The Untold Story Behind Gene Banks’ Stunning 1981 Basketball Breakthrough

You know, sometimes you stumble onto a moment in sports history that just sticks with you—like that unforgettable 1981 showdown featuring Duke legends Kenny Dennard and Gene Banks. It was their final home game, and Banks—one of the most magnetic players Duke ever saw—literally showered the crowd with roses, a scene as heartfelt as it was iconic. What really gets me, though, is how in those last two seconds—down by two points—the whole arena seemed to hold its breath. Rookie coach Mike Krzyzewski had a plan, sure, but Dennard and Banks? They decided to throw the script out the window and do their own thing. The result? A legendary shot by Banks over the towering Sam Perkins that still sends chills down the spine of Blue Devil fans everywhere. And here’s the kicker—James Worthy was sidelined that night, which let’s be honest, changed the game’s dynamics entirely. This isn’t just a highlight; it’s one of those staple moments in college basketball lore, right up there with the likes of Laettner’s miracles. If you’re ready to relive this gem and see it in action, dive into the story and the video that topples time itself. LEARN MORE

When we posted this yesterday, we knew some of you would have memories that we didn’t mention and sure enough, John wrote in to remind us of the 1981 classic.

This was the final home game for Kenny Dennard and Gene Banks and Banks, who was one of the most charismatic players ever at Duke, came out and threw roses to the crowd.

When the game was winding down, Duke was down two with :02 left and got the ball in and called a time out.

During the timeout, rookie coach Mike Krzyzewski drew up a play but Dennard later said he and Banks eyed each other and knew they were going to do their own thing.

And they did: Dennard got the ball into Banks, who hit a legendary shot over the very long arm of 6-10 Sam Perkins.

As John reminds us, James Worthy was out for that game which certainly made it easier. On the other hand, them’s the breaks.

We’ve used this as a YouTube Gold feature before and odds are we’ll do it again at some point. It was a magical play and a favorite memory for Duke fans. This play, like the Tre Jones/Wendell Moore game or the Laettner game, is iconic.

By the way, check out who posted the video.

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