JOHNNY FURPHY POSTERIZES NOD ESSENGUE IN SUMMER LEAGUE WITH VIRAL DUNK THAT BREAKS THE INTERNET
The NBA Summer League just witnessed its first iconic moment of 2024 as Australian rookie Johnny Furphy brought the Thomas & Mack Center to its feet with a vicious poster dunk over French big man Nod Essengue that instantly went nuclear across social media. The play – which saw the 6’9″ Kansas product take off from outside the restricted area before throwing down a thunderous right-handed slam over the 6’11” defender – is already being hailed as the dunk of summer league and has basketball fans buzzing about Furphy’s NBA-ready athleticism.
The highlight erupted during the third quarter of Furphy’s second summer league appearance for the Indiana Pacers. After stealing an outlet pass at midcourt, the 19-year-old wing attacked the rim with a full head of steam before elevating over Essengue (a projected 2025 draft pick) for a dunk so violent it sent the defender stumbling backward. The arena’s decibel meter reportedly peaked at 115dB as teammates rushed to mob Furphy while the play was immediately reviewed for possible technical foul due to Essengue’s dramatic fall.
Multiple camera angles of the dunk quickly went viral, with ESPN’s “SportsCenter” running a slow-motion supercut showing Furphy’s left knee nearly reaching Essengue’s shoulder height at the apex of the jam. The NBA’s official Twitter account posted the clip with the caption “ROOKIE. MURDER.” which amassed over 2 million views in its first hour. Basketball reference accounts noted Furphy’s 42-inch max vertical was on full display – a shocking number for a player of his length.
Pacers summer league coach Jannero Pargo called it “a generational type of play” in postgame comments, while Essengue took the high road telling reporters “this is basketball – sometimes you are in the poster.” Furphy downplayed the moment, saying he was just “playing aggressive” but admitted he might frame the photo when it surfaces. The dunk drew comparisons to classic summer league posters like Donovan Mitchell’s 2017 jam over Tacko Fall and Obi Toppin’s 2020 facial on Paul Eboua.
Scouts in attendance noted the play showcased why Furphy – selected 35th overall in June’s draft – was considered a potential lottery talent before an inconsistent sophomore season at Kansas. His combination of size, explosiveness and fearlessness attacking the rim could make him an immediate rotation piece for a Pacers team that thrives in transition. The dunk also sparked renewed debate about Essengue’s NBA prospects after the 19-year-old Cameroonian – projected as a potential 2025 first-rounder – found himself on the wrong end of a highlight that will likely follow him for years.
As the clip continues circulating across TikTok and Instagram with various “murder alert” captions, one thing is certain: Johnny Furphy just announced his arrival to the NBA in the most emphatic way possible. The Pacers may have found their latest international gem, while summer league just got its first unforgettable moment of 2024. League officials confirmed the play will be featured in the summer league’s annual “Top 10” reel regardless of what happens the rest of the month – a fitting tribute to a dunk that instantly entered summer league folklore.
