Indiana Pacers’ 20-Year-Old Johnny Furphy Soars for Vicious Dunk Over Bulls Rookie Noa Essengue in Jaw-Dropping Moment
It was one of those moments in NBA Summer League history that instantly lit up social media, ignited the crowd in Las Vegas, and sent a crystal-clear message to the rest of the league: Johnny Furphy has arrived.
The Indiana Pacers’ 20-year-old, 6-foot-8 Australian swingman detonated a thunderous dunk over the 6-foot-10 Noa Essengue—the Chicago Bulls’ highly touted rookie and 12th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft—and the basketball world is still reeling.
The play came midway through the third quarter of a heated Summer League showdown between the Pacers and Bulls. Furphy, already cooking with 14 points and 4 rebounds, took a pass from second-year guard Ben Sheppard in transition. Essengue, who had been a dominant shot-blocker through three games in Vegas, rotated over with bad intentions—perhaps too late and certainly underestimating Furphy’s vertical fury.
Furphy rose with ferocity, cocked back with one hand, and slammed the ball over Essengue with such violent authority that it sent the Thomas & Mack Center into a frenzy. It wasn’t just a dunk—it was a statement. A message. A head-on collision between hype and heart, and Furphy won in devastating fashion.
The reaction was instant. Broadcasters screamed. Fans gasped. NBA stars in attendance stood up and held their heads in disbelief. The moment hit social media like a lightning bolt, with highlights circulating within seconds. “Johnny Furphy just baptized Noa Essengue,” one commentator shouted, and the nickname “Air Furphy” began trending on X within minutes.
But to understand the impact of that play, you have to understand the trajectory of Johnny Furphy. Just over a year ago, he was a relative unknown to the American basketball world. A product of Melbourne, Australia, Furphy burst onto the collegiate scene at Kansas in 2023 with an athletic blend of length, motor, and shooting touch. After averaging double figures in his freshman year with the Jayhawks and catching the eyes of NBA scouts at the NBA Global Academy, he declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and was scooped up by Indiana as part of their long-term vision of youth, athleticism, and versatility.
Since joining the Pacers, Furphy has been steadily developing under the radar, playing behind veterans like Aaron Nesmith and backing up All-Star wings. But Summer League has provided the perfect stage for him to showcase what he’s been working on. And against the Bulls, he didn’t just flash potential—he exploded onto the main stage.
What made the dunk so seismic wasn’t just the athletic feat. It was who he did it over. Noa Essengue came into the league with a towering reputation. The Congo-born big man was being touted as one of the premier defensive prospects of the class—an agile rim protector with elite timing and an NBA-ready body. But even he couldn’t stop the freight train that was Furphy on that possession.
Essengue, for his part, took the moment with grace, nodding his head and patting his chest in acknowledgment of the poster. It was the kind of sportsmanship that only adds to the moment’s legendary feel. “I went up to block it,” Essengue said afterward, “but he got me. I’ll get him back next time.”
Furphy, cool and calm in the postgame interview, was modest but quietly confident. “I saw the lane open, and I just went for it. I’m not really thinking in that moment, just reacting. Credit to Noa for challenging it. He’s a beast. But sometimes, you just catch a body.”
That body might have just propelled Furphy into a new tier of NBA attention. League executives sitting courtside were buzzing about his growth, not just physically, but mentally. He’s no longer the skinny Aussie prospect looking for a place in the rotation. He’s a wing who can defend, rebound, shoot, and—clearly—punish defenders at the rim.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, watching from the stands, was grinning ear to ear. “That’s the Johnny we believe in. He’s got that fire in him. He’s been in the gym nonstop, and you can see the work paying off. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but plays like that—those are momentum-changers.”
Indeed, the dunk didn’t just set off fireworks—it shifted the energy of the game. The Pacers, who had trailed by nine points at halftime, went on a 16-4 run immediately after the poster and eventually pulled away for a 96-88 win. Furphy finished with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and one unforgettable highlight that will undoubtedly appear on every “Top 10 Dunks of Summer League” list for years to come.
But beyond the dunk, Furphy’s performance demonstrated his growing all-around game. He hit two threes, defended multiple positions, and pushed the ball in transition with poise. If the dunk was the exclamation point, the rest of his game was the underlined sentence that preceded it.
Indiana fans are starting to feel the excitement. Already buzzing from the core of Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, and Andrew Nembhard, the addition of Furphy as a potential rotation player adds another layer of depth to a rising Eastern Conference contender. His frame continues to fill out, and his feel for the game is accelerating. If he keeps this up, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him earn real minutes in the 2025-26 regular season, perhaps even pushing for Sixth Man duties.
For now, though, the moment belongs to the dunk. A moment where everything aligned: speed, power, and confidence. A moment where one 20-year-old made the league take notice and reminded everyone that potential only takes you so far—it’s the moments you seize that define your career.
Social media is still ablaze. Teammates are hyping him up in group chats. And around the league, defenders are taking note. Johnny Furphy didn’t just dunk on Noa Essengue. He dunked on the notion that he’s just a developmental project. He introduced himself with authority.
It’s hard not to draw comparisons to early-career highlight machines like a young Gerald Green or even shades of Vince Carter with the way Furphy attacks the rim without hesitation. But what makes Furphy particularly dangerous is that he doesn’t hunt dunks—he lets them come to him. His offensive game is built on good decisions, quick reads, and within-the-flow attacks. The dunk, as jaw-dropping as it was, didn’t feel like a forced “look at me” moment. It felt like a natural byproduct of his aggression and confidence.
And that’s what will keep him around.
As for Noa Essengue, the Bulls remain confident in their young big. “You get dunked on, it’s part of the league,” said Bulls assistant coach Adrian Griffin. “That means you’re competing. Noa’s gonna block 1,000 shots in this league. He’ll be fine.”
He probably will. But for now, he’s a part of Furphy’s highlight reel. A clip that will run for years. A moment that cements what Indiana already believed—Johnny Furphy isn’t waiting for permission to shine. He’s taking flight, one rim at a time.
And after tonight, the league won’t look at him the same way again.
