this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2023
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Been digging into dunk stats recently. Less because I'm interested in dunks, more because I'm interested in this weird sorta data anomaly.

Officially, Rudy Gobert holds the single-season dunk record with 308 dunks in his 2018-2019 season.

Dig a little deeper and you discover that the NBA only started recording dunk stats in 1996. You may note that Shaq was drafted to the Magic in 1992. This means that Shaq's first 4 seasons of dunks don't count.

And then I found this Topps Frequent Flyer basketball card that lists Shaq's rookie season dunk total as 322. Seems kinda bonkers. He blew away the record in his rookie season, and it was just mostly forgotten to time? I figured the card was a misprint or something.

Curious though, I tracked down a copy of the 1993 Sixers Media Guide on EBay. Sure enough, on page 146, it lists Shaq's 1992 dunk total as 322. It also lists his season high single-game dunk total as 13 (debatably, another record). If you're not familiar with the Sixers Media Guide and Harvey Pollack, this stuff is very reliable.

So now, Dwight Howard is typically credited as the career all-time dunk leader with 2,950 dunks. If you take Shaq's official career dunk total and add just that rookie season total, you get 2,948 dunks. Pretty sure he knocked down those 3 dunks and then some in the 3 additional seasons he played before dunk stats were introduced.

I just find this super interesting. We're awfully obsessed with data these days. It's getting to the point where we can analyze an entire playing field at specific timestamps. But for the majority of pro sports history you had to scrape together what you could from newspapers, books and memory.

And yet, in an attempt to frame discussion and debate in NBA media, it's convenient to just dismiss the numbers that you can't bring up on bballreference. And I get that we have to draw the lines somewhere, but this is data collected and printed by a very highly regarded NBA employee who basically set the bar for statistical analysis in the NBA.

There's a similar story that comes up with the triple-double debate. Long story short, Wilt probably had more triple-doubles than Westbrook by a lot, and they were almost all on blocking. But there's much less proof of that one.

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[–] Minute-Struggle6052@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

You thinks Topps would do that? Just go on the cardboard and lie?

[–] materics@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Get this to SHAQ before ESPN runs a segment

[–] rwoteit@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Thank you op very cool.

Yo am I tripping or does that article say Shaq had 13 blocks in a single game that year? Dam

[–] incenso-apagado@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Dunks erneh

[–] ChaseBank5@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I'm guessing Wilt probably had multiple years of over 300 dunks per season.

[–] honditar@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

This might be a lot to ask, but I would be very interested in a scan of that 1993 Sixers Media Guide. I think it would make a good post if you ever feel like it.

[–] twoscoop@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

We need a new word for regarded now.

[–] Wild_Particular4003@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

SHAQ needs this info asap

[–] BetweenTheBuzzAndMe@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Now imagine what Wilt Chamberlain's career total must have been

[–] MFmadchillin@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Can we get an update once you tweet this goldmine?

[–] beached-blue-walrus@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

How good was rookie Shaq?

I only went back to watch the Lakers 3 peat stuff when he was a monster in the paint.

[–] lopea182@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I witnessed r/nba history live

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[–] NYSOM-Mod@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (9 children)

If you could somehow get this info to shaq, knowing his obsession to be #1, he’ll get the count fixed lmao.

Tweet at the guys on TNT and see if you get lucky. I know they sometimes show stuff from fans on their televised days. Maybe underdog can do a deep dive.

[–] Millionaire007@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Anything to shit on Dwight and Gobert

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[–] labaschetinciocate@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Well, I think part of the reason that the league don't dig so much on old stats is because they are trying to keep the league interesting and dynamic.

You have all kinds of useless stats, like being the 3rd player in the league history with 35 points 12 ast and above 7 rebounds while playing with a red headband.

Sure, it's great, but not quite a big deal or impactful in any way.

[–] GRADIUSIC_CYBER@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

/r/NBA about to light the twitterverse up again.

or the x-verse.

actually, fuck it.

[–] A-Confused-Comet@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Nice find OP!

[–] Doncicfuturegoat@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago
[–] logster2001@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

This is really interesting. Not just the Shaq dunk stats but the point about how easy it is to dismiss any stat you can’t find on basketball reference. Because that sentiment is so true. For a lot of people, convenience seems to be the most important factor in determining the validity of something.

The more work required to answer a question the less valid people seem to think the answer is.

It’s the same with those JJ Reddit type of guys who like to dismiss any era of basketball before the 80s. The primary reason is because it is simply harder to find footage and analysis for those guys. It’s not like it’s impossible, there is still lots of footage and even more analysis and books about the 50s, 60s, and 70s eras of basketball. But since it takes more time to find that footage and analysis, people just choose to question the validity of those eras as a whole.

[–] Grove_Music@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

This is some impressive investigative work my dude, huge props! Such a cool read.

[–] clancydog4@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

that is absolutely fucking bonkers

[–] SerialRapper@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

You should tweet this @ the inside the NBA twitter acc

[–] Mbanicek64@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] Brady331@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Get this to Shaq before the next TNT game

[–] InGenNateKenny@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Great find. Let’s get this on TNT.

Only started tracking in 1996? Had no one tried to go back and get an unofficial count? Seems bizarre since dunks are usually cut and dry and we have footage.

[–] iamdense@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't remember Shaq not dunking in his rookie season. He was on a personal quest to demolish every backboard on the NBA. If you weren't around then, it was an absolute carnival atmosphere with everyone just waiting what crazy thing Shaq would do next.

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[–] karldrogo88@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

How would a guy from the Sixers media team get an accurate count on Shaq’s dunks? He couldn’t have been at every game and many weren’t televised. I’m not saying you are wrong, but genuinely curious how he could have obtained that info.

[–] skrimpskampi@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

They tried to erase our boys history!

[–] ANATABAKANA@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

shaq only succeeded cos he played against piss easy competition. like shrek at the beginning of shrek 1 where hes smashing the villagers. its a piece of cake. bullshit stat padding.

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[–] Trainer_Coach@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Don't let JJ Reddick steal this from you.

[–] MelonElbows@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I dunno, what if Shaq didn't have a dunk in those 3 seasons?

[–] boykalbo777@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Following this in case shaq sees it

[–] Chew-kok-@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I was here, i am a part of history.

[–] 2_7_offsuit@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Shaq should see this, get it to his eyes he would be very interested!

[–] Jmas1120@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Quality post. Keep up the good work 👍

[–] De_letmetalk@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Now Shaq need to see this and I need footage time for being in history.

[–] dec92010@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] 14MySterY-@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (4 children)

ah, the magical dota number

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[–] dj26458@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

It’s honestly kind of nuts how much amateur hour the nba this was not that long ago. Tape delayed finals. Most games not televised. Lots of unofficial stats.

[–] imadogg@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

It also lists his season high single-game dunk total as 13

Quick bball-ref search shows 8 games that season with 13+ FGM (high was 19). We need someone to look up these games to confirm!

[–] LenFraudless@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Dayum . I have a shit load of early mid 90s bball cards at my parents. I should go check that out

[–] FalseListen@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Im here for this moment, because when SHAQ mentions this on inside the NBA I want to be a part of it

[–] imisstheyoop@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I have this card, it's one of my favorite I have of Shaq.

Have owned it since I was a little kid when it came out. Used to love him an penny Hardaway. At one point I traded all of my Michael Jordan cards (like 100 of them) for all of my cousin's Anfernee Hardaways.

I continue to make poor choices to this day!

[–] Rivetingcactus@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Justice For The True Dunk King, this needs to be front page

[–] Tearz_in_rain@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I didn't count his dunks, but I remember that was the criticism of his game his first couple years: All the kid can do on offence is dunk.

He was more athletic and big and able to get to the basket, and didn't have the foot work that he would develop.

He didn't have a jumper. Didn't have much of a passing game. Just dunk, dunk, dunk.

So yeah... that number seems reasonable.

[–] FistPunch_Vol_7@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Hoping no media outlet steal your story before TNT sees it

[–] taptapxx@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Just commenting so I can see my name in the thread after its locked in the future

[–] hehehehahahaha@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Wouldn’t that mean he’d have a ton more since it only started tracking from 1996? He’d have 4 more years of dunks

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