Who was the first UK player to dunk in a game?

[J_Dee]

Joe Fortenberry is credited as the first basketball player ever to dunk, in 1936, while playing in the Amateur Athletic Union: Wikipedia: Slam Dunk.

Joe Fortenberry, playing for the McPherson Globe Refiners, dunked the ball in 1936 in Madison Square Garden. The feat was immortalized by Arthur Daley, Pulitzer Prize winning sports writer for The New York Times in an article in March 1936. He wrote that Joe Fortenberry and his teammate, Willard Schmidt, instead of shooting up for a layup, leaped up and "pitch[ed] the ball downward into the hoop, much like a cafeteria customer dunking a roll in coffee".

And Basketball and College Basketball Hall-of-Famer Bob Kurland is credited with the first dunk in college basketball, in 1944: NCAA: The story behind the first known dunk in college basketball history.

In 1944, college basketball saw its first-ever dunk, when Oklahoma A&M's Bob "Foothills" Kurland dunked by accident. Yes, you read that correctly.

Kurland, one of the first 7-foot centers, is credited with the first dunk in college basketball history when his Oklahoma A&M Aggies, which has since been renamed to Oklahoma State, played Temple.

"The ball happened to be under the basket. I got it up and stuffed it in. That started it, I guess,” the late Kurland told the Orlando Sentinel in 2012. "It was an unintentional accident. It wasn't planned, just a spontaneous play in Philadelphia.

So...who was the first Kentucky player ever to dunk? I know Rupp had mixed feelings about dunking and didn't allow it for a while -- Jon Scott: Adolph Rupp: Fact and Fiction.

Kentucky would make some rallies as the game progressed but the strong inside play of David Lattin and the consistent ball-handling and solid free-throw shooting of the Western guards ensured the victory.

"We had no idea what we were getting into," [Pat] Riley said. "In those days, players didn't dunk. I hadn't seen anyone dunk. Guys barely jumped high enough to stick a dollar bill under their shoes. But these guys came out, and after they had dunked on me about three times, I knew they had a lot more to accomplish than we did." - by Jere Longman, Philadelphia Inquirer, "Forget the Glitter, Riley is a Coach of Substance," June 8, 1987.

I haven't really discussed this in detail on this page but the topic of Rupp's view on dunking is complicated. It is true that he was in favor of the ban on dunking at the time it was announced in 1967, although it's not clear that he lobbied for the rule change and he was not a member of the rules committee at the time the rule was passed. One thing people today don't seem to recognize is that at the time with exposed hooks for the basketball net, dunking was a potentially dangerous maneuver and the threat of seriously hurting your hand or even losing a finger was real. In addition, if the goal was damaged it often led to game postponements as most places didn't have backup goals readily available.

While Rupp generally was against the dunk through much of his career. Lou Tsioropoulos noted that Rupp allowed the players to dunk in practice but not in games. Despite this, his players did indeed dunk from time to time in the 1950's and 1960's at least, including a memorable break-away dunk by Bill Spivey in a game vs. Kansas and rival big man Clyde Lovellette. Marion Cluggish, 6-8 center who played for Rupp in the late 30's to early 40's, was known to dunk in pregame warmups at Rupp's request in order to intimidate opponents. In an interview after his retirement, Rupp was quoted as saying about the dunk: "I really think it should be a part of basketball," said Rupp. "I was violently opposed to it, but after thinking about it for two or three years, I think it has a spot in basketball." (Eugene (OR) Register-Guard, May 1, 1976)

On Spivey and that Kansas game:

Kentucky played a much-anticipated game versus Kansas on December 16, 1950, with Spivey matched up against Jayhawks center Clyde Lovellette. The Wildcats won by 29 points as Spivey outplayed Lovellette, in what he later called the best performance of his college career. After one steal, he drove to the Kansas basket and did a slam dunk; this was rare for Kentucky basketball at the time, as Rupp instructed players not to dunk during games.

Sounds like it might've been Bill Spivey. Does anyone here know for sure?

 

[NociHTTP]

First in a simulated game, Shaedon Sharpe.

Seriously, pretty cool that the first dunk was that long ago. I wonder what everyone thought about it.

 

[jeffky]

Wilt "THE STILT" reason why they banned dunking in college I believe

 

[chroix]

The first real dunk that stands out to me was Dr J with the windmill. Total game changer. Got me hooked.

Edit: obviously not Kentucky just a random memory.

 

[jeffky]

Dan issel dunked it one time regardless of what rupp told the team man they said rupp was pissed at his big man rupp is turning over in his grave now with all the high flying acrobatic dunks ball dribbling between the legs and behind the back passes you did not do that on a adolph rupp coached team

 

[UK90]

Wilt "THE STILT" reason why they banned dunking in college I believe

It wasn’t banned until a decade after Wilt’s college career.

It was more Kareem who made the ban happen. In fact, it was often jokingly called “the Lew Alcindor rule” for that reason.

 

[CELTICAT]

Spivey created the offensive goal-tending rule because he would routinely put back anything that touched the rim or was still on the rim.

Willing to bet it was Groza, with that said. He was a very fluid/athletic 6’7.

 

[ManitouDan]

Ritchie

 

[SemperFiCat]

6'2" white boy, and I could dunk my junior year of HS. One or two hands, off one or two feet. But never got one in a real game. It haunts me.

 

[Killswitch24]

6'2" white boy, and I could dunk my junior year of HS. One or two hands, off one or two feet. But never got one in a real game. It haunts me.

Hmm

 

[SemperFiCat]

Hmm

You don't have to believe me. No skin off my back. You also don't have to believe I was voted best hair in my HS senior class.

 

[nssdigitalchumps]

 

[Killswitch24]

You don't have to believe me. No skin off my back. You also don't have to believe I was voted best hair in my HS senior class.

The hair I do believe I can see that. I used to do some crazy sht with my bangs in 01. The dunking…gonna need a VHS recording of that.

 

[SemperFiCat]

The hair I do believe I can see that. I used to do some crazy sht with my bangs in 01. The dunking…gonna need a VHS recording of that.

If only we all had phones then. If you knew I was a pretty good high jumper and a county champ in the 200M, would that make it more believable? Actually, growing up playing lots of Gus Mackers and pickup open gyms, there were plenty of white dudes my size that could put one down just screwing around between games. I can count on one hand the amount of dudes I ever saw throw one down in a real HS game for my tiny HS, for any class, over the years.

 

[Killswitch24]

If only we all had phones then. If you knew I was a pretty good high jumper and a county champ in the 200M, would that make it more believable? Actually, growing up playing lots of Gus Mackers and pickup open gyms, there were plenty of white dudes my size that could put one down just screwing around between games. I can count on one hand the amount of dudes I ever saw throw one down in a real HS game for my tiny HS, for any class, over the years.

Nah I’m just comlexin. I couldn’t dunk. I’d jump up and swipe the net see how close I could get. My dad used to pick me up and I’d slam it down, the rim seemed so big to me.

Now shooting, nah. They could do a 30 for 30 on my form.

 

[jeffky]

It wasn’t banned until a decade after Wilt’s college career.

It was more Kareem who made the ban happen. In fact, it was often jokingly called “the Lew Alcindor rule” for that reason.

You're right Kareem got the two confused 😵

 

[Someguywhodoesntlikeyou]

I still don’t like it. That’s why I’ve never done and will never do it. White guys shoot that thang.

Are you saying white men can’t jump?

 

[BlueWhite21]

I still don’t like it. That’s why I’ve never done and will never do it. White guys shoot that thang.

Not even on a Hall Ball goal in your living room? Or on a 6ft goal?

 

[BlueWhite21]

You don't have to believe me. No skin off my back. You also don't have to believe I was voted best hair in my HS senior class.

I know all kinds of 6'2 white boys who can dunk in warmups in HS so don't worry what ppl say. I say all kinds, but actually I know a few who could. Not all kinds as in Alot. Look at Jeff Sheppard throwing em down at 6'3 like a black boy. He was once in HS and was doing the same then. He just so happen to have the rest of the game to go with it.

 

[BlueWhite21]

You're right Kareem got the two confused 😵

It's crazy that John Wooden loved that rule too with the talent he had who could dunk without jumping basically but he loved layups. So he was all for the no dunking rule. I think Nellie was giving him drugs in his coffee before he was off to practice/ games lol.

 

[BlueWhite21]

It wasn’t banned until a decade after Wilt’s college career.

It was more Kareem who made the ban happen. In fact, it was often jokingly called “the Lew Alcindor rule” for that reason.

It's crazy that John Wooden was all for no dunking. It's crazy to me he preferred layups with the guys he had.

 

[DreadLox]

Are you saying white men can’t jump?

From time to time I could swat the bottom of the net.

 

[BlueWhite21]

From time to time I could swat the bottom of the net.

Me too on my nerf goal lol.

 

[TopCatCal]

Joe Fortenberry is credited as the first basketball player ever to dunk, in 1936, while playing in the Amateur Athletic Union: Wikipedia: Slam Dunk.

And Basketball and College Basketball Hall-of-Famer Bob Kurland is credited with the first dunk in college basketball, in 1944: NCAA: The story behind the first known dunk in college basketball history.

So...who was the first Kentucky player ever to dunk? I know Rupp had mixed feelings about dunking and didn't allow it for a while -- Jon Scott: Adolph Rupp: Fact and Fiction.





On Spivey and that Kansas game:



Sounds like it might've been Bill Spivey. Does anyone here know for sure?

My question is. Who was the first UK player to dunk in a game after the dunk was reinstated back into college basketball in 1976?..... I would guess James Lee maybe Rick Robey. Does anyone know for sure

 

[On-On-UK]

From BasketballFandom.com

The first ban on dunking a basketball was implemented in 1967. This ban was put in place due to safety concerns. The NCAA was worried that players would injure themselves or others by attempting to dunk the basketball. As a result, dunking was banned until 1976.

The 1976 UK roster featured Jack Givens, James Lee, Rick Robey, Mike Phillips, Larry Johnson, Jay Shidler, Truman Claytor, Dwane Casey, LaVon Williams, Marion Haskins, and Tim Stevens,

My guess is that Givens or Lee (Silk and Steel) got UK's first dunk since 1967.

 

[yoshukai]

From BasketballFandom.com

The first ban on dunking a basketball was implemented in 1967. This ban was put in place due to safety concerns. The NCAA was worried that players would injure themselves or others by attempting to dunk the basketball. As a result, dunking was banned until 1976.

The 1976 UK roster featured Jack Givens, James Lee, Rick Robey, Mike Phillips, Larry Johnson, Jay Shidler, Truman Claytor, Dwane Casey, LaVon Williams, Marion Haskins, and Tim Stevens,

My guess is that Givens or Lee (Silk and Steel) got UK's first dunk since 1967.

The way I remember it, Givens never dunked, even on breakaways. I can only remember one . Maybe I’m misremembering though.

 

[JPScott]

One thing to note, while dunking in games was apparently not done much (if at all) in the early half of the 20th century, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t done outside of games.

I don’t remember exactly where I read this but reportedly players were dunking (or at least trying to dunk) from the very first times goals were hung around the turn of the century. Of course basketballs were bigger than they are today so it would have been more difficult.

 

[littlecreek]

The way I remember it, Givens never dunked, even on breakaways. I can only remember one . Maybe I’m misremembering though.

I think he had a dunk against UNLV on senior day 1978. If I remember correctly, the Courier-Journal had a picture of Goose dunking in that game. (My dad and I kept a scrap book on that season)

 

[yoshukai]

I think he had a dunk against UNLV on senior day 1978. If I remember correctly, the Courier-Journal had a picture of Goose dunking in that game. (My dad and I kept a scrap book on that season)

Yep . That was it .

 

[JPScott]

I think he had a dunk against UNLV on senior day 1978. If I remember correctly, the Courier-Journal had a picture of Goose dunking in that game. (My dad and I kept a scrap book on that season)

Good memory. Except looking it up I don't think it was in the Louisville Courier-Journal but published in the Lexington Herald-Leader. The photo shows him dunking over future NBA star Reggie Theus (#23) for UNLV.

Link to Photo in Case it Doesn't Show

 

[littlecreek]

Good memory. Except looking it up I don't think it was in the Louisville Courier-Journal but published in the Lexington Herald-Leader. The photo shows him dunking over future NBA star Reggie Theus (#23) for UNLV.

Link to Photo in Case it Doesn't Show

You could be right about the paper. My dad subscribed to both just for the sports. My dad dropped the LH-L later on but he bought a CJ every day until he passed away in 2019 and listened to KSR. I never could get him to use a computer to access all the different info on Kentucky.

 

[Soupbean]

The way I remember it, Givens never dunked, even on breakaways. I can only remember one . Maybe I’m misremembering though.

Jack didnt dunk as much but put a strong one down against UNLV the day we destroyed them at Rupp in 78. It was a dunk fest by the whole team that game. There was a story from a Las Vegas writer about that game that I wish I still had. It talked about the whole weekend and his experience at UK for the first time and how bigger than life everything was from Rupp Arena to the fans, the mascots on and on and then ended by talking about the dominating dunk fest that happened.

 

[JPScott]

It's crazy that John Wooden loved that rule too with the talent he had who could dunk without jumping basically but he loved layups. So he was all for the no dunking rule. I think Nellie was giving him drugs in his coffee before he was off to practice/ games lol.

I don't know where you get this from but at least at the time the no dunking rule was implemented in 1967, Wooden was not happy about it and said that he preferred that the dunk be allowed.

 

[littlecreek]

Jack didnt dunk as much but put a strong one down against UNLV the day we destroyed them at Rupp in 78. It was a dunk fest by the whole team that game. There was a story from a Las Vegas writer about that game that I wish I still had. It talked about the whole weekend and his experience at UK for the first time and how bigger than life everything was from Rupp Arena to the fans, the mascots on and on and then ended by talking about the dominating dunk fest that happened.

Tark about choked on that towel that he used to chew on.

 

[awf]

Dan issel dunked it one time regardless of what rupp told the team man they said rupp was pissed at his big man rupp is turning over in his grave now with all the high flying acrobatic dunks ball dribbling between the legs and behind the back passes you did not do that on a adolph rupp coached team

The game wasn't played back then like it is now......There were no behind the back passes to speak of.......showboating wasn't part of the game.........at least that is what we called it......

 

[UKBB4Ever]

The game wasn't played back then like it is now......There were no behind the back passes to speak of.......showboating wasn't part of the game.........at least that is what we called it......

Pistol Pete comes to mind as being contrary to that.

Fly Williams too.

Pat Riley was a dunking machine at UK.

As Goose, I played against him in high school. Dunking wasn’t allowed in high school games then but Goose was a high flyer in pre game warmups. I don’t know if they called him Goose in high school.

I remember first hearing that after he got to UK.

 

[littlecreek]

I know all kinds of 6'2 white boys who can dunk in warmups in HS so don't worry what ppl say. I say all kinds, but actually I know a few who could. Not all kinds as in Alot. Look at Jeff Sheppard throwing em down at 6'3 like a black boy. He was once in HS and was doing the same then. He just so happen to have the rest of the game to go with it.

We played Celina(TN) my junior year of high school and they had plenty of short (under 6-2) white boys that could jump out of the gym. It was hard for us warming up to not not watch them putting on a show. They were the best team we played until we got to the Sweet 16.

 

[Myotis]

I am (or more accurately, used to be 6’2”, age has knocked that down to 6’ even). In HS I could jump and touch 10’9”, hand comfortably above the rim for a one handed dunk, except I couldn’t palm the ball. And couldn’t get high enough to stuff it two handed.

If nobody for UK had by the time Spivey arrived, I bet money he threw down a bunch, or at least until and if Rupp told him to cut it out.

 

[CondorCat]

The NCAA banned dunking from 1967 - 76. "The ban was intended to limit the dominance of Lew Alcindor, a 7'1 ⅜" UCLA sophomore who led his team to the 1967 NCAA championship."

As for the first UK player to dunk, perhaps it was Bill Spivey? He was certainly the first athletic, legit 7' footer to play for UK. In the 1951 NCAA championship game he had 22 points and 21 rebounds. It's a shame he was forced to leave school and banned for life from the NBA after being implicated in the point shaving scandal. He was never found guilty.

"I feel he would have been one of the top five centers of all-time had he had the chance to mature in the NBA." -- Joe B. Hall

 

[drew_ukfan]

But but white men can’t jump!