Everybody and their mom can dunk. Why doesn't the NBA make the goal higher?Maybe it will speed up evolution?
405386
You bring up a good point, but yeah the NBA isn't so much about the sport now, its about how much money the people make off entertaining people. If they lose that ability it will go down the drain.
1077774
A lot of people think that they have what it takes to make it in the NBA.However,for whatever reason,they are either playing overseas or are sent to the NBA Developmental League.Jumpshots and dunks are good,but people skills are also required to make it in the National Basketball Association.
1013981
I'm 17 I just started playing when i was 14 and I'm already pretty good. I'm addicted to basketball that's why I'm better already than some of my friends who have liked far longer than me (not that i'm bragging). I can't dunk though hehe i'm only 5'7 and I don't really get to work out my legs regularly because I have to study.
100173
It was boring to watch. I did like Ben Wallace playing defense, 2 blocks in 10 seconds. When the 4 Pistons were in there the West had a really tough time scoring. But I would have liked to see everyone else play defense too. I just dont find it exciting when you allow a player to dunk like that. Giving up fast breaks like that takes away much of the game. To make the game more exciting, they should take it more seriously.
523671
Do some step exercise. Try dunking a basketball or at least touching the rim or the net. And even if you can't keep trying. That's how I increased my vertical jump.
1059702
Jordan... VC's dunks have all been improved on. Dr J was a great dunker, but Jordan can alwayz one up him, Dawkins wouldnt win, he was too big on power dunks, Nique lost to Jordan, Kobe only won one dunk contest, and it was a crappy one. Spud Webb only won because he is so short, just like that 5'9" guy who won this last one.
793493
Yes, the slam dunk was eliminated fromt he NCAA for about 10 years.  Guys would elevate over the rim, but just have to drop the ball down.  it was a slightly different game back then, with more of a premium on moving the ball and outside shooting (but there was no 3-point shot then, either.)\n\nI am happy that they brought the dunk bank to college hoops, but I would like to see more players be able to play the complete game as well.
632273
Maybe you should learn and tell your friends something important: The purpose of basketball is to make baskets and not dribble!\n\nI've never heard of that need to play basketball, it's just silly. If your guys dribble to much then they just suck at playing basketball and you should play elsewhere pal.
537392
It's a matter of will.  I can't dunk and i'm 5'8, and 21...however, i've played against people shorter than me who've dunked.  all types. I even played with a 5'7 asian guy who dunked on me... just a matter of working on your hops.
352945
"Bump" to that!!! I practically grew up dribbling; and basketball is the ONLY sport I'll follow and play! The NBA playoffs? Haven't missed a game! Gotta love it...! =)
440264
You're right.  I tried to watch a game once.  What a waste of time.  Of course, the NBA isn't much more entertaining, but at least you know you're watching the best.  In the WNBA, they make a big deal out of a dunk.  That should tell you about the overall caliber of play in that league.  Won't be around much longer, I shouldn't think.
280928
Basketball.. less chance of injury.  A little easier on the body.
44741
players today are great athletes,but the vast majority don't have basic fundamental skills. You can count on one hand the number of players who can hit a 12 foot shot from the baseline. Everything is either a dunk attempt or a 3 pointer. I don't really blame the players for that, I would put most of the blame on ESPN...what do they show in their basketball highlights? Dunks and 3 pointers. That's how you get on ESPN... \n\nThere is no real team play (on most teams) because of the lack of all around skills of most players. (San Antonio and Detroit are the exceptions, that's why they win the way they do). \n\nEuropean players are better all around players than U.S. players now (evidenced by the USA's pathetic showing in recent Olympic and International competition). This is because they learned the game from the USA in the 50s and 60s, and are now using that style of play against us.\n\nYeah, I know, our "best" nba players don't all go to the olympics anymore, but our college players used to wipe the floor against the best professional teams from the USSR and Eastern Europe...\n\nThen, you've got the non-existent, made-for-ESPN "rivalry" between "Bron" and "Melo"... ESPN and the NBA are trying to make this into the new Bird vs Magic rivalry... guess what NBA? it's NOT WORKING!\n\nThey're both in their 3rd year, and their teams still suck...\n\nThere are no good centers in the league any more, other than Shaq (it remains to be seen how good Yao will become). Ben Wallace is a good player, but even his game is very limited...he's a good rebounder, and a good defender, but can't shoot worth a.....\n\nJermaine ONeal is a great player, made greater by the lack of decent centers...\n\nKwame Brown?  Zydrunas Ilgauskas? Are you kidding me?\n\nYou have shooting guards that can't put the ball on the floor, and you have point guards like Jason Kidd that can't shoot worth a .... \n\nPlayers are becoming so specialized that it's becoming impossible to sit through a game any more... \n\nFans are more accepting of this type of play now, and ESPN gets carried away with a player's 'accomplishments'... a 10 point, 5 rebound, 4 assist game is considered a great all around game..just watch espn sportcenter or espn news, they'll actually highlight that a player had 15 pts and 3 rebounds, as though that constitued a great all around effort...\n\nFor the most part, the dunks we see today are often more exciting than they were 20 or so years ago (except for Dr J's), but in terms of the ability to play all facets of the game, it's getting worse. Players are drafted after high school or after 1 year of college, and they can't play the game yet..but it doesn't matter, because most of the guys in the league can't play either...
185218
Players are probably worse because of evolution.  "The athlete" is always involving and basketball players are always becoming better and better.  One day I was watching the 1990 Finals between the "Bad Boys" Detroit Pistons and the Portland Trailblazers. The players were in that game were incredibly skinny and appeared to be slow compared to today's players.  If those players were to step on the court with today's championship teams, they would push them around.  Today's athletes are stronger, faster, and more athletic which has a lot to do with how sports medicine and training has evolved.\nOn the other hand, today's players are out of touch with the common fan.  The players in the 60s and 70s made the same wages (or even lower wages) than the fans they entertained and many players had second jobs like selling insurance and cars.  The players of the past didn't gripe about getting paid $5 million per year and you would never hear any player back would never complain about not being able to feed their family off of a 3 year $21 million contract.
317004
I 5'6 guy doing a dunk. A 7 footer hitting a three is just funny, not necessarily exciting.
377870
You're not far away. As you get older, you're legs will get stronger. I've seen a few 5'10" players dunk, so it's not only height but also legs.
201481
It was definitely better when teams didn't regularly score in the 60's and 70's, isn't it? I think the league has suffered some since Jordan's *second* stint - his Wizards years weren't all that special - but it seems to be rebounding somewhat. Yeah, the Artest/Pacers thing was hideous, but that and the Antonio Davis incident were it for such things, weren't they? I don't recall any other problems between the players and fans.\n\nBut even though I'm a Bulls fan, I can respect what the Pistons are doing lately - having a championship team with no superstars that plays as a team is a relative anomaly in sports, though that seems to be changing slowly (as with New England in the NFL). If the Bulls had any inside presence, they might be on their way to doing what Detroit's doing right now (though they'd need a couple more years to gel properly).\n\nBut you can't tell me you don't enjoy watching LeBron James - that kid scores and dunks a lot, yes, but he grabs rebounds and dishes the ball out, too, and could be the next guy to average a triple-double in a season.