Isaiah Rider Continues to Soar

BY Andrew Polaniecki

Since the invention of the camera in 1816, life’s most significant and cherished moments have been captured, preserving them as frozen snapshots in time. Throughout sports history, iconic imagery has transcended generations, immortalized in books, trading cards, and posters that grace the walls of passionate collectors. These treasured moments aren’t just frozen in time — they have become etched in our memories forever. With the advent of video, the internet, and platforms like YouTube, those frozen moments have been transformed into timeless treasures, allowing sports fans to revisit and relive them just as they did decades ago.

Since the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1976, the greatest dunks in basketball history have been immortalized through the camera’s lens, cementing their place as timeless symbols of the sport’s artistry and athleticism. Posters of Dr. J and Michael Jordan soaring from the free-throw line adorned the walls of young basketball fans everywhere. Equally iconic were the unforgettable images of Dominique Wilkins and MJ executing electrifying windmill dunks during the legendary dunk contests of the late '80s.

Over the years, however, these once groundbreaking and iconic dunks began to lose their novelty. What was once a rare spectacle reserved for the dunk contest gradually became commonplace during regular season games. As a result, contestants had to push the boundaries of creativity to keep their performances fresh and captivating, ensuring the dunk contest remained an exciting showcase of innovation and athleticism.

In 1991, Dee Brown brought a fresh twist to the dunk contest by attempting a left-handed tomahawk jam while covering his eyes with his right forearm — a move never seen before. The following year, in 1992, Cedric Ceballos elevated the concept of "blindness" by introducing props to the dunk contest for the very first time, a trend that has since become a staple for nearly every contestant. Using a blindfold, Ceballos completed what appeared to be a daring and dramatic dunk, earning him the title. However, if you strip away the blindfold, the dunk itself was merely an ordinary two-handed flush.

As props and gimmicks became increasingly common in an effort to maintain creativity, the days of original acrobatics that had mesmerized fans during the '80s began to fade. Gone were the groundbreaking dunks with iconic names, such as Dr. J’s “Rock the Baby,” Terence Stansbury’s “Statue of Liberty” dunk, or Kenny “Sky” Walker’s “Windmill 360,” which left audiences in awe. Year after year, the pure athletic artistry that once defined the dunk contest gradually gave way to more theatrical performances, shifting the focus from raw innovation to spectacle.

As a high school freshman in 1986, Isaiah “J.R.” Rider was already performing dunks that redefined the limits of what had been witnessed in the NBA. Drawing inspiration from Jordan and Wilkins, Rider studied their signature moves and sought ways to elevate them with innovations of his own.

“Jordan had his signature dunks from the free throw line and leaning in, getting sideways. Dominique had the windmill,” Rider explained. “But, no one was going between their legs.”

Determined to bring something new to the game, Rider began practicing the groundbreaking dunk during the summer before his freshman year of high school.

“The summer leading into freshman year, I tried to go behind the back, between the legs, and I got real close,” Rider recalled. “So, then I said, forget the behind the back, and I just went between the legs, and I got even closer. Then, all of a sudden, I threw it down after the third or fourth one, so it was just a timing dunk for me after that.”

By the time ninth grade began, Rider was effortlessly executing what he would later coin “The East Bay Funk Dunk,” a tribute to the entire Bay Area. Meanwhile, the NBA’s elite players were still offering audiences nothing more than repetitive windmills and free-throw line dunks year after year.

As Rider’s trophy case grew with countless Slam Dunk trophies, so did his notoriety. Fans packed the Boys Club and other high schools throughout the Bay Area, eager to watch Rider leave them in awe with dunks no one had ever seen before at any level. Rider would later introduce the East Bay Funk Dunk to the national stage for the first time as a contestant in the NCAA dunk contest, a competition he won with ease.

Confidence cannot be taught; it is a trait cultivated through an individual’s own belief in themselves.

Just minutes after being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the No. 5 overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft, Rider showcased his unwavering confidence during his first TV interview as an NBA player. Live on air with Craig Sager, he boldly guaranteed a victory in the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest to the roar of the crowd, months before he would even attempt his first NBA dunk.

“From watching prior dunk contests when I was younger, I was really tuned into it back then... so, I had the confidence with that between-the-legs dunk because no one else was doing that,” he said.

With Jordan retired and Wilkins' dunk contest days well behind him, Rider was aware of his current competition.

“I knew that Shawn Kemp and Robert Pack, and maybe Sky Walker potentially would get into the dunk contest, but I knew that none of those guys would do anything like that, and I probably could match their best dunks… No one was going between the legs.”

The 1994 NBA All-Star Weekend just so happened to take place in Minnesota during Rider’s rookie season. With the NCAA dunk contest title already in his possession, a stunning highlight reel of in-game dunks as an NBA rookie, his audacious guarantee made on draft night, and his home city providing the perfect backdrop, the opportunity for Rider to fulfill his bold prediction made for an excellent storyline for the NBA.

Now, it was only a matter of putting together his Saturday night routine.

“You know what is so funny? I did not prepare for the dunk contest because I won it in college, and I just knew that I wanted to do a windmill and then the between-the-legs dunk… [It] was second nature,” Rider recalls. “I was not really prepared… I was more worried about the music I was going to pick, that was my dilemma.”

After selecting “More Bounce to the Ounce” by Zapp, and a song by Seagram, who hailed from Rider’s hometown of Oakland, Rider was all set for the bright lights of All-Star Saturday Night.

As Rider’s name echoed throughout the arena, the nearly 20,000-strong crowd erupted in cheers for their hometown hero. Sensing the surge of energy, Rider raised his hands to embrace the crowd before stepping to midcourt. When Zapp’s music blasted through the speakers, he got into a quick two-step dance routine before proceeding to improvise and launch the ball from half-court. Running at full speed, he caught it off the bounce in mid-air and delivered a powerful two-handed slam.

Rider’s second dunk became almost as legendary as the East Bay Funk Dunk, immortalized by a flawless photograph of his signature "Rock the Baby" move. That iconic image continues to remain relevant today, nearly 31 years later, as it appears everywhere, from vintage posters to newly released Timberwolves memorabilia.

With 30 seconds left in the first round, Rider had the option to attempt the between-the-legs dunk, but confident that his first two dunks were strong enough to secure his place in the next round, he chose to hold off. Instead, he opted for a simpler yet very impressive windmill dunk, which he once again executed off the bounce.

With his spot secured in the final round, anyone who had witnessed Rider’s dunk in the NCAA Slam Dunk Contest or seen his between-the-legs dunk in high school knew exactly what was coming next. Isaiah was poised for the moment he had been perfecting since his high school days. Even the play-by-play announcers had anticipated the upcoming spectacle. Everyone watching was on the verge of witnessing one of the greatest dunks and most unforgettable moments in NBA Slam Dunk Contest history.

As Rider had predicted months earlier, the finals featured Pack, Kemp, and himself. After scoring a 46.8 in the first round, Rider made his way to the left corner behind the basket. Announcer Hubie Brown, anticipating the next move, speculated that Rider was positioning himself for his signature between-the-legs dunk. Rider took off from the baseline, dribbled three times, picked the ball up with his right hand, quickly switched it to his left, then passed the ball under his right leg back to his right hand before slamming it home with a powerful tomahawk dunk. That moment would forever be etched in NBA dunk contest history as “The East Bay Funk Dunk.”

Immediately after completing the dunk, the play-by-play announcer cut to Charles Barkley sitting courtside and asked him what he thought. “Oh my god, that might have been the best dunk I have ever seen,” Barkley responded. “That was awesome, we have a winner!”

Rider’s flawless dunk earned him a near-perfect score of 49. Caught up in the moment, Rider was unaware of his exact score.

“I assumed I would get a 50 for sure,” he said. “I didn’t even fully realize that I got a 49 and not a 50. I was in the moment… I do remember hearing the announcer say 49, and I was like a 49? So, I was a little shocked, but I know they sometimes leave room for someone else to do something amazing, and I know Shawn Kemp was a contestant once or twice prior to that year… Being the Reign Man, I think they wanted to give him a little room to do something amazing… But I was a little shocked.”

To this day, Rider still doesn’t know who gave him the nine. It didn’t matter, though. Rider had already sealed the dunk contest victory before attempting his final dunk.

For his final dunk, Rider had intended to top his previous one by throwing the ball up, catching it off the bounce, and then executing a between-the-legs dunk. However, Antonio Davis of the Indiana Pacers, who had participated but was eliminated in the first round, advised him to simplify the move. Davis suggested Rider avoid overshadowing his earlier between-the-legs dunk in case the more ambitious attempt failed. Taking the advice to heart, Rider still delivered an impressive two-handed rock-the-cradle dunk that kept the crowd roaring with excitement.

As Rider accepted his trophy, he delivered on the promise that he made that previous June on the night of the NBA Draft. Now, 31 years later, the East Bay Funk Dunk is still revered as one of the greatest dunks in dunk contest history.

From 1997, when Kobe Bryant executed the same dunk as Isaiah, to last year’s dunk contest, countless variations of the between-the-legs dunk have emerged. From Vince Carter and Jason Richardson to Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon, just about every contestant since Isaiah has attempted to add their own twist to the iconic move. While all their dunks were impressive, none will ever replace the original.

Today, the same between-the-legs dunk that was once considered an anomaly is now viewed as a standard move that fans see every year, even during regular-season gameplay. Unfortunately, the dunk contest has waned in appeal, with many basketball fans believing there is nothing left to astonish or captivate them.

Rider feels the issue with the dunk contest runs deeper than that.

“Back in our day, making the All-Star game was the ultimate goal… But in our era, we wanted to go dunk against the best, show our athleticism against the best, compare and contrast who has the most hops in the league, and who is dunking on heads,” Rider said. “It was a no-brainer for athletes, jumpers, leapers to get in the dunk contest – no matter who was in it. Just like Jordan’s era and Dominique’s era, they didn’t care who was in it, they were going to go for it. David Thompson and Doc, they were going to go for it. Spud [Webb] came in, he didn’t care what size guys were, he was going to go for it.”

Such is not the case today, as the superstars of the league choose not to participate, whether due to a fear of failure, concerns about damaging their brand, or the risk of tarnishing their reputation by finishing in second place. The aftermath of these decisions has left fans watching lesser-known players, some even called up from the G-League just days before the dunk contest, competing for the spotlight. This has resulted in a diluted product, causing the dunk contest to take a back seat to the Three-Point Shootout.

Rider believes it can be fixed, though.

“If you get the big names, then you get the eyes, and you get the audience, and you get everyone excited again,” Rider explained, “You’ll get everyone coming to the dunk contest again… all the celebrities, all the stars, all the top names from other sports locked in and glued into the best in the world doing the dunk contest, seeing them in a different element where they could freestyle like they’re at the park.”

As Rider reflects today, if he could assemble the ultimate dunk contest featuring himself at his peak against five other players in their prime, his dream lineup would include Aaron Gordon, Jason Richardson, Vince Carter, Dominique Wilkins, and Michael Jordan.

“I’m throwing it up with two hands, leaping high off two, grabbing it with two, putting it between the legs, and dunking with one down the middle,” Rider said.

With the spotlight of the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest dimmed but never completely out, Rider now dedicates his time to giving back as a mentor and role model to youth for over a decade. In addition to his mentoring efforts, Rider coaches an EYBL team in Arizona comprised of 15- to 17-year-old athletes. Beyond coaching, he trains his players, helping them develop their athletic skills while also guiding them off the court.

Rider takes pride in shaping young individuals, fostering their growth, and helping them transition from boys to men and girls to women, instilling values that transcend basketball.

“It comes full circle,” Rider said. “I’m still at it, and that’s been something that’s been my calling where I get satisfaction. I get to pay it forward. I get to mentor kids. I get to help different people trying to get to college and achieve their goals. I get to help mold and mend hearts, personalities, and character through basketball and sports. It’s been a fun ride and a great journey.”

In addition to Isaiah’s community work, he has recently started taking courses and attending seminars to hone his skills as a keynote speaker. These sessions have helped him learn how to grow his brand and master the craft of public speaking. When Rider takes the stage, he speaks from the heart, drawing on his own life experiences and the challenges he faced navigating the highs and lows of fame as a professional basketball player. Through his speaking engagements, he has discovered that countless kids across the country resonate with his story. As a mentor passionate about educating others through his journey, Rider realized he could transform his speaking appearances into a full-fledged business. He’s found it to be the perfect blend of earning a living by doing what he loves while also pursuing what he finds most rewarding.

It has been 31 years since the legendary East Bay Funk Dunk was immortalized on basketball's grandest stage. In the decades since, innumerable iterations and tributes have celebrated iconic dunkers, often adorned in nostalgic throwback jerseys. However, not once has anyone donned the distinctive blue-and-green No. 34 Timberwolves jersey while executing a between-the-legs dunk. Beyond the prestigious role of serving as a judge, what would constitute the ultimate homage for Isaiah? 

“If Ant-Man being from Minnesota, did it and wore my jersey… brought me out, and I threw him an oop or a lob…” Rider said. “That would mean a lot to me and a lot to the dunk community around the world.”

As the basketball world has already seen Nate Robinson honor Spud Webb, Gerald Green pay tribute to Dee Brown, Chase Budinger emulate Cedric Ceballos, Larry Nance Jr. celebrate his father Larry Sr., and countless players channel the legendary Vince Carter, all while wearing their throwback jerseys, it’s only a matter of time, Isaiah.

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