How one coach and one group of players changed basketball forever.
When you think of college basketball, what do you think of? Is it the high-arcing threes, the upsets, or the crazy buzzer beaters that go along with it? Could be any of those things.
But what if I told you that another aspect of the game–fastbreak, transition dunks–might never have come to be if it hadn’t been for one coach, one school, and one group of players?
Let’s go back to the mid-1970’s-early 1980’s. During that time, most of the 274 division 1 men’s basketball teams played a very fundamental style of basketball–bring up the ball at normal pace to half court and then transition to set plays. It was simplistic and non-fatiguing, the result of limited athleticism across college basketball.
But things then changed courtesy of one man — Guy Lewis, head coach, University of Houston Cougars.
Guy Lewis played at UH from 1945-1947 as a solid forward/center. Six years later, he came back to university as an assistant coach and, three years after that, Lewis had full reigns of the program. He ended up serving as head coach for 30 years, 1956-86.
Lewis was an innovator. He stood out, wanting to be different. One way he innovated was by expanding the recruiting process. Before Lewis’ stint as coach, very few southern universities recruited African Americans. Lewis did. He signed Elvin Hayes and Jon Chaney in 1964.
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Another way Lewis innovated came by way of his on-court approach to the game. Most notable was his insistence on dunking. “Dunks create high percentage shots,” he said.
But there was a “little” problem, though. Lew Alcindor’s dominance of college basketball at UCLA led the NCAA to bar dunking. During those no-dunk years–1967-76–Lewis adjusted his system to a more systematic and slow-paced offense. It led to success, too. Lewis made two Final Four appearances in the ’60s and was named Coach of the Year by AP, NABC, and UPI in ’68.
But–with the dunk back in the game–Lewis will be forever remembered for his Cougars’ teams of 1981-1983.
Lewis found just the right guy–a player who could execute his dunking philosophy perfectly–Hakeem Olajuwon. The previous year, the Cougars had a semi-fascinating team with the explosive play of freshman Clyde Drexler. But with the addition of Olajuwon, a 7-foot tall center out of Nigeria, the Cougars looked destined.
In Hakeem’s freshman season, and in combo with Drexler, the Cougars catapulted all the way to the NCAA semi-finals. There they lost to powerhouse UNC.
It was just a prelude to the 1982-1983 season, which was spectacular. With the help of a more mature Hakeem and a seasoned Drexler, the Cougars showed what they could really do in a Lewis-directed system. With high-flying dunks and alley-oops from both half court and in transition, this team captured national attention.
It was so good that sportswriter Tommy Bonk coined a team name: Phi Slama Jama. And it stuck! Soon, thousands of fans in the Hofheinz Pavilion were wearing Phi Slama Jama t-shirts.
Of course, 1981-83 is a long time ago. But today’s game is very much influenced by Phi Slama Jama. I’d go so far as to say that Lewis and Phi Slama Jama didn’t just influence college basketball, they influenced just about everyone who has ever picked up a ball. That’s because they revolutionized the way we think about and play the game.
It’s all due to one man, a guy named Guy Lewis, and the players of Phi Slama Jama.
