<P> Dunking was banned in the NCAA from 1967 to 1976 . Many people have attributed this to the dominance of the then - college phenomenon Lew Alcindor (now known as Kareem Abdul - Jabbar); the no - dunking rule is sometimes referred to as the "Lew Alcindor rule ." </P> <P> The phrase "slam dunk" has entered popular usage in American English outside of its basketball meaning, to refer to a "sure thing": an action with a guaranteed outcome, or a similarly impressive achievement . This is related to the high probability of success for a slam dunk versus other types of shots . Additionally, to "be dunked on" is sometimes popularly used to indicate that a person has been easily embarrassed by another, in reference to the embarrassment associated with unsuccessfully trying to prevent an opponent from making a dunk . This ascension to popular usage is reminiscent of, for example, the way that the baseball - inspired phrases "step up to the plate" and "he hit it out of the park," or American football - inspired phrases such as "victory formation" or "hail Mary" have entered popular North American vernacular . </P> <P> During the 1940s and' 50s, 7 - foot center and Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Kurland was dunking regularly during games . Yet defenders viewed the execution of a slam dunk as a personal affront that deserved retribution; thus defenders often intimidated offensive players and thwarted the move . Satch Sanders, a career Boston Celtic from 1960 to 1973, said: </P> <P> "...in the old days, (defenders) would run under you when you were in the air...trying to take people out of games so they couldn't play . It was an unwritten rule ..." </P>

Who had the first dunk in nba history