We Reminisce: 1990 NBA Dunk Contest
If the ’89 Dunk Contest is often overlooked, the 1990 version gets the same treatment. Despite a star-studded field — Dominique Wilkins, Scottie Pippen, Shawn Kemp, Kenny Smith, Rex Chapman and defending champ Kenny “Sky” Walker — and ‘Nique using the platform to become a two-time contest winner, no one ever talks about this one. Despite Pippen downing one from the free throw line, somebody breaking out the good ol’ two-ball dunk, and Pat Ewing in the crowd looking like an extra from “A Different World,” it could be because ‘Nique won the crown by doing the same dunks he always does (albeit still better than anyone else ever has).
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October 21st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
that's whats up says:
the two-handed windmill never gets old
long live the young ‘nique
October 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Al says:
Pippen’s dunk looked real good
BTW…Kenny Smith was never a young guy
October 21st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Brown says:
Isiah in the crowd looks exactly like he does today.
I wonder if Dwyane Wade ever dressed up as Dwayne Wayne for Halloween? That wasn’t a good look for Pat.
I wish the NBA would go back to that format. They need more dunkers in the contest; four just isn’t enough.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Brown — I used to say they should bring it back to having six or eight dunkers, but after attending the last two dunk contests in person, I don’t think the crowd’s attention span would last that long. (Especially if you have a situation like Nate Robinson or Birdman where someone’s constantly missing dunks.) As good as last year’s contest was, by the end people were visibly restless. Also keep in mind that it’s Saturday night and everyone wants to leave the arena and party.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:57 pm
JHov says:
I remember watching this live on my grandmother’s couch. My cousins and I were all tripping on Rex Chapman (or as Kevin Harlin calls him “The Boy King from Kentucky”) who knew kid had ups like that..and then later turned into a 3pt specialist!!??
October 21st, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Brown says:
@Austin
I see what you’re saying. Maybe if they sped up the process a little bit, it would work. Have a time limit for each dunk, or you only get so many tries. It seems now every dunk is all about theatrics. There’s a lot of time spent building them up. Looking back at this contest though, there were a lot of dunks, but if dudes pulled them off today, they’d get low scores. I guess it just takes time for them to get creative with it so they don’t repeat old dunks, which eats up time and makes the crowd eager to get out of the arena.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Ian says:
kemp and nique 2 of the top 3 dunkers ever imo (vince is 1 of course)
October 21st, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Diego says:
Back in the old days I think you only had 2 attempts each go (or was it just 1 each go?) and/or a time limit. No Birdman or Nate Rob. time-killing trash. (But if you didn’t get a dunk off, it killed your score average.)
October 21st, 2008 at 6:59 pm
kermit the washington says:
Ok c’mon…I remember being 10 years old watching this and wondering why ‘Nique got away with doing the same 2 dunks from different angles. One handed windmill from the left, one handed windmill from the right. Ok now the second round. TWO handed windmill from the left, two handed windmill from the RIGHT! OH SNAP and the judges gave him almost a 50 on the LAST ONE! And don’t say, “back in the day that was hot”, because I KNOW it was hot back then, but still as a kid I was like “that’s kinda wack the 4th time you do it”
October 21st, 2008 at 7:00 pm
kermit the washington says:
Kemp got robbed mad times. Easily the sickest dunker to never win the contest.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:07 pm
justice says:
That’s a good one sickest dunker never to win…
Francis and Tmac somewhere in there greatest dunk contest ever
October 21st, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Austin Burton says:
Kemp got mugged in the 1991 contest against Dee Brown.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:49 pm
blah says:
that’s the only time i’ve ever seen an NBA player legitimately jump from the free throw line. Every other time they went over it.
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:55 am
Semja says:
Dominique was impressive…
http://www.jumplikevince.com
February 4th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
ShadyKidd says:
Rex Chapman looks funny with hair. I only remember his balding days in Phoenix.