All-Star Weekend: Ranking Orlando Magic Dunk Contest participants

5. Darrell Armstrong

Really, all that needs to be said here is “layup.” Bless Darrell Armstrong’s heart.

Darrell Armstrong was an electric personality and high-energy player. His play sometimes gave rise to the occasional dunk.

He could get off the floor. But Armstrong was all of 6-feet and his best dunk was simply just to dunk the ball.

Armstrong was in way over his head in a competitive event of the game’s best dunkers. But how could he turn the nod down?

Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway had lobbied for Armstrong to get the chance, and he had just enough confidence and leaping ability to take them up on that bad idea.

Armstrong became the first player to lay it in during a slam dunk contest. He sort of lives infamy for that choice, but in Armstrong’s defense he did have to make a shot, and he needed all of his lift just to dunk it.

Armstrong had exhausted himself and in the moment the layup was a means to an end. He wanted to sit down and catch his breath.

Most perplexingly, the layup came after a great first dunk that showed what an athlete he really was. He was just outclassed in the contest and was entirely gassed.

Next: Outstanding Otis!