If you started following the NBA in the back half of the 2010s, you likely know, We'd be remiss if we didn't mention Griffin's partnership with, Erving was almost born to be the Father of the Dunk. In recent years, there's been a groundswell of support for the idea that Shaquille O'Neal is underrated. Richardson achieved prominence after a dunking dark age. No one could ever stop a Vince Carter dunk. Here was a guy who could make a, Interestingly enough, there's not much footage of Jordan showboating after a dunk, something that would make sense given his uber-sensitivity to. Is the 2020 Slam Dunk champion Derrick Jones Jr. might be the most unassuming great in-game dunker in NBA history. For this list, we’re looking at the greatest NBA dunks of all-time! It's a simple question yet one fraught with complexity. Facials on centres. 360s with ease on fastbreaks. Erving was one of the league's first above-the-rim stars, and he paved the way for Michael, Dominique, LeBron and so many others to feel comfortable showcasing their hops in live action. The linked dunk on Gatling is perhaps the shining example of that in recent NBA history. Basketball Reference says Steve Francis is 6'3", but you can really tell how tall somebody is when you see them in the air, and there is no way Stevie Franchise is any bigger than 6'1". View later. But he won that prize before emerging as one of the best players in history, so we can forgive opponents for forgetting about his above-the-rim dominance in the ensuing seasons. It's there! One of the best parts of 'The Last Dance'? It's impossible to mention the first generation of high flyers without mentioning Thompson, who would have gone down as perhaps the greatest dunker in college basketball history had he not played during the time when dunking was outlawed. Mad? The more cavalier his attitude, the more vicious the dunk, and the greater the humiliation. While it ended on poor terms, pairing the greatest passer of the 21st century with the most athletic big man of his time yielded predictably awe-inspiring results night after night. It would be annoying if Carter bragged or was wide-eyed about his dunking prowess, though nobody would blame him—we're all in awe too. Example Dunk: Giving Larry Bird an Existential Crisis. for 10 years. MORE: Ranking the best Vince and MJ dunks. There's a reason All-Star Weekend's Slam Dunk Contest has been the last and most-hyped competition on Saturday night for as long as it's existed. Unlike many players on this list or otherwise, The Glide remained both productive and limber until his retirement, winning that elusive title in 1994-95 with the Rockets. Subscribe to our new sports channe The WaterBoys Podcastl! Whenever people dismiss him as a Hall of Famer, you need only show them highlights of his Orlando Magic years. It's now well known that LeBron spends over a million dollars yearly on his body, but at a certain point, he's also a little lucky. Thankfully for LaVine's longevity as an NBA player, he returned to the court in a year and has since improved as a scorer and ball-handler, and thankfully for fans, he has also regained his effortless bounce. Epic SLAM DUNKS in contest. New week and new plays in the NBA. Here was a guy who could make a complicated layup look as easy as breathing, and now he's going to dunk, too? But what made him so special was his unique physique. For the record, that play was within the rules, but quibbling over it also obscures the point. However, that only makes his portfolio of dunks even more impressive. Two of his most famous slams came against the 7'6" Shawn Bradley and on a reverse baseline jam on defensive legend Ben Wallace. In November, he threw down a. over a million dollars yearly on his body, but at a certain point, he's also a little lucky. Kobe wouldn't forgive, though. For constantly balancing the joyful with the ferocious, Wade lands on this illustrious list. Let us know in the comments! The No. Kobe posterized everybody from the aforementioned Howard to Yao Ming to Steve Nash, and the vicious nature of his dunks often surprised teammates and opponents alike. Kemp is part of a trio of power dunkers. Several minutes later, he says he improvised a windmill slam on 7-footer Michael Olowokandi. From here on out, there are legitimate cases to be made for each to be number one. Dominique was one of the most revolutionary dunkers the NBA has seen, but most of his best dunks came in games, not in contests. After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's overwhelming dominance at UCLA, the NCAA. However, while Shaq was childish at times (warning: language NSFW), the main reason his behavior stood out was because of Kobe Bryant's ultra-serious approach to the game. Rushmore of perimeter dunkers. In 2018, the NBA posted a YouTube video of Carter ranking his 10 best dunks, and it is a fascinating five minutes. It's a memento of a superteam that knew it was super, but it's also a picture of a young man being excited as his friend made an awesome play. We'd be remiss if we didn't mention Griffin's partnership with Chris Paul. It also seems ludicrous to leave out Chamberlain, though for as powerful and athletic as he was - especially compared to his contemporaries - he was actually more well known for his deft touch and endless array of flip shots, lay ins and floaters. In addition, the Bulls and Pippen understood their greatness. At age 35, he is nearly as bouncy as he was at 18. You always knew he was just having fun playing the game he loved and wanted others to share in that love. Granted, LeBron would soon surpass Tracy McGrady in just about every way, but the point remains. But perhaps that was all part of his grander plan too. OK so I know what you're thinking: I was born yesterday. ), the comparisons between the two were earned. Drexler was given the nickname The Glide while at the University of Houston, and somehow, it always seemed appropriate. In addition, the dunk was called the "stuff shot" and was almost never performed with any sort of flash or ceremony. Because of that leaping ability, Francis was a consistently excellent dunker. Zion. 1. Of course, the dunks themselves were always spectacular too. Dr. J brought dunking into the mainstream and ushered in a new era of basketball both in terms of style and substance. Hoop heads from the 80s that like to cut against the grain will swear that Wilkins was the better dunker than Michael Jordan. However, the well-earned celebration of Kobe's IQ and work ethic comes at the expense of remembering just how explosive a dunker he was in his prime. Back in 2000, Carter created one of the most-remembered slams, throwing a … His head regularly went above the rim on dunks, and he threw down consistently violent slams both in space and in traffic. Implemented because of Dawkins. But again... we're not here to talk about dunk contests! He should be way higher than he is, but for now the rook can be happy to simply crack the list. If we celebrate LeBron James and Russell Westbrook for continuing to remain superathletes as they age, we owe Drexler the same retroactive appreciation. Additionally, much like O'Neal before him and Stephen Curry after, Howard used a singular skill set to define an era of basketball. As you can see in the above clip, Dawkins threw down his dunks with an unprecedented level of force, breaking two backboards and making many others shake throughout his tenure in the NBA. Doesn't matter; T-Mac's on a mission to score 35 every night and drain the life from his opponents. Purists and cynics will look at the slam above, one of the most famous plays in history, and call a travel on Dr. J. Alton Lister is still laying on the baseline in Seattle. And while Griffin made the All-NBA third team last year and remains a star when healthy, he was a phenomenon in his younger years. Slamming on someone and then shaking their hand is straight out of an AAU playbook and would probably never happen today. And yes, Shaq's stats support the fact that he is likely a top-10 or top-15 player in NBA history. Before Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley and any of the other supersized personalities, there was the booming centre who smashed backboards and gave nicknames to each of his dunks. 4. It's impossible to separate Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine who are the peanut butter and jelly of the dunking conversation. Here's a look back back through the years at some of his best dunks from every year up until joining the Los Angeles Lakers. The rule about no hanging on rims? Terrence Jones, Kentucky NCAA best dunk 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 4. Nearly every single one of them is delivered with a unique intensity, and it's a wonder he's never been seriously injured during a throwdown given that wicked combination of explosiveness and passion. But Vince Carter is the best in-game dunker ever, and it's not close. Perhaps more than anyone, Wilkins served as the precursor for Vinsanity. At least there is something to remember, right? Long before his son dunked on Brook Lopez for the LA Lakers, Larry Sr. put on the original dunk show. It doesn't seem impressive at game speed, but slow motion reveals Drexler starts jumping before the hoop is even in the frame. LaVine looks unbothered in the face of a 7-footer and never even seems to consider the possibility he might get stuffed. Unless you're literally dunking OVER someone on said fastbreak. But it would be a dereliction of duty to not mention him. Whenever Kemp got a rebound and started leading the fast break, opponents knew they were likely in big trouble. In large part, it was because of his explosive slams. ️ Subscribe, Like & Comment for More! If we celebrate LeBron James and Russell Westbrook for continuing to remain superathletes as they age, we owe Drexler the same retroactive appreciation. The dunk linked above? While D-Rose has some A+ dunks, he never came close to regularly inviting and attacking like Westbrook. Some more truth serum? But standing out in a crowd and shepherding in a new wave as a pioneer matters even if in today's game it wouldn't come close to resonating as much. You can pooh-pooh Bradley's lack of athleticism or Wallace's not directly blocking Richardson's path on that particular play, but the fact is, plays such as those are incredibly difficult to pull off. At one point, Carter says he didn't know where Jason Kidd would throw the ball on a particular play but that he'd figure it out mid-air. Let's hope the Miami Heat or another team keeps him soaring. When not fluttering like a helicopter, Jones Jr. just kind of … In comparison to some of the other illustrious names on this list, Darryl Dawkins' career averages of 12.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game seem small. Shaq locked in when necessary, and when he did, there was no tougher cover. of Carter ranking his 10 best dunks, and it is a fascinating five minutes. Additionally, much like O'Neal before him and, Of course, that window closed quickly for myriad reasons, but Howard's peak remains among the most exciting and groundbreaking periods for a star in recent history. When he rose up, the game would momentarily turn into streetball, especially in Miami. The New York Knicks were at the mercy of the Bulls, and though that particular matchup carried significant animosity, Pippen and the Bulls also metaphorically dunked on every one of the other 28 teams. But say that in front of most Seattle SuperSonics fans, and they'll set you straight. And while J-Rich was a nearly elite shooting guard for 10 seasons, we'll remember him for his dunking. When Francis jumped to dunk, it seemed like he was always attempting an impossible task. Inexact sciences are equal parts entertaining and maddening to … Richardson made them look easy year after year. And to be clear... this is no exhibition. There's a reason why the Dallas Mavericks shut him down in the 2011 NBA Finals: They tried everything to prevent him from reaching the paint. Pippen consistently humiliated opponents at the rim, and he posterized an unparalleled collection of stars, including Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Alonzo Mourning and Manute Bol. As we prepare for the latest iteration of the Slam Dunk Contest, let's take a look back in the annals at some of the best dunks we've ever seen during … Who are the best dunkers in NBA history? He had a reported 43-inch vertical, which is among the best ever recorded, but in the air, it often looked like he was jumping even higher, almost resembling Calvin Cambridge from Like Mike. However, while Shaq was, There were players as big as Shaq, and there were players as quick as Shaq, but nobody was as big, as quick as Superman. But I'd argue that the dunk contests and the late career shift into the league's quintessential fadeaway artist actually takes away from just how incredible he was as an in-game dunker. Dunking on someone in traffic > dunking on fastbreaks. It's about putting on a show and so yes... emotion, tenacity, anticipation... all of that matters! As with nearly all LeBron James-related items, the most impressive part about his athleticism is its consistency. While Russ and Kevin Durant may not have had the best working relationship, watching the two of them together, especially in their younger days, was mind-blowing. His dunking ability helped the NBA move on from MJ and into a world in which a new wave of fans often consume popcorn highlights instead of entire games. Now, maybe that's a dig at Len specifically, but how many people in the world can do a 360 this casually? 1 for the vast majority of power forwards in NBA history. King James' reign over the NBA will eventually end. Though he didn't say it outright, it seems he's still somewhat mystified by his gifts, too. The first preps to pros player, Dawkins was truly ahead of his time as a showman of the highest order. , Drexler was always much more graceful when flying through space. Vince Carter is the greatest dunker ever and honestly... it's not close. There are entire documentaries about him jumping over Frederic Weis at the Olympics. The most exciting play in basketball, barring buzzer-beaters, is a dunk. Want more sports? Attempt to talk it through with someone else who likewise worked themselves into a tizzy and you might come to blows. Today, a good slam dunk will energize an arena full of people, and it may be one of the closest things to magic that sports fans will ever see. You can't do this list without him, but go watch some of his in-game dunking and you'll walk away underwhelmed. He'd lull opponents into a (relatively) calm state by staying in his comfortable mid-range spots or slicing his way to the rim. For these NBA players, dunking is an art form. The Magic made the Finals in his age-23 season and were perfectly constructed around him, so their title window seemed open for the foreseeable future. Just because we don't typically think of LeBron James as an all-time dunker - in part because he's famously never done the dunk contest - doesn't mean he isn't one of the best to ever do it. Good! There's something about Wade's particular flair when finishing a dunk that got people even more excited. Richardson brought an element of excitement to two of his era's most exciting teams, first as a member of the 'We Believe' Warriors and then alongside Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire with the Phoenix Suns. And none of that even includes his performance in the 2000 Slam Dunk contest, which - again - we're not even considering for the purposes of this exercise. The man was one of the NBA's greats and recorded all the necessary accolades to support his Springfield case (including a Slam Dunk Contest title). Basket; Comments User. Vince Carter is the single best dunk contest participant in the event’s history. Therefore, it hasn't taken him long to enter the conversation of the greatest dunkers in NBA history. But for years, he seemed perpetually on the verge of conquering the league—one dunk at a time. Example Dunk: Chris Gatling Shows Respect. NCAA Tournament 2012: BEST DUNKS 1. Click through this slideshow for a look at the 70 greatest dunkers in NBA history. If you don't think Francis is an all-time dunker, watch the slam on Jahidi White or his off-balance jam on Quentin Richardson, and you will then. He never made the conference finals and was eclipsed by the Holy Trinity of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. With the pandemic ending the season prematurely for the bottom eight NBA teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, that means Carter won’t be […] Vince Carter's best dunks ever, ranked from seven to one I'll wait. Dunking is an art. At the team's peak, Kemp was arguably as important to its success as Gary Payton. We'll never see a player (or a dunker) like him again. But with the omnipresence of YouTube and Twitter, Francis' resume as an electric dunker should be common knowledge among fans young and old. But you know the rules. His opponents had lost before they even knew it. . In large part, it was because of his, There's something about Wade's particular flair when finishing a dunk that got people even more excited. He got his start in the fun-loving ABA, which showed basketball could be looser and more aesthetically interesting than the staid Knicks or Boston Celtics would have you think. In the inaugural competition in 1984, Nance went toe-to-toe with legend Erving, one of the top five greatest dunkers to ever grace the game. Example Dunk: Playoff And-1 on Shawn Bradley. However, the degree of difficulty multiplies exponentially when comparing an open gym to the intensity of a live NBA game. ! Here's 10 minutes of him dunking. Kemp consistently dunked with a ferocity rarely matched by anyone. Regardless, all of these dunks are perfect examples of the best parts of basketball. Ultimately, I placed him third among this group because he didn't quite jump as high as Griffin nor as powerfully as Dawkins. While players like Zion Williamson might someday give him a run for his money, there's no player with more dunking inventory online than Carter. Dr. J then brought those ideals to the NBA after the leagues merged in 1976, and the sport was never the same. While he, of course, was not even close to Jordan on a talent basis, Drexler was nevertheless spectacular, especially in the air. Durant would use his once-in-a-generation scoring talent to make the Oklahoma City Thunder competitive, and Westbrook's ferocity and explosiveness would put teams away in equal measure. This may seem biased toward more recent players, but we tried to make it as balanced as possible given that the dunk only achieved its popularity in the last 40 years. As you can tell, a lot of big names were also incredible dunkers. Early-career T-Mac was a titanic force. He did it all. Two of his most famous slams came against the 7'6" Shawn Bradley and on a reverse baseline jam on defensive legend Ben Wallace. Unlike many players on this list or otherwise, The Glide remained both productive and limber. Tomahawks in traffic. Nique never cared who was in his way—just that if you stood between him and the basket, you'd be hurting in the morning (physically or psychologically). Want to get lost in a sea on 'Nique highlights? "When you can dunk on somebody, on somebody's head, those are the ones you like.". While he was a blistering, furious scorer on terra firma, Drexler was always much more graceful when flying through space. Example Dunk: The Most Disrespectful Dunk in NBA History. The Reign Man was picked 17th overall in the 1989 draft, but not for any on-court reasons. But there's no question he was one of the best dunkers in history. Much of the narrative surrounding Kobe Bryant's career has to do with esoterica such as mid-range footwork and the geometry of certain spots on the court in relation to the basket. If you started following the NBA in the back half of the 2010s, you likely know Blake Griffin primarily as a floor-spacing, ball-handling big man. But beyond anything he did in any dunk contest, Wilkins was known for his high-flying in-game acrobatics. And I'll admit, the only reason he's not two spots higher is out of respect for two legends from the 70s and 80s that simply mean more to the art of the dunk. The entire top 25. For my money, the single most underappreciated dunker ever. How do you compare the vicious power dunkers with the acrobatic aerial wizards? This dunk contest has been revered by some as the best dunk contest ever, so the fact that it comes in at third on this list shows just how great numbers two and one are. No player of his era enjoyed putting people on posters as much as Kemp, who seemingly enjoyed contact and would routinely partake in above the rim demolition derbies with wannabe shot blockers. His assaults on rims continue to impact the game today. And by "might" I mean you 100% will unless your spirited debate takes place over Zoom in which case you might accidentally launch your computer into a wall or out of the window in disgust. Advertising. After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's overwhelming dominance at UCLA, the NCAA banned dunks for 10 years. Wilkins burst onto the dunking scene with a shocking win at the stacked 1985 Slam Dunk Contest, defeating Jordan, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, Clyde Drexler and Darrell Griffith. Zach LaVine's reputation is in a strangely negative place. Game-winning putbacks at the buzzer. He's not the best in-game dunker ever, but he's the most important one. It's a shame that Michael Jordan neutralized Clyde Drexler's career as a star with the Shrug Game. The most influential dunker of all-time and it's not even close. He has won two dunk contests, but one is widely considered fraudulent. He may not only have performed arguably one of the best NBA Slam Dunk Contests in nba history, but he is also known to be one of the greatest in-game dunkers in the NBA. You want a specific type of Vince dunk? The dunks spoke for themselves, and the lack of response from the GOAT signaled that he was laser-focused on destruction. Kemp was not only an extremely powerful dunker both in space and in traffic, but he boasted handles to match in an era where that was highly unusual for big men. There are 10-minute reels of his best in-game dunks with the Raptors and Nets. He's averaging over 25 points per game this season yet is not considered a star. 360s on fastbreaks. A collection of injuries sapped McGrady's explosiveness, and he was past his prime before the age of 30. Rider in particular dunked with a degree of tenacity that would have made him a cult favourite in today's age of YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Oh, Orlando is starting Pat Garrity at center? The first-ever dunk contest in the ABA featured Thompson and Julius Erving (along with George Gervin, Artis Gilmore and Larry Kenon). All rights reserved. After the UCLA alum tore his ACL, one of the main concerns was whether he'd recover his athleticism. Of course, that window closed quickly for myriad reasons, but Howard's peak remains among the most exciting and groundbreaking periods for a star in recent history. We review the best dunks we have seen throughout week 7 in the best basketball league in the world. When Richardson dunked, he dunked. A dunk contest rematch between LaVine and Aaron Gordon in February in Chicago would have been exciting, but we'll settle for his gravity-defying in-game slams. However, the degree of difficulty multiplies exponentially when comparing an open gym to the intensity of a live, There are no advanced stats for dunking, but it's reasonable to guess no current player starts their dunks farther away from the basket than Jones. Top10Dunks is all about bringing great content on the latest NBA highlights, latest stories, live updates, cool videos and much MORE!! Put Derrick Jones Jr. in the 1970s and your 70-year-old Grandfather would still be raving about his otherworldly dunking ability. Share. The NBA is currently as athletic as it has ever been, meaning fans have been blessed with a variety of highlight slam dunks during the 2018-19 season. He had a reported, , which is among the best ever recorded, but in the air, it often looked like he was jumping even higher, almost resembling Calvin Cambridge from, If you don't think Francis is an all-time dunker, watch the slam on Jahidi White or his off-balance jam on, Kobe posterized everybody from the aforementioned Howard to, The Most Disrespectful Dunk in NBA History, The New York Knicks were at the mercy of the Bulls, and though that particular matchup carried significant animosity, Pippen and the Bulls also. . The dunk is one of the most impressive plays in sports. Spend even five minutes racking your brain and suddenly you'll start to feel dizzy. The man nicknamed Airplane Mode is either actively trying to make dunks more difficult or doesn't even realize how far and high he's jumping. Did MJ, Vinsanity, Nique or Dr. J take the top spot? When Francis jumped to dunk, it seemed like he was always attempting an impossible task. Blake Griffin won the dunk competition in 2011 and is one of the best dunkers in the NBA today One of the few modern-day NBA stars who relishes a good ol’ dunk, Blake Griffin was one of the most dynamic players of his generation when he burst onto the scene. 8) Is the player’s best asset his athleticism and leaping ability? While His Airness' throwdowns weren't as vicious as Russell Westbrook's, and he wasn't as jaw-droppingly athletic as Vince Carter, Jordan understood a dunk's psychological impact—and made sure his slams delivered a message. Given that he was undrafted and doesn't have much of a skill set to speak of beyond his phenomenal aerial talent (though he is shooting 51.4 percent from the floor this season and averaging a career-best 8.9 points per game), it's unclear how much longer Jones will stick in the league. Even today, there are very few players who can run a, from coast to coast on one possession and dunk opponents. And with all due respect to these great dunkers, there's nobody I could stomach dropping off. If Dr. J brought dunking into the NBA mainstream, Vinsanity brought it into the digital age as the first star to truly make his mark on the YouTube generation.