When Was Dunking Allowed in the NBA?

Dunking has been a part of the NBA since its inception in 1946. However, it wasn’t until the late 1970s that players were truly able to show off their aerial abilities.

So, when was dunking allowed in the NBA? It’s a complicated question with no clear answer. However, we can take a look at the history of the NBA and how the rules surrounding dunking have changed over time.

The Early Days of the NBA

In the early days of the NBA, players were not allowed to dunk the ball during games. This changed in the late 1970s, when players like Julius Erving and Darryl Dawkins began to popularize the move. Today, dunking is a staple of the NBA, and players like LeBron James and Zion Williamson have taken it to new heights.

The origins of the NBA

The National Basketball Association was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America. The BAA was formed by owners of the major arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The first BAA game was played on November 1, 1946, between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Huskies at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. The Huskies won 68–66. Three years later, in 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League to form the NBA.

Dunking was not allowed in the NBA until 1967. In that year, NAACP Image Award-winning athlete Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) changed the game forever when he joined the Milwaukee Bucks. Alcindor was a 7-foot-2-inch (2.18 m) center who led his team to three consecutive NCAA championships from 1967 to 1969. He also won a gold medal with the United States men’s national basketball team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

In 1971, Alcindor announced his retirement from professional basketball after six seasons with Milwaukee due to problems with his left Achilles tendon. He played his final game on April 5, 1974, for the Lakers against his former team, the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored 31 points and had 14 rebounds in a 120–112 Lakers victory.

The early days of the dunk

Dunking was first allowed in the NBA in the 1976-77 season. Prior to that, it was considered a foul. The reason for the change was that the league wanted to increase scoring and make the game more exciting.

In the early days of the dunk, players such as Julius Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Elvin Hayes were some of the most dominant players in the league. All of them could dominate a game with their ability to dunk the basketball.

Dunking quickly became a popular way to score points, and players began to use it more and more. In fact, some players, such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, became known for their ability to dunk the ball.

Today, dunking is still a popular way to score points in the NBA. Players such as LeBron James and Blake Griffin are known for their thunderous dunks that energize their teams and get the crowd on their feet.

The Dunk Becomes Popular

Dunking was introduced in the NBA in 1976. Since then, the dunk has become one of the most popular and exciting plays in basketball. Let’s take a look at the history of the dunk and how it has evolved over the years.

The ABA and the dunk

The first professional league to allow players to dunk was the American Basketball Association (ABA). The ABA was formed in 1967, and it allowed players to dunk during games in the 1968-69 season. However, the rules were different than they are today—players had to jump from within a designated “dunking circle” on the court, and they could not use their hands to help them complete the dunk.

In the 1970-71 season, the ABA introduced a new rule that allowed players to use their hands while dunking, as long as they did not touch the rim of the basket. This rule change led to an increase in the number of dunks attempted and completed during games, and it also made the dunk a more exciting play for fans to watch.

The ABA merged with the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1976, and since then, dunking has been allowed in all NBA games.

The dunk becomes popular in the NBA

The dunk has been a part of basketball since its inception, but it wasn’t until the late 1960s and early 1970s that players began to really perfect the art of the slam dunk. Among the players who helped make the dunk popular were Julius Erving, Elvin Hayes, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The dunks they performed were so impressive that, in 1976, the NBA established a rule allowing players to take off from a running start when attempting a slam dunk. This rule change helped increase the popularity of the dunk even further.

In recent years, some of the most popular players in the NBA have been known for their impressive dunks, including LeBron James, Blake Griffin, and Zion Williamson.

The Dunk is Banned

The dunk is banned in the NBA

Dunking was banned in 1967 due to concerns that it was too easy to score. (Wilt Chamberlain, in particular, was unstoppable when he got the ball near the basket.) The rule remained in place until 1976, when Slam-Dunk contests and “above-the-rim” play became popular. In 1977, the NBA relaxed its rules on defensive goaltending, making it once again legal to dunk.

The dunk is reinstated in the NBA

In 1977, the NBA banned the slam dunk during regular season games. The ban was met with some criticism but was ultimately enforced to help reduce the number of injuries that occurred during games. However, in 1988, the dunk was reinstated after a successful campaign led by Julius Erving. Nowadays, the dunk is one of the most popular and exciting plays in basketball.