The Slam Dunk Contest had become the most anticipated event of NBA All-Star Weekend. Many fans admit they look forward to the dunks even more than the All-Star Game itself.
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Nowadays, the Slam Dunk Contest has suffered from “fatigue” as fans have seen most dunks that players are capable of making. Still, it is a pastime of All-Star Weekend and it actually began in the ABA, not the NBA.
A league fighting for attention
In 1976, the ABA was in serious trouble. Television ratings were falling and attendance numbers continued to drop. Even with a superstar like “Dr. J” Julius Erving on the roster, the league struggled to compete with the more established NBA.
As organizers prepared for the ninth ABA All-Star Game, they searched for a way to create excitement and sell more tickets. Jim Bukata, the ABA’s director of marketing and public relations, played a key role in the solution.
Bukata later explained that the idea emerged during a casual office discussion. He, Denver Nuggets general manager Carl Scheer, and ABA finance director Jim Keeler were talking about fresh ways to attract fans when someone suggested a slam dunk contest.
The inspiration came from Dr. J himself. Erving would often tease Jim Keeler, an African-American executive who handled the league’s business affairs, by joking that he might be the only Black man in the ABA who could not dunk. Those playful remarks helped the executives recognize that the ABA had become known as the league of high-flying dunkers. They decided to turn that identity into a full contest.
The historic first contest
The very first Slam Dunk Contest took place during halftime of the 1976 ABA All-Star Game at McNichols Arena in Denver, Colorado. Five players competed: Julius Erving, Artis Gilmore, Larry Kenon, David Thompson, and George Gervin.
Thompson, the hometown favorite with the Denver Nuggets, excited the crowd by becoming the first player to complete a 360-degree dunk in the contest.
Dr. J, however, delivered the unforgettable performance. He first amazed fans by dunking two basketballs at the same time. Then he produced the moment that remains legendary to this day. Taking off from the free-throw line, Erving soared through the air and threw down a powerful slam.
The arena exploded with cheers. Everyone knew the winner had been decided. Dr. J completed three more impressive dunks and was crowned the first-ever Slam Dunk Contest champion.
A lasting legacy
Later that year, the ABA merged with the NBA and brought several innovations with it. Without the ABA, the league might never have adopted the Slam Dunk Contest or the three-point shot.
Erving’s creativity and incredible athleticism helped popularize an exciting, above-the-rim style of play. His influence shaped future generations of players, including Michael Jordan, who later made the free-throw line dunk his own signature move.
For that reason, basketball fans today owe a real debt of gratitude to Dr. J and the ABA. Their willingness to innovate helped transform the game into the global entertainment powerhouse it is now.
