Milwaukee Bucks: Slam Dunk Contest History, 2017 Preview
By Adam McGee
Paul Pressey – 1986
Pressey certainly isn’t the flashiest personality in Milwaukee Bucks history, but his reputation as a franchise legend was comfortably cemented due to his versatility and consistency in a variety of roles down the years.
The Virginia native did eventually get his moment to step up and try to own the limelight though. In 1986, the second of two seasons in which Pressey was awarded with All Defensive First Team honors, the former Tulsa man was also selected to the Dunk Contest.
Pressey’s chances were considered slim as he went head-to-head with one of the greatest dunkers of all-time, Atlanta’s Dominique Wilkins.
Pressey’s performance on the night was solid if unspectacular. After scoring 44 in the first round and 35 in the second, Pressey went for a cradle dunk with his final attempt. It was executed smoothly, but the degree of difficulty didn’t prove high enough for the judges to reward him with a score higher than 37.
As it turned out Wilkins had his crown taken from him by his teammate, the 5’7″ Spud Webb in one of the bigger upsets in the history of the contest.
Next: 1997