Скачать или смотреть Richard Washington - 1977 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

While the NBA's modern slam dunk contest format didn't debut until 1984, the league's first foray into organized slam dunkery actually occurred in 1976, just after the ABA debuted their own contest months prior. Contrary to the modern, single-event format, the NBA's inaugural dunk contest took place over the course of the 1976-77 season with players from various regions battling head-to-head for the right to advance. Rounds were generally televised during halftime of NBA on CBS broadcasts.

Here, 6-foot-11 Richard Washington showcased hints of dunk styles to come, rocking a swooping one-hander from the baseline followed by an assortment of double-pump reverses. His miss, however, led to his defeat at the hands of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The final round of the 1977 dunk contest was broadcast at halftime of the NBA Finals. There, Darnell Hillman defeated Larry McNeil with an array of dunks that featured significantly more flair than what Dawkins and Hayes offered in their own rounds. In 2017, Hillman was finally gifted an official NBA Slam Dunk contest trophy in a surprise presentation in Indiana:    • Darnell 'Dr. Dunk' Hillman finally gets hi...