met to become pioneers.
Eyes on Julius Erving
“Dr. J,” an ABA legend and undisputed NBA star, is clearly the heavy favorite on paper, as well as the attraction of this first-ever NBA dunk contest.
“The whole show was built around him and you could feel the electricity in the room”remembers one of his opponents, Michael Cooper, pour Bleacher Report. “Participating with the man who won the contest in 1976 with a dunk from the free throw line was an honor.”adds Darrell Griffith, another attendee.
For others, like Larry Nance, the father of the Hawks’ current interior, challenging Julius Erving is clearly an added motivation, but he’s not the only one participating in the event.
“I wanted a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro then. I wanted it so bad. As soon as I heard about this contest, I told myself that with the $10,000 prize I could win my car. I didn’t see the 1976 contest, but the other reason was Dr. J. In my opinion, he was the best dunker in history, but I watched a lot of basketball. I didn’t pay attention when I watched basketball. It was cool to face him.
The “prehistory” of the dunk contest
We still have to beat the 1983 NBA champions. Two players are in the Finals and like Julius Erving, despite another jump from the free throw line, misses a dunk, and at that point, this counts in the score, 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 bought and sold her a few times, but she’s far away now. On the other hand, the trophy is at home.”
First of all, the competition is now launched in the NBA. A few years later, the duel between Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins entered the legendbefore Vince Carter’s memorable victories apparently (2000), or in recent times Zach LaVine.
This 1984 release, like the first from the 1980s, retains a unique charm through its raw look.
“I don’t think anyone knew what was going to happen. Today it’s more of a show. There were no tricks, no players jumping over others. It was prehistoric.”analyze Clyde Drexler. “The players who are participating now are ready and have props, people are holding the ball for them.” “, continues Michael Cooper. “We had our two legs, the trigger, the ball and the circle. The dunk is an individual artistic movement to me. You don’t jump on a car.”
2026-01-29 12:09:00
