Darnell Hillman: The NBA's First Slam Dunk Champion

Darnell Hillman was one of the first super athletic big men that the basketball world had ever seen. Even at 6’9, he was a track and field athlete, clearing a 7 foot high jump in college. After two years at San Jose State, he joined the Army, leading their AAU team to a title while winning MVP. Once he finished his military service , he joined the Pacers in 1971, using his physical tools to run the floor, crash the boards and block shots. He eventually developed a nice face up jumper, and was an underrated passer for a big. His claim to fame were his amazing dunks, combined with his oversized Afro that made for an entertaining sight during the games. Darnell won the first ever version of the NBA’s Slam Dunk contest, but he didn’t get his official recognition for 40 years. His impact lasted far beyond his career as he was one of the first players to make dunking an art form, influencing several generations after him. Darnell was way more than a dunker though, as he had a solid role on the Pacers as they won back to back titles.