Rockets Rookie Cam Whitmore Had the Dunk of the Year Sadly Taken Away by Rude Refs

The NBA regular season hasn’t even started yet, but we already have a “Dunk of the Year” nominee, courtesy of Houston Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore.

Whitmore, whose draft-night fall from being a potential top-5 pick to landing with Houston at No. 20 was one of the biggest surprises of the draft, showed off his incredible athleticism during a preseason matchup with the Spurs on Monday night with a thundering transition dunk. Whitmore led the break in transition and sprinted down the lane, nearly jumping over Spurs veteran Doug McDermott to throw down an incredible jam.

Unfortunately for Whitmore, the dunk didn’t officially count, as the referee called him for an offensive foul. But the video of the dunk lives forever, and it’s spectacular.

CAM WHITMORE POSTER 💥

but didn't count... pic.twitter.com/ofypcSYy1t

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 17, 2023

And another angle:

nah we gotta see this again 😭

sick it didn’t count smh pic.twitter.com/ZEuTSwGtXI

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 17, 2023

Whitmore told reporters after the game that he disagreed with the charge call, but still seemed pleased with his work, grinning as he described the moment to the media.

"Just know it was a big dunk. I just saw one person in front of me and I just rose up... Me, I don't think it was a charge, but it is what it is."

Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore on his poster dunk getting waived off last night 🗣

(via @JTGatlin)pic.twitter.com/kimE7eTfOv https://t.co/hHAmHeYaLJ

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 17, 2023

Highlight-reel plays like that one illustrate the tantalizing potential Whitmore has, and why he could go down as the biggest steal of the 2023 draft class. 

The dunk certainly earned plenty of attention from fans around the league.

I’m not part of the “ban the charge” crowd but plays like this should not be a charge.

His feet are moving, he’s falling backwards, and his arms are extended while Whitmore is in the air but before any contact. https://t.co/2ktDbRzLmb

— Wetzel (@worldwidewetz) October 17, 2023

MY GOODNESS 😳 https://t.co/gyhm1htxec

— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) October 17, 2023

Been said it but this the sleeper of the draft https://t.co/Z8wbTFw95a

— DRIZZY (@bigbosdrae) October 17, 2023

My rookie of the year 😴😴😴 https://t.co/GVIIhS2Xsp

— celtics bacc (@SeanMFYB) October 17, 2023

Charge should be revoked the second you get dunked on this hard https://t.co/ytNczj17QR

— Gavin Sullivan (@gavsully514) October 17, 2023