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Darryl Dawkins Discusses NBA Nation and Why Slam Dunking has Changed
Darryl Dawkins didn’t just dunk during his NBA playing days; he imprinted each dunk with its own personality. For instance, when Dawkins shattered the backboard during a game in 1979, he named the dunk, “The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam, Glass-Breaker-I-Am-Jam.” So it takes a lot to impress Dawkins when it comes to the art of dunking. Rolling out sports recently caught up with Dawkins at the NBA Nation tour to discuss the NBA’s best dunkers, the toughest players and the intesity of the NBA playoffs. –amir shaw
You’re currently serving as the NBA Nation ambassador, how is the tour going thus far?
This tour has been a blast. We’re going to eight cities, Kia [is giving] away a car and we’re giving $10,000 [to the] best dunker in the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown.
We are in the midst of the NBA playoffs. What makes the playoffs so intense?
The playoffs are intense because a team tries to break down what you do well. So teams have to continue to change and make adjustments. You also have hard fouls, but that’s a part of the game. When I was growing up, I was bigger than most kids, so I had to play with the older guys. They would hit me, knock me down and say, ‘You can’t do anything about it.’ So in basketball, you have to be tough.
You were known as a powerful dunker when you played. Who are your favorite dunkers today?
I like Birdman [Chris Anderson] from the Denver Nuggets, and Josh Smith is also putting it down. But when I was playing, we liked to dunk on each other. A lot of these guys today like [to] dunk by themselves. We were more confrontational when we dunked.
A lot of players lose focus when they get into the NBA. How did you stay on track off the court?
I can’t say I did everything right. But my minister and my mother were my first agents. When I wanted money, they would say no. It helped me mature at a faster rate. A lot of people helped me stay on track and not fall [by] the wayside.
