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20 years ago the world saw a Dunk Contest that would forever be remembered for its impact on pop culture and the sneaker industry. The field was wide open with no winners from the past five years competing and plenty of fresh talent. After two rounds of dunks the field became narrow leaving only two competitors: the assumed favorite Shawn Kemp, and the relatively unknown rookie Dee Brown.
Shawn Kemp was the best of both worlds: he had the power and hops of Dominique Wilkins with acrobatics and grace comparable to MJ. A host of windmills, reverses, self alley-oops, and combinations of all three made Kemp hard to beat. Brown had to do something creative because out-dunking Shawn Kemp was a tall order.
Before his first round dunk Brown reached down to pump up his Reebok Pump Omni Lite sneakers. Cameras zoomed in, commentators made wise cracks, and the crowd erupted as he followed it up with a high lob into a two-handed reverse pump jam. Highlight reel moments like the frog splash jam, two-ball dunk, and no-look slam set off the contest, but it was his iconic Pump up that will forever be remembered.
Who: Dee Brown
Shoe: Reebok Pump Omni Lite
Event: 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Date: 2/9/91
