Introduction
Classically, defenders considered the execution of a slam dunk as a personal affront which unquestionably deserved retribution; thus defenders often intimidated offensive players and thwarted the move. Satch Sanders, a career Boston Celtic from 1960 to 1973, stated:
"...in the old days, would run under you when you were in the air... ...trying to take people out of games so they couldn't play. It was an unwritten rule..."
It can be inferred from his statement that Sanders was referring to an era predating his professional career because by the late 1950s and early '60's players such as Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain had incorporated the move into their offensive arsenal. It should be noted that during the 1940s and '50s, 7-foot center and Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Kurland was dunking regularly during games. However, by the 1960s the dunk enjoyed was a fan-favorite, as offensive players began to aggressively intimidate defenders with the threat of vicious slams. Through the 1970s, the slam dunk was thoroughfare as David Thompson, Julius Erving, Darryl Dawkins, and others consistently wowed crowds and brought fans to their feet.
Read more about this topic: Slam Dunk
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