Expert: Michael Muro - 6/1/2006

Question
i beleive im going to be around 5'10 possibly more my mum is 5'4 my dad 5'8 but every one else in my family is quite tall around 6 foot im only 14 and the program im doing is air alert  

Answer
Hi Luke,

Well I am 5'11" tall and when I reached my senior year in high school I was finally able to dunk. I am not a great athlete so if I was able to do it I think most players that work hard can possibly dunk. I worked on jumping by lifting weights, jumping rope, running bleachers, but most importantly just playing basketball. I still remember the first time I dunked. We were playing a pick-up game during lunch break and I stole the ball and had a break away all to myself. I wasn't planning on dunking but when I went up for the lay-up I knew I was up there and threw it down. I will admit it was a great feeling but you don't need to dunk to be a great player. I never dunked in a real game, high school or college. Like I wrote before the MVP of the NBA for two years in a row, Steve Nash has probably never dunked the ball in the NBA. If he has nobody can remember when he did or does anybody care. Almost everybody in the NBA can dunk but hardly anybody can do the things Steve Nash does. I know the dunk is exciting and spectacular but what Steve Nash does for his team is worth more then any dunk. I would start working on the things that make you and your team better instead of focusing on dunking. You can ask any coach in America who would you rather have for a player. A player that makes a spectacular play once in awhile or a steady player that makes everybody around him better? They are going to take the player that makes everybody better. Remember a dunk and a lay-up is worth the same; they both are only 2 points.

I am not trying to discourage you from trying to dunk but I want you to understand it is not the end of the world if you can't. There is so much more to basketball then dunking. Remember have fun and enjoy the game. If you are meant to dunk you will and if not don't sweat it.

Good luck!