Magic in the air: how the slam dunk evolved alongside basketball

A new book charts the history and characters around one of the most thrilling and striking moves in all of sports

You can still see the moment online, 42 years later: The Philadelphia 76ers’ Julius Erving pulling off his January 1983 “rock the cradle” dunk against the Los Angeles Lakers. Yes, Dr. J cradles the ball in his arm as he goes airborne and slams it home over the Lakers’ Michael Cooper.

“It’s the greatest dunk of all time,” says Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Mike Sielski.

Topics

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