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KJ Dunks Over Hakeem

June 22nd, 2010
Phoenix Suns Outdoor Game
Image by jasontho via Flickr

It was game six of the Western Conference Finals in 1994. I’d just moved to Phoenix, AZ. I had the good fortune to buy a condo from a young lady who knew the owner Phoenix Suns. She took me to a sold out America West Arena where I watched the game from the Suns sky box. That alone would have made it the most memorable game ever for me. Nothing like free beer, no waiting in line for anything, and the best seat in the house to make a game great. The only thing that could have made this game better was if the Suns had won it. It had been a fairly close game in the first half. But the Houston Rockets had pulled away in the second. With only five minutes or so left in the game there wasn’t much for the Suns fans to cheer about. The Suns most dominant player at the time was Charles Barkley who unfortunately had a bad game. Kevin Johnson, aka KJ, was the guy who usually handled the ball for the Suns and set up the offense. He was known for his explosive speed driving the lanes. The Houston Rockets most dominant player was Hakeem Alajuan. At roughly seven feet tall he played dominant defense and could often be found directly in the path of opposing ball handlers trying to attack the basket. KJ was at a considerable height and weight disadvantage when he encountered Hakeem in his path as drove the lane late in the fourth quarter. Rather then pass off or change direction he leapt into the air. He propelled himself high enough to get his outstretched arm higher than Hakeems and slammed the ball through the hoop. America West Arena exploded in cheers. It was of course too little, too late. But that super human effort will never be forgotten by this fan or the thousands of others in attendance that day. And in man to man competition was as big an upset as David taking Goliath. That is the story of my favorite basketball game ever.

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