Slam Dunk: The Shot That Changed the Game

Gr 4 Up–Informative text and dramatic photos offer a well-crafted overview of the rise of slam dunks in college and professional basketball. Doeden highlights how the contributions of slam dunk innovators Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius “Dr. J” Erving helped the sport evolve into a fast-paced game. “Dunking royalty” includes stars like Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, and lesser-known players Georgeann Wells, who recorded the first slam dunk in women’s collegiate games, and 5’6” Spud Webb, the shortest player to win a slam dunk contest. In actual games, slam dunks are difficult to defend, with defenders at risk of being “posterized,” as demonstrated in a photo showing Lebron James on the wrong end of a slam dunk in the 2024 Olympics. Powerful dunks by 300-lb. Shaquille O’Neal forced the NBA to design shatterproof (“Shaq-proof”) backboards. An explanation of the lower body muscle groups that power slam dunks is accompanied by an illustration detailing each step of a dunk, from launch to landing; an insert adds a cutaway view of the muscle groups. Useful appendices include a glossary, further reading, and a list of the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest winners.