From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This is about the basketball term; for the manga, see Slam Dunk (manga)
In basketball, a slam dunk is a particular method of scoring points. In a slam dunk, the player, holding the ball in both hands, leaps off the floor and jams the ball directly into the basket. The slam dunk is one of the most visually impressive moves in all of basketball.
Due to this visual impressiveness, slam dunks gain wide recognition. Posters of famous players often capture them in the act of dunking, and every year the NBA holds a widely publicized slam dunk contest. Most famous are slam dunks that actually shatter the backboard, which occur very infrequently.
A slam dunk is often referred to as "jamming"; this was the root of the title of the popular arcade game series NBA Jam.
Outside of basketball, a slam dunk can refer to any notable and highly public success.
