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YouTube Gold: The First Dunk Contest

Related Topics: Slam Dunk Contest, The Roots

Dunk contests have become common place and almost boring.

That despite the stunning dunks some guys can pull off, not to mention the periodic props like chairs or teammates or once, we think, a car.

The roots of the dunk contest were much humbler and started at halftime of the final ABA All-star game.

A lot of this is just ridiculous by today’s standards. George Gervin was a great offensive force and a highly creative shooter, but a dunker? Not even.

And Artis Gilmore, who was 7-2 and still young, basically just did a standing dunk.