A star at the University of Alabama, Dunn played for coach CM Newton, who would start five black players in a time of racial turbulence and progress.

Center Leon Douglas said, "We knew Coach Newton (signed us) because he wanted to win.

On December 28, 1973, in a 65–55 win over the University of Louisville Cardinals, Newton started Douglas, Charles "Boonie" Russell, Charles Cleveland, Dunn and Ray Odums for the first all-black starting line-up in SEC history, and a team that would win the SEC season title.

Dunn was named to the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team three times during his career, and he was widely regarded as one of the best rebounding guards of the 1980s.

On December 6, 2011, he was hired as an assistant coach by the Minnesota Timberwolves to work under Rick Adelman.