 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2017) |
.jpg) Obi Toppin in the 2022 dunk contest | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Competition | National Basketball Association |
| Discipline | Dunking |
| Sponsored by | AT&T |
| History | |
| First award | Julius Erving, 1976 |
| Most wins | Nate Robinson: 3 times |
| Most recent | Mac McClung, 2024 |
| Website | NBA AT&T Slam Dunk |
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest (officially known as the AT&T Slam Dunk) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend.[1] Sports Illustrated wrote "the dunk contest was the best halftime invention since the bathroom."[2][3]
The contest was conceived of and started by the American Basketball Association (ABA) for its 1976 ABA All-Star Game in Denver.[2] The winner was Julius Erving of the New York Nets.[2] As a result of the ABA–NBA merger later that year, the contest moved to the NBA for the 1976–77 season.[4]
There was not another slam dunk contest at the professional level until 1984.[5] The contest has adopted several formats over the years, including, until 2014, the use of fan voting, via text-messaging, to determine the winner of the final round. The current champion of the Slam Dunk Contest is Mac McClung of the Osceola Magic.[6]
- ^ "2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest odds, picks: All-Star Weekend predictions, best bets from expert on 85-67 run". CBSSports.com. February 19, 2022. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ a b c Sheehan Jr, Vinny (February 16, 2018). "Reliving the first Slam Dunk Contest with David Thompson". Pack Pride. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
- ^ Pluto, Terry (2011). Loose Balls. Simon and Schuster. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-4391-2752-0.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:3was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:7was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "NBA Slam Dunk Contest: A look back at the posterizing dunks by all 30 champs". List Wire: USA Today Sports. 2022-02-20. Retrieved 2022-07-18.