But perhaps that was all part of his grander plan too. Dominique was one of the most revolutionary dunkers the NBA has seen, but most of his best dunks came in games, not in contests. Dr. J brought dunking into the mainstream and ushered in a new era of basketball both in terms of style and substance. But again... we're not here to talk about dunk contests! Oh, Orlando is starting Pat Garrity at center? He did it all. Look, the Slam Dunk Contest is cute but do yourself a favour and. 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. Slamming on someone and then shaking their hand is straight out of an AAU playbook and would probably never happen today. Regardless, all of these dunks are perfect examples of the best parts of basketball. Isaiah Rider, Steve Francis, DeMar DeRozan, Nate Robinson, Desmond Mason, Gerald Green, Dwight Howard, Derrick Jones Jr, Cedric Ceballos, Kenny Walker, Terrence Ross, J.R. Smith, George Gervin and Wilt Chamberlain. 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. When not fluttering like a helicopter, Jones Jr. just kind of … The four hardest for me here were Rider, Francis, Green and Howard who all did it differently. 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. Here are 50 of the greatest in NBA history. Drew Gordon, New Mexico NCAA best dunk 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 NCAA Tournament 2012: BEST DUNKS 2. Shaq locked in when necessary, and when he did, there was no tougher cover. In that vein, Wade earned extra points for the now-iconic, Messing Around and Ending Alex Len's Whole Career, Zach LaVine's reputation is in a strangely negative place. Richardson made them look easy year after year. King James' reign over the NBA will eventually end. Some more truth serum? 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. Tokyvideo Trends 6.1k 25:00. Alton Lister is still laying on the baseline in Seattle. There's something about Wade's particular flair when finishing a dunk that got people even more excited. Want more sports? He'd just quietly prepare for the next poster jam. He, along with David Thompson and Julius Erving, helped fans and other players realize that the dunk is one of the most exciting ways to score two points, though only Shaquille O'Neal would ever come close to breaking a backboard again. over Jonas Valanciunas, casual as it may seem, started way closer to the free-throw line than it seemed on first viewing. In large part, it was because of his explosive slams. Did MJ, Vinsanity, Nique or Dr. J take the top spot? Long before his son dunked on Brook Lopez for the LA Lakers, Larry Sr. put on the original dunk show. Though he didn't say it outright, it seems he's still somewhat mystified by his gifts, too. The No. OK so I know what you're thinking: I was born yesterday. Critics of Shaq, both during his heyday and in hindsight, point to his lackadaisical attitude as a reason to downplay his achievements. It's impossible to separate Aaron Gordon and Zach LaVine who are the peanut butter and jelly of the dunking conversation. 1 for the vast majority of power forwards in NBA history. The aforementioned windmills in traffic. History matters. In 2018, the NBA posted a YouTube video of Carter ranking his 10 best dunks, and it is a fascinating five minutes. Many … Zion. Several minutes later, he says he improvised a windmill slam on 7-footer Michael Olowokandi. In the 1970s, the dunk held a strange place in competitive basketball. The dunk is one of the most impressive plays in sports. For the record, that play was within the rules, but quibbling over it also obscures the point. In November, he threw down a dunk of the year candidate on Nemanja Bjelica, and he put home a similarly awe-inspiring finish on Jusuf Nurkic in 2018. 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. The linked dunk on Gatling is perhaps the shining example of that in recent NBA history. 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. Russell Westbrook but no Derrick Rose? Our countdown includes Vince Carter, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and more! Copyright © 2018 NBA. But for years, he seemed perpetually on the verge of conquering the league—one dunk at a time. Zach LaVine's reputation is in a strangely negative place. Want to get lost in a sea on 'Nique highlights? 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. And who knows, if Wilkins walked away with the 1988 Slam Dunk title instead of Jordan, perhaps the Hall of Famer is remembered even more fondly than he already is. His opponents had lost before they even knew it. 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 In addition, the dunk was called the "stuff shot" and was almost never performed with any sort of flash or ceremony. It's there! 10 dunk on this clip might be No. Inexact sciences are equal parts entertaining and maddening to … Here was a guy who could make a complicated layup look as easy as breathing, and now he's going to dunk, too? Even this. Kemp consistently dunked with a ferocity rarely matched by anyone. 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. Moreso than anyone else with the possible exception of Kemp, Griffin's "near dunks" are almost better than his actual dunks if only because they speak to the extent he'd go in an effort to throw down. 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 … Vince Carter is the greatest dunker ever and honestly... it's not close. Dawkins is clearly one of the least accomplished players named, but this list wouldn't exist without his contributions. Hawkins could probably be higher and honestly if you wanted to place him inside the top 10, I wouldn't begrudge you for it. 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). In addition, the dunk was called the "stuff shot" and was almost never performed with any sort of flash or ceremony. Example Dunk: The Most Disrespectful Dunk in NBA History. I can relate because, well... let's just say that almost happened when attempting to hold a similar civil discussion with co-workers, which quickly devolved into an absolute madhouse. 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. The first-ever dunk contest in the ABA featured Thompson and Julius Erving (along with George Gervin, Artis Gilmore and Larry Kenon). Whether it's his Iverson-lite step over Anderson Varejao in the above video or his celebration after a throwdown on Kendrick Perkins, Wade would often turn up the swagger after a dunk, but not in an arrogant way. 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. 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 team failed to reach its championship potential, but those Lob City highlights are a sufficient consolation prize. Additionally, much like O'Neal before him and Stephen Curry after, Howard used a singular skill set to define an era of basketball. But you know the rules. It's about putting on a show and so yes... emotion, tenacity, anticipation... all of that matters! The possibility and thrill of watching a dunk that seems to defy the laws of physics is ever present. There's nothing more exciting in sports than the poster dunk. Let's hope Westbrook continues to snarl his way to the hole for years to come. Top 10 Greatest NBA Dunks Ever – Watch Mojo. While he was a blistering, furious scorer on. . 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. His dunk over Michael Olow0kandi in 2003 is one the nastiest dunks ever seen. However, that only makes his portfolio of dunks even more impressive. How do you compare the vicious power dunkers with the acrobatic aerial wizards? Put Derrick Jones Jr. in the 1970s and your 70-year-old Grandfather would still be raving about his otherworldly dunking ability. Dunking is an art. It's a shame that Michael Jordan neutralized Clyde Drexler's career as a star with the Shrug Game. Even today, there are very few players who can run a, from coast to coast on one possession and dunk opponents. 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. Of course, it's silly to say that Bryant, who won the Slam Dunk Contest in his rookie year, was an unheralded dunker. Here, we've put together the definitive list of the top 20 in-game dunkers of all time, which is sure to cause no debate at all. 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 you can tell, a lot of big names were also incredible dunkers. . Dr. J then brought those ideals to the NBA after the leagues merged in 1976, and the sport was never the same. He fully deserves a top-10 slot. Drexler was given the nickname The Glide while at the University of Houston, and somehow, it always seemed appropriate. Perhaps more than anyone, Wilkins served as the precursor for Vinsanity. Then, out of nowhere, he'd strike. "When you throw one down, especially over a bigger man, you get a psychological advantage," Thompson recalled in an old story for ESPN's Page 2. Nance gets in out of respect. of Carter ranking his 10 best dunks, and it is a fascinating five minutes. Two of his most famous slams came against the 7'6" Shawn Bradley and on a reverse baseline jam on defensive legend Ben Wallace. 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. The most exciting play in basketball, barring buzzer-beaters, is a dunk. The 5 Best in-Game NBA Dunks of All Time. Terrence Jones, Kentucky NCAA best dunk 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 4. Jones' placement here is a nod to those dunk-first players—because he's so darn good at it. Granted, LeBron would soon surpass Tracy McGrady in just about every way, but the point remains. A collection of injuries sapped McGrady's explosiveness, and he was past his prime before the age of 30. LaVine looks unbothered in the face of a 7-footer and never even seems to consider the possibility he might get stuffed. 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. Kobe wouldn't forgive, though. LaVine looks unbothered in the face of a 7-footer and never even seems to consider the possibility he might get stuffed. He's averaging over 25 points per game this season yet is not considered a star. We've also attached a video of each player's most exemplary in-game dunk to illustrate their prowess in the art of the slam. While he was a blistering, furious scorer on terra firma, Drexler was always much more graceful when flying through space. For this list, we’re looking at the greatest NBA dunks of all-time! Good! Purists and cynics will look at the slam above, one of the most famous plays in history, and call a travel on Dr. J. 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. 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. They solidified in opponents' minds that not only was Michael Jordan ready and willing to beat them, as he was every night, but Scottie and the rest of the squad was also there to back him up. 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. 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. The most influential dunker of all-time and it's not even close. Unfortunately for Stoudemire, like many others before him, the NBA didn't exactly work out as it was supposed to for a budding superstar. But with the omnipresence of YouTube and Twitter, Francis' resume as an electric dunker should be common knowledge among fans young and old. In fact, he won the first NBA Dunk Contest. 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. Early-career T-Mac was a titanic force. And to be clear... this is no exhibition. In those particular sequences, trash talk was unnecessary. At 6'8”, 210 pounds and boasting a versatile skill set, McGrady was widely considered a future MVP candidate, and every time he deposited an emphatic slam, it offered a glimpse into the extent of his powers. If I'm being completely honest, after watching scores of YouTube videos in an effort to finalize this list, there were several snubs from recent years that are unequivocally better dunkers than many who made the cut from past generations. When Richardson dunked, he dunked. He'd lull opponents into a (relatively) calm state by staying in his comfortable mid-range spots or slicing his way to the rim. 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. If you're going to complain about why someone should be in, you have to take someone out. The rule about no hanging on rims? Fans can hope he has a few more years of gravity defiance in him. When Francis jumped to dunk, it seemed like he was always attempting an impossible task. ️ Subscribe, Like & Comment for More! I'll wait. In addition, the Bulls and Pippen understood their greatness. Epic SLAM DUNKS in contest. During his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron was arguably the greatest athlete in NBA history. Though there were certainly others, Erving represented a shift in the explosiveness of the game with an above the rim flair that captured imaginations and elevated the NBA's entertainment factor to another stratosphere. The dunk linked above? He's a sneaky candidate for the Mt. 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. His talent was obvious from day one, and it remained so in the NBA. His assaults on rims continue to impact the game today. McGrady famously had trouble achieving playoff success with the Magic, but every time he'd fight through three defenders and posterize a big man or brilliantly speed past a wing en route to a breakaway dunk, everything seemed possible. He never made the conference finals and was eclipsed by the Holy Trinity of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Kemp also heads the category of dunkers who oozed swagger. But the way he's so casual about these breathtaking feats of athleticism is chilling. 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. In the ensuing near decade, LeBron's dealt with minor injuries and major minutes, yet he remains one of the league's premiere dunkers. Example Dunk: Playoff And-1 on Shawn Bradley. That dunk went down as the first to earn a perfect score in the NBA, though it wasn't enough to propel Dr. J past Larry Nance for the title. 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. Two of his most famous slams came against the 7'6" Shawn Bradley and on a reverse baseline jam on defensive legend Ben Wallace. 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. MORE: Ranking the best Vince and MJ dunks. From here on out, there are legitimate cases to be made for each to be number one. Spend even five minutes racking your brain and suddenly you'll start to feel dizzy. 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. It's a shame that Michael Jordan neutralized Clyde Drexler's career as a star with the. At his peak, Howard's deity-esque physique combined with guard-like explosiveness made him virtually unstoppable. Orlando Magic Shaq running the floor and dunking in transition was truly a sight to behold. New week and new plays in the NBA. 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. 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. No one could ever stop a Vince Carter dunk. for 10 years. Here's the best of the rest. 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. Facials on centres. Implemented because of Dawkins. But beyond anything he did in any dunk contest, Wilkins was known for his high-flying in-game acrobatics. Griffin became famous by jumping over a Kia in the Slam Dunk Contest, but he was an absolutely vicious in-game dunker as well. And while J-Rich was a nearly elite shooting guard for 10 seasons, we'll remember him for his dunking. We review the best dunks we have seen throughout week 7 in the best basketball league in the world. Dr. J then brought those ideals to the NBA after the leagues merged in 1976, and the sport was never the same. After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's overwhelming dominance at UCLA, the NCAA. In that vein, Wade earned extra points for the now-iconic photo of his celebrating one of teammate LeBron James' many above-the-rim finishes. Check out the best dunks & posterizes from the 2018-19 NBA Regular Season! It's a simple question yet one fraught with complexity. While D-Rose has some A+ dunks, he never came close to regularly inviting and attacking like Westbrook. 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. When Francis jumped to dunk, it seemed like he was always attempting an impossible task. What did Chocolate Thunder name that dunk after the fact? In the 1970s, the dunk held a strange place in competitive basketball. There are 10-minute reels of his best in-game dunks with the Raptors and Nets. Advertising. You can't do this list without him, but go watch some of his in-game dunking and you'll walk away underwhelmed. 223 talking about this. It doesn't seem impressive at game speed, but slow motion reveals Drexler starts jumping before the hoop is even in the frame. 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.
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