This Slam Dunk Contest was not the very first; it was the first "Official" Slam Dunk Contest. The first actual one took place in front of just over 10,000 at half time at the previous year's 1975 ABA All Star Game in San Antonio - and it was a spontaneous unofficial event that the players simply did on their own. While my memory's a little hazy about all the contestants and I have found no video of the game, let alone its half time events, they were pretty much the same high flyers as in this 1976 video from Denver. What isn't hazy is my memory of Dr.J's winning dunk. Julius started running all the way from the opposite corner with a ball in each hand. I'm not sure exactly where he took off from, but it was somewhere at or beyond the free throw line. While flying rapidly through the air, he turned a slow 180 so that he reached the basket with his back to it. From there he tomahawked each ball over his opposite shoulder, before gracefully landing with knees bent and arms outstretched to the sides, taking in the roar of the stunned & delirious crowd. It was the most incredible combination of speed, power, athleticism, finesse, and ballet-like body control I have ever seen in any athletic event. After 60 years as a basketball junkie, I still watch NBA All Star Dunk Contests. I've seen some great dunks over the years. But none compare with that one, from 25 year old Dr J at his physical peak.
Artis was robbed. His dunks were clearly the most imaginative,athletic,and innovative compared to the other contestants. His 6 inch vertical was totally insane for that era.
This is NOT the "NBA" Slam Dunk Contest. This is the ABA 's contest, in the last season of the league. I remember this very well. Halftime of the last ABA All-Star Game, in January of 1976;none of the participants were in the NBA yet. A great memory,but give the ABA... especially Nuggets GM Carl Scheer...credit for starting what has become an NBA staple.
Imagine in the 70s being a fan of Dr. J or David Thompson because of their sensational dunks. Fast forward to the 80s and 90s and there's armies of slam dunking trick bag players.
Nah, just a dude dunking I think impressed them. To paraphrase Back to the Future...they weren't ready yet for the dunks that came in 2000 and after. However, their kids/grandkids were gonna love it.
hmm, i just noticed, thur the years, a lot of guys have dunked from the free throw line. But Dr J. started from the opposite free throw line, and then dunked. That's amazing, because other guys such as Michacel Jordan, vIince Carter, Brent Berry, etc. had to use the entire court, starting from the opposite base line!!!!
As opposed to today ; participants outfitted in long-skirted "shants" -lending the impression that we're watching very athletic rodeo clowns veering into a new arena
Such a disrespectful "response". "So what" Are you serious? The ABA wasn't the XFL homie... the ABA almost put the NBA out of business and was the last major sports start up to gain enough ground to rival an established league. Show a little respect.
No "So What" the nba sucked. I LOVED the American Basketball Association and the players loved that awesome red, white and blue ball compared to the then boring nba and their brown ball. The nba killed the ABA and later the nba started using the 3 point shot and slam dunk contest. They had NO respect for the ABA so I have no respect for them.
NONSENSE.... This was the ABA slam dunk contest, not the NBA. The year BEFORE the merger. Good grief Gen Z and Millenials... can't you even do a quick search anymore, or do facts just not matter?
Absolutely no drama or build up in the announcement of the winner. This video is a classic!
5:54 absolutely INSANE dunk!
ashliski thats low-key the best dunk
Haha...obviously. It was such a soft dunk, it looked cream puff. Top it off with the fact that Artis Gilmore was 7'2 it looked like he barely jumped.
Artis Gilmore does a normal dunk and the people love it, wow how basketball has evolved. People do that now a days and that's what everyone expects.
The Doctor will live forever.
Better than 2024
This Slam Dunk Contest was not the very first; it was the first "Official" Slam Dunk Contest. The first actual one took place in front of just over 10,000 at half time at the previous year's 1975 ABA All Star Game in San Antonio - and it was a spontaneous unofficial event that the players simply did on their own. While my memory's a little hazy about all the contestants and I have found no video of the game, let alone its half time events, they were pretty much the same high flyers as in this 1976 video from Denver.
What isn't hazy is my memory of Dr.J's winning dunk. Julius started running all the way from the opposite corner with a ball in each hand. I'm not sure exactly where he took off from, but it was somewhere at or beyond the free throw line. While flying rapidly through the air, he turned a slow 180 so that he reached the basket with his back to it. From there he tomahawked each ball over his opposite shoulder, before gracefully landing with knees bent and arms outstretched to the sides, taking in the roar of the stunned & delirious crowd. It was the most incredible combination of speed, power, athleticism, finesse, and ballet-like body control I have ever seen in any athletic event.
After 60 years as a basketball junkie, I still watch NBA All Star Dunk Contests. I've seen some great dunks over the years. But none compare with that one, from 25 year old Dr J at his physical peak.
Ervings free throw line dunk at 12:37
Pēteris Rakuls irving
Hannah Collins erving
his foot was over the line but great dunk
@@hannahcollins6824 bruh you talking about Kyrie
Wilt could dunk the ball standing at the free throw line
It was a PLEASURE to be able to live in Philadelphia and watch Dr. J as a young boy! Was great!!!!
Artis was robbed. His dunks were clearly the most imaginative,athletic,and innovative compared to the other contestants. His 6 inch vertical was totally insane for that era.
7:18 dunk so hard that the camera felt it
Of course, the title is wrong. This was the ABA contest, not the NBA
David Thompson Should Have Dunked From The Foul Line First & He Would Have Won It In His Gym- Denver, Home Of The First Ever Slam Dunk Contest.
The Nuggets are my favorite NBA Team but Dr J deserves the win
Just imagine the 2013 NBA Dunkers time traveling to back into Dr J's era .
wow .
They would’ve took Lebron to Area 51 considering hes a alien
@@hashslanginmaster7239 😂
@@hashslanginmaster7239 lebron isn’t even a big dunker
@@captaindre6743 If lebron isn’t then who is? They’ve been begging lebron to be in plenty dunk contests. And he’s broken rims before
@@hashslanginmaster7239 I’m saying he isn’t known for dunking. and who is? Ja morant
Obviously ABA not NBA but great vid! ABA was the real deal! High flying,smoking on bench,bounties on players heads..legends
This is NOT the "NBA" Slam Dunk Contest. This is the ABA 's contest, in the last season of the league. I remember this very well. Halftime of the last ABA All-Star Game, in January of 1976;none of the participants were in the NBA yet.
A great memory,but give the ABA... especially Nuggets GM Carl Scheer...credit for starting what has become an NBA staple.
artis was the first to dunk two balls at the same time
David did the first 360
and julius did the first free throw line dunk
Today in 2023, these type of dunks are routine. But back then they were spectacular
i just want to see Vince Carter in ABA slam dunk contest 1976. LOL
Vince? Hell. Any dunker from 1985 and after would win this contest here.
Kenny Smith would win. Bird man Anderson would win.
Yeah. Vince would have jumped through the gym.. maybe the TV camera
Anything to bring Carter's hair back
Bruh they were strict wit taking off
Lol he said 10 feet no one is gonna take off from thief and he said some no holding the rim I think we don't need another shak
The crowd was easily impressed.
Thank you for posting i was 3 years old i have never seen this thank you for taking the time to post this peace!!
thanks for posting----doc was insane!!!
I wonder if people back in the 70’s got hyped for this like we did for the 2016 Dunk contest
Twist around slam dunk!!!😂
Those dunks Artis Gilmore threw down were insane. LOL.
Fun fact: This same annoying PA announcer was the same one who did the 1st “official” NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1984
Imagine in the 70s being a fan of Dr. J or David Thompson because of their sensational dunks. Fast forward to the 80s and 90s and there's armies of slam dunking trick bag players.
That was boring even for the 70’s.
Nah, just a dude dunking I think impressed them. To paraphrase Back to the Future...they weren't ready yet for the dunks that came in 2000 and after. However, their kids/grandkids were gonna love it.
Where is jackie moon ?
torresmilochomil LMFAO!!!
Thompson. Gervin. Dr j. Kenon. Gilmore. Yeah. I like that starting five 😊❤️😊
hmm, i just noticed, thur the years, a lot of guys have dunked from the free throw line. But Dr J. started from the opposite free throw line, and then dunked. That's amazing, because other guys such as Michacel Jordan, vIince Carter, Brent Berry, etc. had to use the entire court, starting from the opposite base line!!!!
This comment gave me cancer
9 years ago
its aba not nba just saying
What's that
@@itzeckam9356 it’s like the nba but before the nba was made
@@ogpluff2588 ohhhh thx
@@itzeckam9356 np
ABA not NBA
Nice
Hahhaha who's still watching this in 2020
All of us basketball junkies who were in high school back in 1976!
The voice of the host sounds like a young Bob Costas.
Because it was.
The goal's pole is really different from 2016
goal post*
the days of short shorts and high socks.
And Converse
As opposed to today ; participants outfitted in long-skirted "shants" -lending the impression that we're watching very athletic rodeo clowns veering into a new arena
Imagine how snuts people would go for Vince if he traveled back in time to show them how its done.
an old lady as a judge? what? she can dunk?
the hoop looks like a toy back then
10:24 the man who Michael Jordan said he wanted to be like growing up!
the basket Was rare
4:45 to save your time 😉
This is awkward
Good point.
2017 Dr J still a beasted. Yall shut up n show some respect!
5:09 most difficult dunk ever
Julius Erving though
where was connie hawkins for this contest
Classic
The dude that won came to my school forgot his name
Wasn’t this ABA?
Holy shit the quality is like from the 1700s, FUCK ME!
Afros. cotton wrist bands. Short shorts. What's not to like?
This was not made in 1976 because the three point line was not a thing
The ABA had the 3 pt line for it's entirety. Not like the NBA, which introduced it in 79-80.
This is proof Dr J jumps higher than 41inches! And he slammed over Kareem! So he really can go over 48inches
Это не может быть 1976г., 3-х очковая зона появилась в 1983г.
@thenintendogamer ok. so what? i know that. whatever. watch and get excited!!!
such a good dunk 5:58 (BTW)
Artis didn’t even try lol
Julius Erving , then and forever .
Dang 9 years ago
I zomed out from 0:00 to 15:02
$1200! Sweet! Simpler times.
Keep pressure off the rims lol
i remember larry bird school julius erving
I remember Julius Erving kickin Larry Bird’s ass in a fight on the court.
Wasnt this the ABA?
only a white businessman who has never dunked could come up with such ridiculous rules
IT'S VERY BLURRY CAN'T REALLY SEE WHAT'S going on make another video of the dunks.
This was 1976, no really good cameras at this time.
It's the ABA not the NBA contest.
are you positive this is the first slam dunk contest
Not the first actual one. It was the first official one. See my Comment with details.
ABA NBA No one cares we're just here to watch dunks calm down
dr J blow this audience mind
I meant 5:55
bence en iyi smaç julius erving'in faul çizgisinden smacıydı.
Tarihin ilk faul çizgisinden smacı
Basketball 🏀 is smaller.
Artists Gilmore did the most basic dunks any body can do it
Hoop looks silly as hell.
is that you bruh
This is so strange lol
This is the ABA SDC, not NBA.
could've lived w/o the 10 minute rule recitation and intro of the rinky dink judges but otherwise very entertaining
ITS OVAAAAAAA
thompson dunks were better then dr.j legendary slam dunk conest
David missed one... contest over .
Who was the clown who filmed this on an android
new york nets use to be good
Such a disrespectful "response". "So what" Are you serious? The ABA wasn't the XFL homie... the ABA almost put the NBA out of business and was the last major sports start up to gain enough ground to rival an established league. Show a little respect.
No "So What" the nba sucked. I LOVED the American Basketball Association and the players loved that awesome red, white and blue ball compared to the then boring nba and their brown ball. The nba killed the ABA and later the nba started using the 3 point shot and slam dunk contest. They had NO respect for the ABA so I have no respect for them.
7:04 , lmao
The infamous foul line dunk, created here by one of the best to ever play, then perfected about 10yrs later by THE best player to ever exist.
first person to win the slam dunk contents trey burke is better than him
NONSENSE.... This was the ABA slam dunk contest, not the NBA. The year BEFORE the merger. Good grief Gen Z and Millenials... can't you even do a quick search anymore, or do facts just not matter?
12:49 thats not free throw line dunk he jump into the orange
This was lame as hell with creativity. But I think dr j had the best dunk at the end
EMONEY this was literally the first dunk contest ever, lol. Creativity is at its highest here, they had NOTHING to go off of.
I guess 2021 dunk contest wasn’t the worst ever 💀
2021 was bad but there are plenty of dunk contest that’s worse.
2022 is the worst
Hhhh
IVE SEEN JV HIGH SCHOOL PRE GAME LAY UP LINES BETTER THAN THIS!!
ABA not NBA
Whats that