BBL dunk contest: Four guys with rep talk nothing but dunks

The BBL Cup Final takes place at the NIA in Birmingham on January 13th and as advertised by the BBL itself, there’s going to be a dunk contest.

This year, in a twist on the normal routine, the BBL is including non-British Basketball League participants who will be selected by the league following video submissions.

Without knowing who the selected entrants are, UKAmericanSportsFans.com thought it would ask a selection of the league’s best dunk artists to get their views on all things-dunk related, including last years dunk competition winner and the runner-up, Ishmael Fontaine.

Let’s start back at the beginning; How old were you when you first dunked?

Jamell Anderson (Leicester Riders): “I was about 16, I felt like the man! Everyone was shocked because it was pretty spontaneous.”

David ‘Tintin’ Watts (Manchester Giants): “I first dunked a full size ball in a game in a PE lesson. It felt pretty cool when all my class had never seen a dunk in person before.”

Ishmael Fontaine (Essex Leopards): “I was 14 and it was with a Wilson basketball. I remember being hype! Coach was happy and he was high-fiving me! But I was real tired because it was during a park tourney.”

Nathan Schall (Manchester Giants): “I think the first time I dunked, I was 15 and it was in the Amaechi Centre after Sunday run, I think. Most people were older than me and they were all pretty impressed – even though it took me about 5 tries! It was a regular size basket and ball. The ball was a horrible purple and silver Nike ball, but it was brand new and had loads of grip, so I could just about palm it. I got such a buzz from it and it felt like an achievement because I didn’t know anyone else of my age who could dunk.”

Which of your dunks do you rate as your best and why?

Jamell: “I guess you’re as good as your last poster, so probably the one against Scottish University team.

David: “At my first basketball camp, I got a breakaway and dunked from just a step inside the foul line. It was the first dunk that people noticed so I kept doing the same thing!”

Ish: “Gotta love through the legs – it’s so acrobatic!”

Nate: “My best dunk to date, is one I did at the Nike World Basketball Festival dunk contest in Brixton: An Eastbay from a hand-off.”

What, in your opinion, makes a good dunk?

Jamell: “How easy it looks for the dunker.”

David: “It really depends on the player: Guys like Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin always dunk so hard but I like watching guys like Kobe and Lebron attack the basket.”

Ish: “I like when defenders get bodied in the lane, especially after a good fundamental play like a pick-and-roll or even on a strong crossover dribble. Jeremy Pargo yanked one dude in Israel and put it on the big man’s head! I still watch that!”

Nate: “I like dunks that really show off someones vert, like big off the backboard oops. But for me, the more technical the dunk, the better it is. Got to have a bit of flair too.”

Name your top two dunkers of all-time and explain what made them so good.

Jamell: “Lebron James and MJ – just the way they disrespect gravity.”

David: “Shawn Kemp and Vince Carter – It didn’t matter who was at the basket when those two guys were in the air, they were gonna get dunked on!”

Ish: “In a contest, probably Jason Richardson – he had silly bounce! Jason would do silly stuff like catch alley-oops from the crowd or throw oops to himself and put it through his legs easy! In game it would have to be Blake. He’s a beast. He dunks on everybody! He needs to catch LBJ ASAP! Lebron is playing buddy ball. When Blake dunked on Perkins, LBJ shouldn’t have commented on Twitter like they were team-mates. Dahntay Jones gets honourable mention.”

Nate: “My top two NBA dunkers would have to be Michael Jordan and Lebron James. MJ because he had the ability to finish his dunks in the toughest situations and made it look effortless. And Lebron because of how insanely athletic he is. He always looks impressive when he dunks. As far as the NBA dunk contest though, I’d say Nate Robinson and Dwight Howard because they brought creativity as well as good dunks.”

How could the NBA improve the dunk contest?

Jamell: “Allow dunkers from outside the NBA.”

David: “Less gimmicks and more creativity.”

Ish: “I like the NBA dunk contest, its really good. I want the BBL dunk contest to be bigger and better this year, it was pretty good last year. It will be a tough act to follow. It could have been better than the NBA one actually!”

Nate: “To be honest, I don’t think there is that much you can do to the competition itself, it’s on the athletes to get creative and really want to entertain the audiences. I think they should have 3 or 4 entrants who aren’t in the NBA because I know there are some insane dunkers out there who would really raise the competitiveness.”

And finally, who is the best dunker in the BBL?

Jamell: “Tintin probably.”

David: “Easy, my team-mate Stefan Gill. I remember the first time I saw him dunk. It was 10 years ago at a college tournament and his team-mate Ambokile threw a lob and he dunked it so hard! The building went crazy!”

Ish: “Nathan Schall is the champ. He’s the best contest dunker! Jamell Anderson is a problem! I can’t wait for him to poster someone like he did in uni. Don’t get it twisted, he can do that on any level – hops don’t lie.