Defender’s Reaction During Johnny Furphy Dunk Will Go Down in History

Former Kansas standout Johnny Furphy threw down one of the most disrespectful dunks in recent NBA history in a summer league contest.

Apr 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Johnny Furphy (12) dunks the ball over Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) during the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

The Kansas basketball program currently has five former players representing the university in the NBA Summer League.

New York Knicks guard Kevin McCullar made headlines on Sunday when he erupted for 30 points, but Indiana Pacers wing Johnny Furphy took the league by storm yesterday.

During the second quarter of Indiana’s 114-105 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Furphy elevated for one of the best dunks you’ll ever see in a summer league game.

JOHNNY FURPHY MY GOODNESS 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/jjQYQJ4gLP

— NBA (@NBA) July 14, 2025

Jayhawk fans may not have known that the Australian had that kind of bounce in him. He hit his defender with a behind-the-back to get to the rim and cocked his right arm all the way back for a tomahawk jam.

As impressive as the slam was, it wasn’t the best part of the play.

The face that Bulls rookie Noa Essengue made before he fell victim to Furphy’s dunk made the moment all the more iconic. 

I fear Noa Essengue will never recover from this… pic.twitter.com/n9Id2pZOb7

— Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) July 14, 2025

There are truly no words to describe just how humiliating that snapshot is for Essengue. He isn’t even a month into his NBA career and has already become the face of getting dunked on. 

Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton reacted to the dunk on X, as did several other prominent basketball figures.

Furphy finished with a modest stat line, scoring 15 points and grabbing six rebounds in 31 minutes. However, his emphatic throwdown was the real star of the show.

The Melbourne native had another rim-rattling flush in his previous summer league appearance against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it doesn’t compare to what he did yesterday.

No matter how well Essengue performs in his rookie year, the image of his reaction to Furphy posterizing him will stick with NBA fans for quite some time.