what is so different between the dunks now and the past?

[samson1028]

Have been looking back into videos of players dunking in the past: kemp, jordan and many many other great dunkers.

LeBorn, kobe, Carter are great dunkers too. But the dunks by them nowadays are so different with those of the past.

Anyone can tell me what's wrong?

[TRUball]

What do you mean? I personally think that there is more style and creativity in the dunks nowadays. Twenty years ago, people wouldn't know what to do if someone came out in a dunk contest and did a 360 between the legs dunk. Or if they pulled a honey dip. Hell, 6 years ago, people didn't know what to think after VC stuck his elbow in. I think it's also because dunker's now have to think more about it. Like, way back when in the dunk contest, when 'Nique would pull out a windmill, it was insane. Now, that's a 'basic' dunk. So, in today's world, more thought has to go into the dunk. Well, that's my opinion anyways.

[Fenix]

It's simple - different people, different repertoire of dunks. Lebron simply does not have creativity to do more complex dunks (he prefers tomahawk dunk above everything else), Kobe's hands are small and his athleticism has somewhat diminished, that's why he developed his own type of finesse dunks with time passed. Carter's combination of finesse, athleticism and power is probably the most similar with the great dunkers of the past - Erving, Jordan, Dominique... There are no big men who can elevate as high as necessary to match Kemp's dunks or have the power to throw it down as hard as Wilkins did.

[Andrew]

I don't think anything's wrong in either era. I suppose one difference I can think of is that reverse dunks used to be a lot more popular.

[gergerjai]

Haha, so by your logic, we are going back to the good old days with lebron's and wade's dunks making to the top10 plays every week.

[J@3]

I think dunks in the past were more stylish, dunks these days are more creative initially but are they overused big time. I think there's more power in the dunks these days, which could be part of the reason Shawn Kemp stood out so much back in the day. Still think he's a better dunker than Amare though.

[Andrew]

What do you mean? I personally think that there is more style and creativity in the dunks nowadays. Twenty years ago, people wouldn't know what to do if someone came out in a dunk contest and did a 360 between the legs dunk. Or if they pulled a honey dip. Hell, 6 years ago, people didn't know what to think after VC stuck his elbow in. I think it's also because dunker's now have to think more about it. Like, way back when in the dunk contest, when 'Nique would pull out a windmill, it was insane. Now, that's a 'basic' dunk. So, in today's world, more thought has to go into the dunk. Well, that's my opinion anyways.

Orlando Woolridge put the ball behind his back and then between his legs and dunked back in the 1984 contest. Also, I think if a player could do a windmill the way 'Nique used to throw them down he'd have a good chance at a 50, not to mention some of Michael Jordan's dunks where he jumped sideways.

[TRUball]

Orlando Woolridge put the ball behind his back and then between his legs and dunked back in the 1984 contest. Also, I think if a player could do a windmill the way 'Nique used to throw them down he'd have a good chance at a 50, not to mention some of Michael Jordan's dunks where he jumped sideways.

Seriously? Holy crap. I never knew that.

Well, remember last year, Josh Smith had that 'Nique windmill and got a 50. Wasn't the same, but he wore his jersey.

Honestly, I haven't seen many videos of past dunk contests, so I am kind of bias. I think I'm going to go try and find some videos of them. Especially of the one that you mentioned.

[samson1028]

Ya i think it has gt to do with the jumping. Old schoold style players jump further while still doing windmill or reverse dunk. But the dunks nowadays has more power.

Anyone think that the movement in the air also as changed? As in the movement of the leg, swinging of the leg and body.

[Fewrookies-From2kW/Love]

Everything develops, same here. First, you dunk, then, you think of different ways to make it better. Dr.J's from the fouline, 'Nique's windmill, and Jordan's learner...over right? Then comes Vince Carter. Everyone thought the dunk contest has reach its peak. But after a two years absence, VC open up a new way thinking. His dunk contest was unpresidented. 360 windmill and elbow was unblievable.

In game dunks, the old days just cannot match todays. There is all these off glass all-oops. I don't think I ever saw Jordan, Nique or J got their heads above rim level. Now, there is 360s and windmill all-oops (wait, thats only Vince ). The dunks are way more innovative these days, but thats only logical.

[Andrew]

In game dunks, the old days just cannot match todays. There is all these off glass all-oops. I don't think I ever saw Jordan, Nique or J got their heads above rim level. Now, there is 360s and windmill all-oops (wait, thats only Vince ). The dunks are way more innovative these days, but thats only logical.

Michael Jordan's kiss-the-rim dunk didn't get its name because he blew a kiss at it a la Jason Kidd. Then there's his up-and-under 180s where he had to duck his head to avoid hitting it on the rim. Dominique Wilkins at one point was supposed to have a 50-inch vertical (though something tells me that was a bit exaggerated). Their heads certainly got up around the rim. Tom Chambers, anyone?

As for off the glass...they certainly had those in the 80s and 90s. The 1989 All-Star game comes to mind; Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan in the open court, Isiah tosses the ball off the backboard, Jordan catches it and throws down a windmill.

I'll think you'll find if you take a look back, you'll find some of the dunks back then were actually innovative and a lot more impressive than you (or for that matter, Richard Jefferson on the first "Dunks!" DVD) makes them out to be.

[J@3]

Ah the late 80's-mid 90's... era of the occassional white guy who could dunk good.

[The X]

I would like people to mention the great dunking of Latrell Sprewell in the mid-90s....I fell in love with those 2 handed tomahawks he would do this is in his first few seasons in the league with Warriors before the P.J. Carlesimo incident....they were so simple, but yet so graceful & powerful

and who can forget, the great one-handed, left handed dunks of Cedric Ceballos....truly a thing of beauty....

that's why dunks of the past are better than the dunks of today....thank you....

[Andrew]

That reminds me of that alley-oop from Payton to Spree in the 1997 All-Star Game, that was one of my favourites.

[koberulz]

is there a reason that in this thread, and this thread only, the username/avatar column is twice its normal width?

[Andrew]

Doesn't appear like that for me.

[koberulz]

it does for me, every time. and only this thread, ive closed and reopened it several times. strange. my location fits on one line up to perth before going to a second line.

[Laxation]

Its funny shaped for me too... but nothing seems to be over the limit

[Cloudy]

I like the Jordan and James Worthy dunks. They seem so run so smoothly and their take off just looks as smooth too. They didn't seem to have bent their knees to provide them the air, they just lift off.... Woo hoo! They hang up their, flying through, and finishes hard.

[Fewrookies-From2kW/Love]

Michael Jordan's kiss-the-rim dunk didn't get its name because he blew a kiss at it a la Jason Kidd. Then there's his up-and-under 180s where he had to duck his head to avoid hitting it on the rim. Dominique Wilkins at one point was supposed to have a 50-inch vertical (though something tells me that was a bit exaggerated). Their heads certainly got up around the rim. Tom Chambers, anyone?

As for off the glass...they certainly had those in the 80s and 90s. The 1989 All-Star game comes to mind; Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan in the open court, Isiah tosses the ball off the backboard, Jordan catches it and throws down a windmill.

I'll think you'll find if you take a look back, you'll find some of the dunks back then were actually innovative and a lot more impressive than you (or for that matter, Richard Jefferson on the first "Dunks!" DVD) makes them out to be.

Maybe its a good for me to shut up....

[shadowgrin]

More players were innovative and creative with dunks during the old days (Jordan, Drexler, Kemp, Spree, 'Nique, Spudd, Erving, etc.)
Today, only few players are creative with their dunks (VC, J-Rich, Kobe?, and some), that's where I think the difference lies with the past compared to the present.

[Cloudy]

Talking about Kobe, we haven't seen him in Top Five Dunks for long time already. Why's that? I see in games, he just goes up for easy dunks most of the time, once in a while he'll do his signature reverse dunk from the baseline. He got injured somehow??

[Andrew]

He's not an 18 year old rookie anymore. He's still a fantastic athlete but I suppose these days he's more concerned about simply putting the ball in the basket and winning games rather than making his mark with 360s and whatnot. It happens with a lot of players, as that youthful enthusiasm/love for showing off gives way to maturity. Or at least that's my theory.

[Its_asdf]

Talking about Kobe, we haven't seen him in Top Five Dunks for long time already. Why's that? I see in games, he just goes up for easy dunks most of the time, once in a while he'll do his signature reverse dunk from the baseline. He got injured somehow??

He needs more fuel in the tank to score 50.

[shadowgrin]

Talking about Kobe, we haven't seen him in Top Five Dunks for long time already. Why's that? I see in games, he just goes up for easy dunks most of the time, once in a while he'll do his signature reverse dunk from the baseline. He got injured somehow??

He needs more fuel in the tank to score 50.

And it's harder to do fancy dunks when you have double or even triple teams hounding you.