Any NBA fan loves watching slam dunks. Who wouldn’t? There is something magical about watching Greg Oden, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson and so many others slamming the ball right into the hoop. It’s interesting to know, however, that the slam dunk hasn’t always been what it is today.
The slam dunk was actually invented in the late 60s, and it wasn’t even invented by the NBA! The American Basketball Association, made up of players who were not thought to be quite good enough for the NBA, introduced the idea of the dunk with such legends as Julius “the Doctor” Erving. Dr. J could windmill, rock the ball, go behind his back and more.
And, of course, the rest is history
with the dunk becoming a household name.
In 1984, the NBA introduced the Slam Dunk Contest that the ABA had
originally started.