Best Iowa dunker in the 1980s?
- Thread starter CookyMonster
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Gerry Wright… and it’s not even close!!!
That was going to be my answer. You beat me to it.
I feel bad for people who didn’t grow up in the 80’s watching Iowa sports
Ricky Davis turned 12 in 1990.
Reggie Evans turned 10.
I'm taking Marble over Wright. Give me the game dunks.
Possibly even Ray Thompson over Wright
Possibly even Ray Thompson over Wright
Have you even seen Gerry Wright dunk? Apparently not. If Gerry had wanted to devote himself, he had the natural ability to be an all-star. He really didn't care that much about basketball. He was the most physically gifted athlete to play basketball at Iowa other than the Hawk.
Really? Reggie was a bull, but he's not even in the same league as a dunker as Sir Jamalot! Hell for sheer athletic ability I'd take Eric May over Reggie, although he's not in the 80's either.....
I love that Gerry Wright was the last opposing player to be kicked out of a game at the Field House.
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Here we go again! Sir Jam a Lot!!! Gerry Wright. Nerf hoop in my room, growing up. I was Sir Jam a Lot!
Dr. Tom ran the set lob plays for Marble. He was the high-flyer.
Yes, I saw Wright play. Whether he devoted himself or not, had nothing to do with his dunking ability. But since you mentioned it, a lack of devotion does nothing to increase the legend of a player, in my mind. Gerry didn't sustain the level of passion that most of his teammates did, which is why he wasn't necessarily my cup of tea.
As for Wright as an athlete, there are different types of physical gifts. I wouldn't discount the quickness of Lester or Toussaint as physical gifts. Nor would I overlook the broad shoulders and rugged strength of Evans as a physical gift. Nor would I overlook the sheer size of Garza, or height and natural timing of Acie Earl and Eric Hansen as physical gifts. Or the natural instincts of Ryan Bowen, Kenyon, and Keegan. Or the all-around athleticism of Keegan.
But as a dunker, I get that a different type of athlete is being discussed. Other guys in that mold were Marble, Ricky Davis, Tyler Cook, Doug Thomas, Ray Thompson, Sam Okey, (healthy) Russ Millard, Darryl Moore, Eric May.
Wright was definitely a great athlete and dunker. I'm just not automatically crowning him over some of these other guys
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I was just coming to age during when he was at Iowa so do not know the guy or anything really about him as a person. Only thing I know about him is I have lived in the same area, more or less, most of my adult life. (Never met him
)So I am asking why the statement that he wasn't devoted to basketball.
From the little I do know about him he has been part of the game pretty much his entire life. From the little I can understand about why he ended up at Iowa is he believed he had a better shot at the NBA at Iowa than USC.
Not a flame or anything...just curious
I met Gerry, had a couple of conversations with him over beers downtown. He was super laid back, not at all serious about things. And he had goals about other things than basketball as a college student. He just didn't seem all that interested in a career in it.I was just coming to age during when he was at Iowa so do not know the guy or anything really about him as a person. Only thing I know about him is I have lived in the same area, more or less, most of my adult life. (Never met him
So I am asking why the statement that he wasn't devoted to basketball.
From the little I do know about him he has been part of the game pretty much his entire life. From the little I can understand about why he ended up at Iowa is he believed he had a better shot at the NBA at Iowa than USC.
Not a flame or anything...just curious
But he was long, about 6'8", with the biggest hands I'd ever seen except maybe Dr. J's. He could palm a basketball in each hand, do a cartwheel holding them and dunk both balls when he flipped over. He did the old Dr. J fake pass where he palmed the ball in one hand faking a pass then pull it back and shoot or dunk over his man. I really wish he'd been more dedicated to basketball. He could have been a great one.
I saw that live at an kids Iowa bb fan club event at carver. Had a Sir Jam a Lot and knights of the round table poster in my room as a kid. Good times
Gerry was a super athlete but his skills, dribbling, shooting, shooting FTs were not good. When it came to the running and jumping part of the game or the strength down low Gerri could be overwhelming. It didn't look like he'd never been coached before Dr. Davis.
Great guy too. Roy could shake some basket supports and rims to be sure. Ed Horton could always be relied on for those up down hard thunder. Didn't get way up, but he was up enough to power dunk with more authority than Cartman.
Just looking at the 80s.
Great guy too. Roy could shake some basket supports and rims to be sure. Ed Horton could always be relied on for those up down hard thunder. Didn't get way up, but he was up enough to power dunk with more authority than Cartman.
Just looking at the 80s.
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You might be a bit delusional.
Roy Marble couldn't touch Gerry Wright dunking. Roy's finishing ability was overblown by his scoring ability. Wrights scoring ability was overblown by his finishing ability.
Gerry Wright is still involved in BBall as the Head Coach out in Barstow Community College in CA. Along the way, besides many professional basketball accolades, he picked up a B.A and M.A degrees as well as becoming a pilot in the U.S. Navy, martial arts instructor, police officer, body guard, teacher, and high school principal. I bet he could still dunk better than any one of us. He was / is my favorite.
Wasn't he too tall to be a pilot? That's what I read back then. Maybe things changed...
Still wondering why Dr. Tom ran the set alley-oops for Marble instead of Wright? Logic and my eyes would say it was because Marble was the better athlete to go get the ball and finish the play.
Marble was not overly skilled either. A huge difference in production between these two players. One reason being that Marble was the clear Rolls Royce of the two
Marble was not overly skilled either. A huge difference in production between these two players. One reason being that Marble was the clear Rolls Royce of the two
Maybe because he was a freshman and who would have thought to defend that with Wright on the court
Dude, give it up. Roy had a complete game. Gerry could jam. Why does this thread even exist?
I don't know if they made an exception for Wright, but David Robinson was way too tall to be a submariner and the Navy let him serve as one anyway.
One writer wrote that Wright had hands the size of toilet seats. Thanks for the video. I have heard about that dunk about a million times but have never seen it...until now.
David Robinson served two years of shore duty in the Civil Engineering Corp. 5 years in reserves. They did not make an exception for him to serve at sea.
Here's his bio, say he attended Naval Aviator training in Pensacola after completing USMC officer training at Quantico.
Oops, forgot the link
He served as a Civil Engineer on a sub base, but never served at sea in a sub.
He was not in any boat. My friend was a commander on a fast attack and I had asked him at that time. It's a pretty close knit community. Robinson did not step foot inside a sub.
If you are only talking about dunking, Gerry Wright was by far the best. During a game, Marble was a much more effective player and dunker, but Sir Jam a Lot's dunks were WOW moments.
