1994 N.B.A.Western Conference Semi-finals Game Four: Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns – Kevin "K.J." Johnson's dunk on Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon

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Credit: N.B.A.

The backdrop was Game 4 of the 1994 N.B.A. Western Conference Semifinals at the recently-built, sold-out America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix Suns were leading the series 2-1, after having stolen the Houston Rockets’ first two home games (at The Summit) and were attempting to take a commanding 3-1 lead of the series by winning Game 4 at home. The Rockets were leading 96-85 with 2:25 left in the 4th quarter, when Kevin “K.J.” Johnson drove baseline and exploded toward the rim, dunking over Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon.

The anxious Phoenix Suns home crowd suddenly erupted and rose to their feet in jubilation. That dunk remains one of the most spectacular facials in N.B.A. history. “K.J.” gave new meaning to the cliche “rising to the occasion” with his spontaneous, spectacular baseline dunk on Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon.

Most fans who witnessed “K.J.”‘s unanticipated dunk could not understand how a six-foot point guard could dunk on a bona fide seven-foot center so emphatically. It was even more remarkable that it happened out of all N.B.A. players to Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon; the legendary Nigerian Rockets center and future N.B.A. Hall-of-Famer.

Albeit “K.J.” was an exceptional athlete and extraordinary leaper, I reckon that a younger, more agile Olajuwon would of been able to perhaps somehow deflect the ball away and avoid N.B.A. momentary infamy. As it turns out, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon would have the last laugh as the Rockets went on to win Game Four 107-96, the series 4-3 and the 1994 N.B.A. championship title. The Houston Rockets defeated the rugged Pat Riley-coached New York Knicks (4-3) in the N.B.A. Finals that year in another hardly-contested seven-game series. Nonetheless, it goes down in N.B.A. folklore as one of the most memorable facials ever.

Below are some Kevin Johnson career statistics and highlights:

Kevin Johnson Biography and Fast Facts

Kevin Johnson Career Highlights and Awards

Kevin Johnson N.B.A. Career Statistics at a Glance

1994 N.B.A.Western Conference Semi-finals Game Four: Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns–107-96–Kevin “K.J.” Johnson dunk on Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon (May 15, 1994)

1994 N.B.A.Western Conference Semi-finals: Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns (Player Commentary/Series Highlights)

1994 N.B.A.Western Conference Semi-finals Game Three: Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns–118-102–Game Highlights–(May 13, 1994)

1994 N.B.A.Western Conference Semi-finals Game Four: Houston Rockets vs Phoenix Suns–107-96–Complete Game–(May 15, 1994)

Sources: Wikipedia–https://www.en.wikipedia.org, N.B.A.–https://www.nba.com, Phoenix Suns–https://www.nba.com/suns, E.S.P.N.–https://www.espn.com, YouTube–https://www.youtube.com