Here's what makes this dunk by San Diego State's Jamaal Franklin so great: the self-pass off the backboard was totally necessary.

We've seen guys throw themselves alley-oops off the backboard before, but it's almost always an excessive flourish in a situation where nothing can go wrong.

Franklin throws it off the backboard because his two teammates are covered and it's the only possible way he can get to the rim with three defenders in front of him. San Diego State beat Fresno State 65-62, but this was the big highlight:

He's behind the three-point line and three defenders are ahead of him when he throws the self-pass too:

jamaal franklin san diego state dunkYouTube