The 10 most disrespectful dunks in NBA history

5. Julius Erving (Dr. J) “Rock the Baby” over Michael Cooper

Dr. J’s career defining highlight.

One of the best to ever play the game, Julius Erving had taken the roof off arenas many times before, but nothing quite like this.

The play started at half court, when The Dr. stole the ball from the Lakers’ Michael Cooper. Erving dribbled the ball down the sideline as he now faced a wide open lane. Cooper came sprinting in to contest Erving as the two were set to square off one-on-one.

In an interview years later, Cooper was quoted as saying: “When Dr. J broke down the sideline, I was like ‘okay, this is my chance to make a great play against a great player’.”

Dr. J leapt up and cradled the ball, rocking it back and forth as if it were a baby, before rising up above Cooper. Originally, Cooper looked as if he was going to try and block the shot, but backed off once he realized his mistake.

Cooper ducked under the backboard and out of Erving’s way, avoiding further embarrassment.

Dr. J finished the signature slam as the television cameras captured every moment. The play-by-play analyst’s “rock the baby to sleep” call became the name of the dunk that defined a career.