Helena Frye
The alley-oop in basketball is an offensive play where one player throws the ball towards the rim with a high arc, allowing a teammate to jump, catch it in mid-air and dunk or lay it up before touching the ground. The term alley-oop is believed to have derived from the French phrase Allez Hop!, a common expression used by circus acrobats before leaping. While the term was first used in American football in the 1950s, it was popularized in basketball by David Thompson, a star player for North Carolina State University in the 1970s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First used in sports | In the 1950s by the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL |
| First used in basketball | David Thompson while at North Carolina State University in the early 1970s |
| First used in the NBA | Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Greg Kelser of Michigan State in the late 1970s |
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What You'll Learn
- The alley-oop was first used in American football, not basketball
- The San Francisco 49ers' YA Tittle and RC Owens are the first known users
- The term alley-oop comes from the French Allez Hop!, a cry used by circus acrobats
- David Thompson popularised the alley-oop at North Carolina State University
- The alley-oop became a staple of Michigan State's Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser in the late 1970s
The alley-oop was first used in American football, not basketball
The alley-oop is an American football play where the quarterback throws the ball high into the air, allowing another player to jump and catch it. The play was developed in 1957 by San Francisco 49ers players R. C. Owens and Y. A. Tittle. The term "alley-oop" is derived from the French phrase "Allez hop!", a cry used by circus acrobats before leaping. The term was first popularized in the US by cartoonist V. T. Hamlin for his 1932 comic strip character, Alley Oop.
In basketball, an alley-oop is an offensive play where one player passes the ball near the basket to a teammate, who then jumps, catches the ball in mid-air, and dunks or lays it in the basket before touching the ground. While the term "alley-oop" was first used in basketball in the 1950s, it was popularized in the sport by David Thompson of North Carolina State University in the early 1970s. Thompson, known for his 44-inch vertical leap, would jump to catch a lob pass from a teammate and score by dropping the ball into the basket or through a layup off the backboard.
The alley-oop became a staple of North Carolina State's gameplay, with Thompson's teammates Monte Towe and Tim Stoddard also contributing to its success. In 1973, six of Bill Walton's baskets in UCLA's NCAA championship game against Memphis State came from alley-oop plays. After the prohibition on dunking in college basketball ended in 1976, the alley-oop gained further prominence in the late 1970s through Michigan State's Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Greg Kelser.
Despite the term "alley-oop" appearing first in basketball in the 1950s, its usage in American football predates that in basketball by two years. The play was originally developed for American football, and its success inspired its adoption in basketball.
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The San Francisco 49ers' YA Tittle and RC Owens are the first known users
The term "alley-oop" was first used in sports in the 1950s by the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL. It described a play where quarterback Y. A. Tittle threw a high-arcing pass to wide receiver R.C. Owens, who would outjump the smaller cornerbacks for touchdown receptions.
The play, later known as "'West Four right'" in the 49ers playbook, came about accidentally during the fourth exhibition game of the 1957 season. Tittle, under pressure from a Chicago Cardinals pass rush, attempted to throw the ball away through the back of the end zone. Owens, a former college basketball star, leaped high for the ball and grabbed it, pulling off a touchdown. This play would be used for three game-winning touchdowns in 1957, helping the 49ers to an 8-4 record and their first playoff appearance since joining the NFL in 1950.
R.C. Owens, whose leaping catches became his signature, is credited with introducing the term "alley-oop" into the sports lexicon. The term is derived from the French phrase "allez hop!", a cry often used by circus acrobats before leaping. In sports, the term was first used to describe the high-arcing pass from Tittle to Owens, with the receiver outjumping the smaller cornerbacks.
While the San Francisco 49ers are credited with popularising the term "alley-oop" in sports, the play itself was not originally associated with basketball. The alley-oop was first used in basketball by the Phillips 66ers of the National Industrial Basketball League, with Charlie Bowerman passing to Don Kojis during his two seasons with the team between 1961 and 1963.
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The term alley-oop comes from the French Allez Hop!, a cry used by circus acrobats
The term "alley-oop" in basketball refers to an offensive play where one player passes the ball near the basket to a teammate who, before touching the ground, jumps, catches the ball in mid-air, and dunks or lays it in. The term is believed to originate from the French phrase "Allez Hop!", which was popularised in the United States in 1932 by cartoonist V. T. Hamlin as the name of a syndicated comic strip. However, the phrase itself has an even deeper history, as it was originally the cry of a circus acrobat about to leap, combining "allez" (the plural imperative of "aller", meaning "to go") with the exclamation "hop!".
While the term "alley-oop" first appeared in sports in the 1950s in American football, it quickly made its way into basketball. In the 1950s, players like K. C. Jones and Bill Russell of the University of San Francisco are known to have performed the alley-oop play. However, some sources credit David Thompson of North Carolina State University as the first player to execute the classic alley-oop play in the early 1970s, taking advantage of his impressive 44-inch vertical leap.
The alley-oop became even more prominent in the late 1970s, thanks to Michigan State's Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Greg Kelser, who showcased the play in their 1979 national championship run, including the famous Magic vs. Bird championship game. In the early 1980s, the Idaho team made the alley-oop an integral part of their offense, and in 1983, North Carolina State won the national championship with what is considered one of the most famous alley-oops of all time against Houston.
Over time, the alley-oop became a staple of NBA basketball, with stars in the 1990s turning it into a powerful quick-strike weapon. Today, it is common for teams to run the alley-oop as a planned play, with some teams even incorporating it into their inbound sets. The alley-oop has evolved from a circus acrobat's cry to a thrilling and strategic play on the basketball court.
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David Thompson popularised the alley-oop at North Carolina State University
The alley-oop in basketball is an offensive play where one player passes the ball near the basket to a teammate who leaps, catches it in mid-air, and dunks or lays it into the basket before touching the ground. The term "alley-oop" is believed to have originated from the French phrase "Allez Hop!", a common cry of circus acrobats before executing a leap. The term was first used in the US in 1932 as the name of a comic strip, and later in sports by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL during the 1950s.
David Thompson, a star player for North Carolina State University (NCSU) from the 1972 to 1975 seasons, is credited with popularising the alley-oop during his college basketball career. Thompson, known for his remarkable vertical leap, would jump off the ground, catch a lob pass from teammates like Monte Towe and Tim Stoddard, and score with a layup or by simply dropping the ball into the basket. This was especially effective as dunking was illegal in college basketball at the time. Thompson's execution of the alley-oop added an artistic flair to the game and created high-percentage scoring opportunities for his team, the Wolfpack.
Thompson and Towe are believed to have first performed the alley-oop during a scrimmage in 1971. Coach Norm Sloan was impressed and decided to incorporate the play into their strategy. Thompson's ability to leap high above the rim and gracefully execute the alley-oop earned him the nickname "Skywalker." One notable instance of Thompson's alley-oop was in the 1974 national semifinals against UCLA, where he soared over 7-footer Bill Walton, giving NCSU its first lead of the second half. The Wolfpack won in double overtime, 80-77.
Thompson's innovative use of the alley-oop not only showcased his athletic abilities but also contributed to the excitement and appeal of college basketball. His performances with NCSU helped establish the alley-oop as a staple in the game, influencing future players and teams to incorporate it into their offensive strategies. Today, the alley-oop is a well-known and beloved play in basketball, showcasing teamwork, precision passing, timing, and finishing.
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The alley-oop became a staple of Michigan State's Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser in the late 1970s
The alley-oop, an offensive play in basketball, involves one player passing the ball near the basket to a teammate who then jumps, catches the ball in mid-air, and dunks or lays it into the basket before landing. The term "alley-oop" is derived from the French phrase "allez hop", which was used by circus acrobats before leaping. While the term first appeared in a 1932 comic strip by cartoonist V. T. Hamlin, it was later adopted by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL during the 1950s to describe a high arcing pass from quarterback Y. A. Tittle to receiver R.C. Owens, who would outjump defenders for a touchdown.
In the context of basketball, the alley-oop became prominent in the 1960s and 1970s, with players like David Thompson of North Carolina State University and Bill Walton of UCLA showcasing its potential. However, it was in the late 1970s that the alley-oop truly flourished, thanks to Michigan State's dynamic duo of Earvin 'Magic' Johnson and Greg Kelser. Johnson, with his exceptional passing skills, and Kelser, an outstanding finisher, formed a formidable partnership that frequently utilised the alley-oop to great effect.
The pair's on-court connection was immediate, with Johnson's junior year coinciding with Kelser's freshman season under coach Jud Heathcote. Together, they led the Spartans to an impressive 25–5 record, capturing the Big Ten Conference title and reaching the regional finals of the 1978 NCAA tournament. Kelser, often on the receiving end of Johnson's spectacular passes, became known for his ability to finish alley-oops with power and precision.
The alley-oop became a signature move for Johnson and Kelser, and they continued to showcase it during their senior year. In 1979, they guided the Spartans to the NCAA tournament championship, defeating Larry Bird and Indiana State by a score of 75–64. This game, known as the Magic vs. Bird championship, was the most-watched basketball game in history and further cemented the alley-oop as a thrilling and effective play.
Through their success and style of play, Johnson and Kelser not only entertained fans but also left a lasting impact on the game. The alley-oop, with its combination of teamwork, passing, timing, and finishing, became a staple in basketball offences, with teams like the 2008 National Champions Kansas Jayhawks incorporating it into their playbook. The legacy of Johnson and Kelser's partnership at Michigan State continues to inspire and influence generations of basketball players and fans alike.
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Frequently asked questions
The term "alley-oop" was first used in sports in the 1950s to describe a play in American football, but it was popularized in basketball by David Thompson during his time as a player for North Carolina State University from 1972 to 1975.
David Thompson, who was known for his great vertical leap, would jump off the ground, catch a lob pass from a teammate while in mid-air, and score by either laying the ball off the backboard or simply dropping it into the basket.
Magic Johnson was one of the earlier proponents of the alley-oop in the NBA, teaming up with Michael Cooper for what was dubbed the Coop-a-Loop. Another early combo was Payton-Kemp in the '90s, who brought modern pizzazz to the play.
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