The NCAA Banned Slam Dunks for Nearly a Decade

It seems impossible to believe today, but for nine years, college basketball players were forbidden from slamming the ball through the rim. The NCAA banned the dunk in 1967, just as Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was beginning his dominant career at UCLA. The rule was sometimes called the Lew Alcindor Rule because of his overwhelming presence. The ban lasted until 1976, when the NCAA finally allowed players to dunk again. The prohibition was controversial, with some arguing it was implemented for safety reasons while others suggested racial motivations played a role, as most prominent dunkers at the time were Black players. When the ban was lifted, the dunk became one of the most exciting plays in basketball.