Michael Jordan's Free Throw Line Dunk

[no pun intended]

I was watching some of the Slam Dunk contest clips with Jordan and I noticed that his foot was over the line when he attempted his Signature Free Throw Line Dunk. In fact, his heel was almost over the line as well. I never knew this. Or am I wrong? Did Jordan actually jump from behind the line in the other dunk contest or did he only do this dunk once? If not, then Ibaka should have been given a lot of credit for his dunk.

[KG5MVP]

Jordan did the freethrow line dunk three times in three contests, not very original

[Birmingham1955]

I was watching some of the Slam Dunk contest clips with Jordan and I noticed that his foot was over the line when he attempted his Signature Free Throw Line Dunk. In fact, his heel was almost over the line as well. I never knew this. Or am I wrong? Did Jordan actually jump from behind the line in the other dunk contest or did he only do this dunk once? If not, then Ibaka should have been given a lot of credit for his dunk.

1985 MJ got his foot behind the line
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD54eF2XKJA


However, in the 87 and 88 free throw line dunk he was a little bit closer but was able to move the ball.

Keep in mind this is 88' so we had not see many of these dunks before. We didn't have access to youtube were we could see crazy streetballers dunking like Team Flight Brothers. I mean hell, even Vince Carter's dunks wouldn't rack up that many points in today's competition, let DeMar's inbetween the leg dunk was way better than Vince's and DeMar didn't get any points. etc.

Ibaka though should have had a higher score, he he was just a victim of us seeing the dunk done so many times.

[az00m]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36xPNgp2etM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36xPNgp2etM

[KKittles30]

http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt105/deaconfrost21/mj.jpg

[97 bulls]

If I remember correct, scottie pippen was one of a very few guys that was able to dunk from the ft line. Jordan and erving were just inside it.

[MMKM]

The difference between Jordans dunk, albeit a step inside the line, and someone like Ibakas or Brent Barrys is evident in the picture. Look at Jordans body position and how he cocked the ball back by his ear. He didn't stretch out and barely eel the ball over the rim, he threw it down. Even though ibakas dunk was from behind the line, he barely got air. His feet barely left the ground. Artistically Jordans was superior

[Glide2keva]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36xPNgp2etM

Heel over the line? :facepalm

[OldSchoolBBall]

I was watching some of the Slam Dunk contest clips with Jordan and I noticed that his foot was over the line when he attempted his Signature Free Throw Line Dunk. In fact, his heel was almost over the line as well. I never knew this. Or am I wrong? Did Jordan actually jump from behind the line in the other dunk contest or did he only do this dunk once? If not, then Ibaka should have been given a lot of credit for his dunk.

Jordan did at least 2 FT line dunks in the dunk contest - one in 1985, and one in 1987. The 1985 one was legit fully behind the line, but the 1987 one that you mention is the more famous one because he did the pump of the ball and flying motion in the air better. Also, MJ took off from behind the FT line during Magic's 1990 charity game dunk contest, and that was probably the furthest of all his attempts. Seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ZH386DwZA&playnext=1&list=PLBA333C7ECE8CF7EC

[Mister JT]

:oldlol: at posters who didn't bother to look at Birmingham1955's link and continued to say that Jordan never dunked from behind the FT line.

[griffmoney1784]

its not really a great dunk as much as it was an iconic poster


its about his pose more than the difficulty of the dunk

theres like 50 guys who can do this dunk that have played in the nba...


nothing special

[Mister JT]

Jordan did at least 2 FT line dunks in the dunk contest - one in 1985, and one in 1987. The 1985 one was legit fully behind the line, but the 1987 one that you mention is the more famous one because he did the pump of the ball and flying motion in the air better. Also, MJ took off from behind the FT line during Magic's 1990 charity game dunk contest, and that was probably the furthest of all his attempts. Seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ZH386DwZA&playnext=1&list=PLBA333C7ECE8CF7EC

The most famous version was the 88 dunk in Chicago.

[50inchvertical]

Nostalgia won't allow anybody to admit MJ might not have been the best ever at everything.

And that Jordan picture is misleading. He didn't dunk the ball with it held back like that, he just double pumped it. Impressive none the less, but totally different than what it's trying to imply.

[NBASTATMAN]

If I remember correct, scottie pippen was one of a very few guys that was able to dunk from the ft line. Jordan and erving were just inside it.


I remember Pippen tried it but took off about a foot closer than the line...

[eliteballer]

The 85 one is NOT BEHIND THE LINE. You look at where the FRONT foot is and in that dunk the front foot is well AHEAD of the line.

He also jumped much HIGHER in the later ones.

[Deltron3030]

The artistry of michael jordan is unmatched. It's poetry in motion really.

[OldSchoolBBall]

The 85 one is NOT BEHIND THE LINE. You look at where the FRONT foot is and in that dunk the front foot is well AHEAD of the line.

He also jumped much HIGHER in the later ones.

What are you talking about? He was most certainly behind the line in the 1985 FT dunk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD54eF2XKJA

AT MOST, the tip of his toes is an inch in front of the line - not "well AHEAD of the line" as you say. Also, the 1990 dunk I linked to earlier he was behind the line as well, though the camera cut makes it harder to see.

[SevereUpInHere]

Anyone know where Derozan took off on this one? couldn't find the vid for some reason. Sick photo.

http://www.obsessedwithsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/demar-derozan-dunk-contest.jpg

Found it, haha, his foot was about a foot infront, and he missed anyway.

[Rake2204]

I remember Pippen tried it but took off about a foot closer than the line...
I'm not entirely sure which dunk of his you're referring to. The one Pippen attempt I remember is this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSme4QmiLcs

And as 97 Bulls suggested, that's about as far back as we've seen an NBA player in contest before Mr. Ibaka came around.


The difference between Jordans dunk, albeit a step inside the line, and someone like Ibakas or Brent Barrys is evident in the picture. Look at Jordans body position and how he cocked the ball back by his ear. He didn't stretch out and barely eel the ball over the rim, he threw it down. Even though ibakas dunk was from behind the line, he barely got air. His feet barely left the ground. Artistically Jordans was superior
I believe that is the essence. You've made a great point. The amount of a response a player gets largely has to do with how they complete the dunk, not just what dunk they complete.

Aside from your keen Ibaka/Jordan comparison, I can say that I can complete a one-hand dunk, but it won't look nearly as awesome as DeMar DeRozan completing that same type of dunk. Another clear example in my eyes has been Vince Carter's clockwise, cuff, 360 windmill. I've seen that dunk imitated time and time again since VC pulled it off in 2000. Rarely do I see players complete that flush with the same power and grace as Vince. They're doing the same dunk, but it's not the same, ya know?

The difference in Ibaka's finish is that was nearly a different dunk than what we've seen before in the NBA (behind the line vs. on the line). In that case, just completing it may have been enough. In terms of style though, Ibaka's style was on a much lower level than MJ's or even Barry's. It was more Pippen and Bender-ish.

[beermonsteroo]

I was watching some of the Slam Dunk contest clips with Jordan and I noticed that his foot was over the line when he attempted his Signature Free Throw Line Dunk. In fact, his heel was almost over the line as well. I never knew this. Or am I wrong? Did Jordan actually jump from behind the line in the other dunk contest or did he only do this dunk once? If not, then Ibaka should have been given a lot of credit for his dunk.

In 85 he was behind the line, although in the Dunk contest of the 89 Magic charity game.
Concerning his signature dunk in 88. Actually he did the dunk twice in the Semis and in the Finals. The one we always see is the on in the finals. However, in the semis Jordan was way furtehr back and almost didn't cross the line at all!
But no matter what look at the height and the speed he had in the 88 ones. It's obvius that he could have jumped from way further back. Hiting the line simply isn't that easy when you're running at full speed.

[beermonsteroo]

Jordan was abl to dunk it from just inside the line in 97 at age 34. So there shouldn't be any doubt that he couldn#T ahve jumped from quite a bit behind the line in his prime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BB7kUUKVN0

And yes this dunk is real!

[OmniStrife]

And THIS is how it's done boys and girls.
Foot BEHIND the line for real....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8yHQ15TdHU

[Rake2204]

And THIS is how it's done boys and girls.
Foot BEHIND the line for real....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8yHQ15TdHU
Thanks for the clip, Omni. I had not seen that dunk in the super slow motion. I think this helps illustrate my point that two people can complete the same dunk but it's possible for one to outshine the other. I'd take White's over Ibaka's outstretch any day of the week. And that's not a criticism of Ibaka, I thought it was a great effort. I just prefer White's flight.

[beermonsteroo]

And THIS is how it's done boys and girls.
Foot BEHIND the line for real....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8yHQ15TdHU

White is the greates foul line dunker without any doubt. His hops are just crazy. Damn i still hope he'll make to the NbA and the conetst as long as he is in his athketic prime. But the clock is runnung is already 28

[Heat007]

The difference between Jordans dunk, albeit a step inside the line, and someone like Ibakas or Brent Barrys is evident in the picture. Look at Jordans body position and how he cocked the ball back by his ear. He didn't stretch out and barely eel the ball over the rim, he threw it down. Even though ibakas dunk was from behind the line, he barely got air. His feet barely left the ground. Artistically Jordans was superior

Artistically AND Athletically was superior.

[Rake2204]

And THIS is how it's done boys and girls.
Foot BEHIND the line for real....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8yHQ15TdHUI wonder how far back White could have really gone. He still seemed able to punch that one down pretty good. I bet he could have gone another inch or so further backward.

[TheReal Kendall]

If I remember correct, scottie pippen was one of a very few guys that was able to dunk from the ft line. Jordan and erving were just inside it.


Any footage of Pippen doing it?

He's one of my favorite players.

[no pun intended]

Man wtf. I don't even recognize half the threads I posted in the past.

[Trollsmasher]

Yeah, overrated and not so impressive

LeBron basically did the same dunk in game...

[Rake2204]

Any footage of Pippen doing it?

He's one of my favorite players.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSme4QmiLcs

Lacking on the flair, but great distance.

[Soundwave]

The '88 free throw line dunk is my favorite free throw line dunk even if it was just inside the line because MJ got a lot of height on the dunk and really posed for it.

[Rake2204]

The '88 free throw line dunk is my favorite free throw line dunk even if it was just inside the line because MJ got a lot of height on the dunk and really posed for it.Yeah, it's definitely a cool dunk. Though, looking back, I kind of feel bad for Dominique. Judges were handing out 47's and above like candy that year. In fact, 'Nique and Jordan both went through their first seven dunks without scoring a 46 or lower (despite Jordan repeating the same dunk twice - the sideways windmill). Then Wilkins breaks out the first two-hand windmill in contest history (with supreme authority) and receives a 45? The same score Otis Smith received for missing a routine reverse slam and making up for it with a medium level one hand dunk off the glass?

To top things off, Jordan had already slammed from the free throw line earlier in the contest. Not only that, but he missed his first free throw line attempt in the finals. It was a great show all around and it's tough to go against the hometown crowd in an exhibition showing (it's not like it was a real game) but man, I don't know about that one.

[SamuraiSWISH]

MJ in the '88 one might be a little in front of the line, but it's the body dexterity and contortion that makes it utterly amazing. He crunches his body together, pulls in his legs for take off, and cocks the ball. No one else has done that much body art when taking off from the Free Throw line besides Shawn Kemp, who scissor kicked his legs and cocked it back. Usually players overwhelmed with the length just go straight up and down. MJ, Kemp, and James White are the only ones who put artistry in their dunk from the Free Throw line.

[Lakers2877]

The most OVERRATED thing I have ever seen involving sports.

[sportjames23]

If I remember correct, scottie pippen was one of a very few guys that was able to dunk from the ft line. Jordan and erving were just inside it.



MJ did it from behind the line in 1985 as stated earlier.

Also, one big difference between MJ's free throw line dunk and everyone else's (inlcuding Dr. J)--MJ dribbled the ball down the court. Everyone else ran with the ball in their hand.

Dribbling the ball and then collecting it when you get to the line is harder than just running with it in your hand and dunking.

[sportjames23]

The most OVERRATED thing I have ever seen involving sports.


Then you must not watch much sports.

[Lakers2877]

Then you must not watch much sports.

How do you watch sports with Jordan's balls in your face? That's gotta be tough

[nathanjizzle]

Yeah, overrated and not so impressive

LeBron basically did the same dunk in game...

http://oi44.tinypic.com/ixh8ua.jpg

stay mad ******. jordan >>>>>>>>kobe>>>>>>lebron.

[sportjames23]

MJ in the '88 one might be a little in front of the line, but it's the body dexterity and contortion that makes it utterly amazing. He crunches his body together, pulls in his legs for take off, and cocks the ball. No one else has done that much body art when taking off from the Free Throw line besides Shawn Kemp, who scissor kicked his legs and cocked it back. Usually players overwhelmed with the length just go straight up and down. MJ, Kemp, and James White are the only ones who put artistry in their dunk from the Free Throw line.


Yup:

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/sUz3ZYfoNxo/hqdefault.jpg


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8476138795_a199e84f8d_o.gif


Funny how muhfvckas who probably weren't even born then try to tear down and detract MJ's accomplishments from back in the day. When you ether them, then they go with "Whatever. MJ is still an asshole, doe".

Fakkitry most foul. You never see MJ fans tear down those that came before MJ, like Elgin Baylor, Connie Hawkins and Dr. J.

But insecure Kobe and Lebron stans will shit on any legend from before 2000. MJ, Magic, Bird, you name it. :rolleyes:

[sportjames23]

How do you watch sports with Jordan's balls in your face? That's gotta be tough


I guess the same way you do with Kobe's dick in your mouth. :facepalm

[wagexslave]

Overrated dunk just because MJ was the one doing it. If it were some no-name player doing it, then it wouldn't have gotten the attention it did.