Anthony Spud Webb the shortest player to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Michael Anthony Jerome “Spud” Webb wasn’t one of the greatest players that the NBA has seen but he is definitely a player that every NBA fan has heard of. Being only 5’6’’, Webb won the 1986 NBA Slam dunk contest and is still the shortest player to win the dunk contest. Webb’s victory on that February night is one of the most spectacular events that the NBA has offered to this day.

With his insane vertical leap, Webb managed to defeat the 1985 Slam dunk champion and his Atlanta Hawks teammate at the time, Dominique Wilkins. Wilkins was known as the “Human highlight reel” and was considered one of the most athletic players in the history of the league. What makes the story even funnier is that Wilkins has never previously seen Spud Webb dunk, despite the fact that they were teammates.

Wilkins, as well as anyone else who witnessed the contest, didn’t expect that Webb would make miraculous dunks using his 48’’ vertical. Even 35 years later, when almost every single player in the NBA can jump high, Webb’s performance looks unreal.

But what also seems unreal is that Webb with his height even made it to the NBA.

Being born in Dallas, while growing up, Webb had to prove himself as a basketball player due to his small stature. As a high school player, Webb averaged 26 points per game and was one of 10 students who was selected to the All-State team.

However, his size prevented him from being recruited for a Division 1 team. Instead, he attended Midland Junior College in Texas, where he led his team to a victory in the 1982 junior college championship. That year he caught the attention of the coaches at North Carolina State University and moved there to spend his next two years.

Playing under legendary coach Jim Valvano, Webb averaged 10.4 points and 5.7 assists in one of the best collegiate programs at the time. After four years in school, Webb declared for the 1985 NBA draft where he was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the fourth round of the draft as the 87th pick overall.

Despite being drafted, many predicted that Webb will end up in Europe or with the Harlem Globetrotters and it seemed like that will be the case after the Pistons cut him shortly after the draft. But Webb was used to being underrated and didn’t give up. His agent Bill Blakeley arranged a tryout with the Atlanta Hawks where Spud beat out several guards and managed to make the roster.

Webb played six seasons with the Hawks followed by four with the Sacramento Kings. Playing for the Kings, Webb averaged career-high 16 points per game in the 1991-92 season. After four years in sunny California, Webb shortly returned to the Hawks at the age of 32 but was quickly dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves. After an unsuccessful stint with the Wolves, he spent the 1996-97 season in Italy playing for Mash J. Verona. After a season abroad he returned to the NBA, playing only four games for the Orlando Magic, and decided to retire in 1998.

Despite his height, he managed to play 12 seasons in the NBA and paved the way for other undersized players such as Muggsy Bogues and Earl Boykins.

And just in case you were curious how he got the nickname Spud, here is the story. It came from the kids on his block who couldn’t pronounce the name Sputnick. That nickname came from his father’s friend who jokingly called him that when he was born as his head looked like the Sputnick satellite that was sent to space in the 1960s. Webb grew up thinking that his name was Spud and not Anthony