Tom Chambers' [Hall of Fame] dunk on Mark Jackson

On December 21, 2021, the basketball hall of fame announced a list of eligible candidates for the class of 2022. This includes high profile nominee Tom Chambers. Here is an update on Behind the Game episode 1 with added context from the great Jerry Kalangelo. Good luck to Tom and all other first-time nominees in their possible journey to the hall of fame. This is Behind the Game episode

7 January 27, 1989, New York Knicks at Fenix Sons. Tom Chambers is dunk on Mark Jackson. First, an excerpt from Sam Smith's article, Fenix Sons rise from Trouble Days. Just one player, Jeff Hornasek, remains from the 1986-87 team and he has had three coaches since then. In reference to the Sons, Sam writes, they sent former number one draft choice, Ed Pinkney, to Sacramento for Eddie Johnson.

Speaking of Eddie Johnson, here's EJ, a great guest on episode 41 of my show, explaining how Fenix rebuilt the team and became instant playoff contenders. The year before we all hear one 28 games, we made some deals on the course of the season. We brought over from Cleveland, Kevin Johnson, Mark West, Ty Corbin, and we traded a very popular player in Larry Nance. And then we

gave up Mike Sanders, then we traded James at Wresley, traded Jay Humphreys. I mean, really he did that team on the fly. Really was doing the course of the season. When Kevin Johnson came over and we saw him play, we knew that he was going to be special. And in addition to Mark West and Ty Corbin, two defensive players that just played the game on selfishly.

We knew he would help our team. So in the off season, they had a great draft. They draft Dan Marley, Tim Perry, and Andrew Lang. And so it gave us size and Lang defensive quickness and athleticism and Tim Perry, and then all around play and Dan Marley. And then we go to Seattle and we signed Tom Chambers as a free agent. In one swoop, we really

we did our team. On July 5, 1988, Tom Chambers joined the Fenix Sun and became the NBA's first unrestricted free agent to sign with another team. Here's the next excerpt from my great conversation with the Godfather of Arizona Sports, the iconic Jerry Kalangelo from Episode 127. He details how Tom Chambers came to be a Fenix Sun. There was a player when the pre-agency was announced a

new piece of free agency which was unrestricted pre-agency. I remembered the first game and told that at the NBA owner's meeting and I kind of looked at Seattle's owner at the time. And I was thinking Tom Chambers, well, we were told what the new explanation was for unrestricted free agency. And in my mind, I said, you just lost Tom Chambers. In my mind, I didn't say

that to him. On the evening at midnight when you could reach out. Otherwise before that's tampering. I was on the phone. And hours later, I was in Los Angeles. And a couple hours later, I had Tom Chambers. He was there with his agent. We struck first. I asked his agent, what do you want? He gave me the number. I said, no, here's what I'm willing to

do. You've got 10 minutes to give me an answer. And he responded within the 10 minutes and said, you got yourself a forward. Now another turn around, the biggest turn around ever from 28 wins, the 55 wins in the outfresh finals because Chambers, Kevin Johnson, Wes, Corbin, the other players that we had Marley became a band favorite. And that was a great run with that group

players until we acquired Charles Bartlett. It was a five year deal reportedly in the vicinity of $1.8 million per season. Less than 18 months prior, Chambers was named 1987 or Stargame MVP. Now to the date in question, January 27, 1989. As per associated press reports, next GM, Al Bianchi announced that 1988 NBA Rookie of the Year, Mark Jackson, signed a multi year contract extension with New

win a fourth consecutive game. A seller crowd of 14,400,000. 271 were set to watch not just an exciting game of basketball. They'd be witnessed to one of the most remarkable slam dunks of all time. In a high scoring game, the Suns held a 105-98 lead after three quarters. The Nix countered, reeling off an 11-0 run to start the fourth. Suddenly, the Phoenix faithful was sitting on

their hands. New York extended its run and were ahead 1-16-109 with a little under seven minutes to play. With five minutes, the Suns held a 105-98 lead after three quarters. The Nix countered, reeling off an 11-0 run to start the fourth. Suddenly, the Phoenix faithful was sitting on their hands. New York extended its run and were ahead 1-16-109 with a little under seven minutes to play.

When it's left in the game, trailing by four points, the Suns forced a turnover and NBA history happened. The Suns forced a turn over. The Suns managed to even the score and had control of the ball with less than 10 seconds to play. Kevin Johnson threw a bounce pass to a driving Mark West. He caught the ball and went up strong to the hoop on the

right baseline. West encountered the imposing Patrick Ewing and a foul was called on Ewing. Five seconds left, Mark West at the free throw line. His first shot hit the back of the rim and missed. West readyed for his second shot. The throw shooter 57% this season in regulation. The game is tied at 130. Oakley has to keep chambers out. It's chambers. Three seconds left. On the

miss, the ball rebound is straight to Tom Chambers who put up a mini-left-handed hook over Patrick Ewing with just three seconds remaining. Mark West more than radained himself by passably blocking a would-be game-time jumper with a second left from Gerald Wilkins. An excerpt from Jack McGritter's article titled Suns Defeat Nix 132-130. Quoting Tom Chambers, the ball came off hard and stuck in my left hand. I

went right back up with it. It was perfect, lucky, everything. Chambers sealed the win and would cap off a tremendous week, dropping 39 points at Denver the following day and was nine in the NBA player of the week for games ending January 29. Let's close out this episode of Behind the Game with a great audio clip. It's circa 2007 when Mark Jackson was working alongside the

great play by play man, Iron Eagle. Iron during a breaking play asked Mark Action Jackson about the impact of the Tom Chambers dunk. And I guess you were the statue man right here. Yeah.