Dwight Howard's Dr. J "Dunkadelic-Retro" Jam 2009

Photos

NBA All-Star 2009, Dr. J "Dunkadelic-Retro" Jam-Photo-04

see larger image

uploaded by Dunkadelic King23

• 

  uploaded by Dunkadelic King23 | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Dunkadelic King23 | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Dunkadelic King23 | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Dunkadelic King23 | add comment

Dwight Howard the defending Slam Dunk Champion said on NBA TV last night after the Orlando Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks that he liked Dr. J and would do an inspired dunk in honor of the former NBA legend for the 2009 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. The dunk is being named the Dr. J "Dunkadelic-Retro" Jam.

2009 All-Star Weekend will also be the 15th Anniversary of J.R. Rider's "East-Bay Funk-Dunk" that he displayed at the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest. Rider would be voted the Slam Dunk Champ.

25-years ago (1984) Julius "Dr. J" Erving was a participant in the first NBA Slam Dunk Contest.  He was one of the 9 dunkers that included Michael Cooper, Clyde Drexler, Darell "Dr. Dunkenstein" Griffith, Edgar Jones,  Larry Nance, Ralph Sampson, Dominique Wilkins, and Orlando Woolridge.

Larry Nance would defeat Dr. J in the finals to win the 1984 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Dr. J won the first ever professional Slam Dunk Contest 8-years earlier at the 1976 ABA (American Basketball Association) All-Star game. It was the same arena of the 1984 Slam Dunk Contest (McNichol's Arena) in Denver. The Doctor took off from the free-throw line and put the "Slam Dunk" on the map to stay.

The 2006 NBA Slam Dunk Champion Nate Robinson and hi-flyin' forward Rudy Gay will also be competing. The 4th participant will be selected later from players Joe Alexander, Rudy Fernandez, and Russell Westbrook .