From champions, cult heroes, All-Defensive guards and even the No. 1 pick in the draft. Aussies have ticked every box bar one, an Aussie in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Johnny Furphy is quietly building the resume to become the first Australian to fly at All-Star Weekend after a stunning display of athleticism in the 2025 Summer League.
The Melbourne born wing echoes the high level of athleticism that Ben Simmons and Josh Green showed. Furphy’s bounce could be elevated at an NBA level as a long, elastic, above the rim athlete who floats more than he jumps when he enters the key. The people who know athleticism best are already taking notice.
During ESPN’s pre-draft coverage, Vince Carter, a walking highlight reel and arguably the greatest dunker of all time, highlighted Furphy’s athleticism, noting that the 6 ‘9 rookie “gets off the floor easier than people expect.” Further making the legends dream list of dunkers for the slam dunk contest with the rocket ships of Ja Morant and Zion Williamson. When Air Canada says you’ve got bounce, it isn’t something to brush off.
Scouts echoed the sentiment through the entire draft process. Furphy was labelled a “quietly elite athlete” and “sneaky explosive,” the kind of descriptors usually reserved for guys who end up doing windmills in warmups and starring in viral transition, fast break highlights. Even at Kansas, Furphy didn’t need a runway; he was flushing tip-slams and gliding into dunks off two steps like it was nothing. It doesn’t take much for him to take flight.
And here’s where the story gets interesting: no Australian has ever competed in the NBA Dunk Contest. Not Andrew Gaze. Not Patty Mills. Not Ben Simmons. Not even Josh Green, who arguably came closest in terms of raw vertical ability. The reality is simply that we haven’t produced a player whose athletic style matches the DNA of the event.
Furphy might be the first.
But timing is the real wildcard.
The Dunk Contest is dying for new blood. Ratings have dipped. Stars aren’t interested. The NBA is chasing storylines, Mac McClung’s G-League takeover, international representatives, fresh faces, narratives that cut through social media. A 20-year-old Aussie rookie with legit bounce and a rising fanbase? That’s exactly the sort of hook the league has been looking for.
The addition of Furphy would tick a lot of the NBA’s marketing boxes. International rising star, a marketable talent from FIBA’s Asian region, a built-in audience (Australia), already viral through NBA social media highlights.
Will he need more viral dunks and posters? Absolutely. He’s not getting into the contest off potential alone. A couple of posters, a transition highlight or two and a few viral moments could propel him straight into the NBA’s All-Star weekend hype machine.
But the fact we’re even having this conversation says a lot about Australian basketballing talent. Australian fans have never had a genuine dunk contest candidate before. Furphy might be the first player from our shores whose aerial game looks like it belongs on that stage.
But if you squint, if you look at the way he elevates, the way the ball meets the rim without hindrance from defenders, the way giants like Vince Carter react, you can almost picture it:
If it does happen, remember this moment. Because Australia’s wait for its first NBA Slam Dunk contest athlete might finally be coming to an end.
Johnny Furphy is quietly building the resume to become the first Australian to fly at All-Star Weekend after a stunning display of athleticism in the 2025 Summer League.
The Melbourne born wing echoes the high level of athleticism that Ben Simmons and Josh Green showed. Furphy’s bounce could be elevated at an NBA level as a long, elastic, above the rim athlete who floats more than he jumps when he enters the key. The people who know athleticism best are already taking notice.
During ESPN’s pre-draft coverage, Vince Carter, a walking highlight reel and arguably the greatest dunker of all time, highlighted Furphy’s athleticism, noting that the 6 ‘9 rookie “gets off the floor easier than people expect.” Further making the legends dream list of dunkers for the slam dunk contest with the rocket ships of Ja Morant and Zion Williamson. When Air Canada says you’ve got bounce, it isn’t something to brush off.
Scouts echoed the sentiment through the entire draft process. Furphy was labelled a “quietly elite athlete” and “sneaky explosive,” the kind of descriptors usually reserved for guys who end up doing windmills in warmups and starring in viral transition, fast break highlights. Even at Kansas, Furphy didn’t need a runway; he was flushing tip-slams and gliding into dunks off two steps like it was nothing. It doesn’t take much for him to take flight.
And here’s where the story gets interesting: no Australian has ever competed in the NBA Dunk Contest. Not Andrew Gaze. Not Patty Mills. Not Ben Simmons. Not even Josh Green, who arguably came closest in terms of raw vertical ability. The reality is simply that we haven’t produced a player whose athletic style matches the DNA of the event.
Furphy might be the first.
But timing is the real wildcard.
The Dunk Contest is dying for new blood. Ratings have dipped. Stars aren’t interested. The NBA is chasing storylines, Mac McClung’s G-League takeover, international representatives, fresh faces, narratives that cut through social media. A 20-year-old Aussie rookie with legit bounce and a rising fanbase? That’s exactly the sort of hook the league has been looking for.
The addition of Furphy would tick a lot of the NBA’s marketing boxes. International rising star, a marketable talent from FIBA’s Asian region, a built-in audience (Australia), already viral through NBA social media highlights.
Will he need more viral dunks and posters? Absolutely. He’s not getting into the contest off potential alone. A couple of posters, a transition highlight or two and a few viral moments could propel him straight into the NBA’s All-Star weekend hype machine.
But the fact we’re even having this conversation says a lot about Australian basketballing talent. Australian fans have never had a genuine dunk contest candidate before. Furphy might be the first player from our shores whose aerial game looks like it belongs on that stage.
But if you squint, if you look at the way he elevates, the way the ball meets the rim without hindrance from defenders, the way giants like Vince Carter react, you can almost picture it:
Johnny Furphy, representing Australia, stepping onto the All-Star stage and adding to the list of Australian talent that can take the NBA by storm.
If it does happen, remember this moment. Because Australia’s wait for its first NBA Slam Dunk contest athlete might finally be coming to an end.