Would college basketball be better if they banned the dunk?

[Dogdeacon]

Banning the dunk didn't make Bird a better player in the paint. Being a basketball savant, a 15 inch vertical, and the foot speed of a 3 legged turtle all but eliminated his need to dunk a lot.

I think the growth in importance of the 3-point shot had a bigger impact on the development of great post players. Once upon a time, if you were taller than 6'9" you were going to play in the paint, either willing or by force. If Kevin Garnett, Kevin Durant, or Dirk had been born 15 - 25 years earlier some coach would have tied them to the block until the forgot about shooting. The growth of the 3-pointer and everyone wanting to shoot them hurt post development. If you shoot 10/20 in the paint you get 20 points. If you shoot 8/20 from Three you get 24 points. Less physical toll and more points while being less efficient. Why wouldn't you develop a long range shot instead of a good drop-step?

Well maybe, we just don't truly know right?
We have essentially one player in the history of basketball for whom the banning of the dunk coincided with his development and it just happened to produce one of the 5 greatest players ever so it sounds compelling. But we'd really have to look at every big man that played in college from 1968-76 versus those that did immediately preceding and after and then their corresponding NBA careers. Did field goal percentage go up or down? Did these guys have longer careers b/c they knew how to play aerial and ground-bound games?

Millinium is absolutely right though that the 3-point shot encouraged more/better outside shooting and less post play. I would bet that BEFORE the 3 pointer EVERY basketball player spent much less time shooting from 19'+ versus the time spent practicing other shots. Now its probably 50%* (3's) - 50% (all other shots) on average for high school and college players practicing on their own and even higher for 3-pt specialists.

*#s recently spiked with Steph Curry's popularity & success

 

[intlzncster]

Well maybe, we just don't truly know right?
We have essentially one player in the history of basketball for whom the banning of the dunk coincided with his development and it just happened to produce one of the 5 greatest players ever so it sounds compelling. But we'd really have to look at every big man that played in college from 1968-76 versus those that did immediately preceding and after and then their corresponding NBA careers. Did field goal percentage go up or down? Did these guys have longer careers b/c they knew how to play aerial and ground-bound games?

Millinium is absolutely right though that the 3-point shot encouraged more/better outside shooting and less post play. I would bet that BEFORE the 3 pointer EVERY basketball player spent much less time shooting from 19'+ versus the time spent practicing other shots. Now its probably 50%* (3's) - 50% (all other shots) on average for high school and college players practicing on their own and even higher for 3-pt specialists.

*#s recently spiked with Steph Curry's popularity & success

To add to that, the numbers say that a 3pt shot attempt is a better bet to take than any long two. So it's either 5'-and-in (whatever it is) or from 3pt land.

 

[A10 fan]

To add to that, the numbers say that a 3pt shot attempt is a better bet to take than any long two. So it's either 5'-and-in (whatever it is) or from 3pt land.

You hit the nail on the head. The 15 footer used to be considered a great shot. It's a shot you should never take now. 33% from 3 is equal to 50% from 2. Good 3 point shooters will hit at least 40% from 3. That's the same as shooting 60% from 2, a percentage that will only be made inside of 5 feet. Layups, dunks, bunnies, and 3s is the way to go.

 

[Husky25]

Except that bird COULD dunk.

 

[c29328]

I thought the OP was asking about banning the drunks. I was getting pissed.

 

[Phorcys]

Dunks banned from the college game? Absolutely not.

But as a 5’9” middle-aged man who still prefers to consider himself a bit of a baller, I would like to see the practice banned on all municipal basketball courts in Los Angeles County.

The lack of such a ban has led to far too many embarrassing moments for me personally.