You can probably guess who's No. 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. New week and new plays in the NBA. 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. 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. Kemp is part of a trio of power dunkers. When not fluttering like a helicopter, Jones Jr. just kind of … He did it all. 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. If we celebrate LeBron James and Russell Westbrook for continuing to remain superathletes as they age, we owe Drexler the same retroactive appreciation. For my money, the single most underappreciated dunker ever. Russell Westbrook but no Derrick Rose? Zach LaVine's reputation is in a strangely negative place. He never made the conference finals and was eclipsed by the Holy Trinity of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Game-winning putbacks at the buzzer. While he was a blistering, furious scorer on terra firma, Drexler was always much more graceful when flying through space. The 5 Best in-Game NBA Dunks of All Time. View more comments. Example Dunk: Chris Gatling Shows Respect. Although he didn't quite reach the same level of power dunking as either Carter or Wilkins, MJ seemed to hang in a manner that made time stand still and might be the best double clutch dunker ever for his ability to move the ball in the air and around defenders. 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. Jones' placement here is a nod to those dunk-first players—because he's so darn good at it. I belong to the Church of Dunking Showmanship. At his peak, Howard's deity-esque physique combined with guard-like explosiveness made him virtually unstoppable. The No. A collection of injuries sapped McGrady's explosiveness, and he was past his prime before the age of 30. 4. When Francis jumped to dunk, it seemed like he was always attempting an impossible task. The rule about no hanging on rims? 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. 0 of 6. 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. All rights reserved. Look I know he's played 19 games and only just turned 20 but there aren't 25 better dunkers than him. But make no mistake, when it comes to power dunking, Kemp reigns as one of the best to ever do it. NCAA Tournament 2012: BEST DUNKS 1. Who are the best dunkers in NBA history? Many … Want to get lost in a sea on 'Nique highlights? Oh, Orlando is starting Pat Garrity at center? Share. It's there! We'll never see a player (or a dunker) like him again. Richardson achieved prominence after a dunking dark age. 223 talking about this. Because of that leaping ability, Francis was a consistently excellent dunker. 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. 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. King James' reign over the NBA will eventually end. Early-career T-Mac was a titanic force. In 2018, the NBA posted a YouTube video of Carter ranking his 10 best dunks, and it is a fascinating five minutes. 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. Double-clutch reverses. 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. The possibility and thrill of watching a dunk that seems to defy the laws of physics is ever present. Advertising. He has won two dunk contests, but one is widely considered, Look at that dunk above. The more cavalier his attitude, the more vicious the dunk, and the greater the humiliation. 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. Example Dunk: The Most Disrespectful Dunk in NBA History. In fact, he won the first NBA Dunk Contest. His talent was obvious from day one, and it remained so in the NBA. No one could ever stop a Vince Carter dunk. Implemented because of Dawkins. Dawkins is clearly one of the least accomplished players named, but this list wouldn't exist without his contributions. History matters. There are 10-minute reels of his best in-game dunks with the Raptors and Nets. Without question the most famous play of Kemp's career is the vicious dunk and point over Lister during a 1992 playoff game between the Seattle SuperSonics and Golden State Warriors. 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 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. 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. For this list, we’re looking at the greatest NBA dunks of all-time! Fact of the matter is that he sometimes makes it look so effortless that we take for granted just how high he jumps and how hard he throws it down. Now, maybe that's a dig at Len specifically, but how many people in the world can do a 360 this casually? You always knew he was just having fun playing the game he loved and wanted others to share in that love. Whenever people dismiss him as a Hall of Famer, you need only show them highlights of his Orlando Magic years. You can't do this list without him, but go watch some of his in-game dunking and you'll walk away underwhelmed. 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. View later. 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 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. 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 dunk of the year candidate on Nemanja Bjelica, and he put home a similarly awe-inspiring finish on Jusuf Nurkic in 2018. In addition, the dunk was called the "stuff shot" and was almost never performed with any sort of flash or ceremony. 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. 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. But you know the rules. The Timofey Mozgov dunk above is the most famous from Griffin's early-career collection, but there are so many others that would be most players' defining moment in the league. For these NBA players, dunking is an art form. The most influential dunker of all-time and it's not even close. 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. . ), the comparisons between the two were earned. If we celebrate LeBron James and Russell Westbrook for continuing to remain superathletes as they age, we owe Drexler the same retroactive appreciation. He's not the best in-game dunker ever, but he's the most important one. One of the most underrated players of the 21st century, Jason Richardson burst onto the scene as a dynamic athlete, becoming the first player since Michael Jordan to win back-to-back dunk contests. Good! 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. 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. Facials on centres. of Carter ranking his 10 best dunks, and it is a fascinating five minutes. Inexact sciences are equal parts entertaining and maddening to … Example Dunk: Messing Around and Ending Alex Len's Whole Career. The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs. In previous seasons, bench players such as Harold Miner, Desmond Mason and Brent Barry had won the Slam Dunk Contest, and while Kobe Bryant was making his mark both as an elite flier and elite player, Richardson revitalized interest in both the dunk contest and the art of the dunk itself. The first-ever dunk contest in the ABA featured Thompson and Julius Erving (along with George Gervin, Artis Gilmore and Larry Kenon). Click through this slideshow for a look at the 70 greatest dunkers in NBA history. But beyond anything he did in any dunk contest, Wilkins was known for his high-flying in-game acrobatics. Perhaps more than anyone, Wilkins served as the precursor for Vinsanity. But for years, he seemed perpetually on the verge of conquering the league—one dunk at a time. Terrence Jones, Kentucky NCAA best dunk 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 4. 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. 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. View later. 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. Sadly, Stevie Franchise is not really discussed anymore, though the reasons why make sense. "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. 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. In those particular sequences, trash talk was unnecessary. Basket; Comments User. His opponents had lost before they even knew it. 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. He's averaging over 25 points per game this season yet is not considered a star. Critics of Shaq, both during his heyday and in hindsight, point to his lackadaisical attitude as a reason to downplay his achievements. But again... we're not here to talk about dunk contests! He's averaging over 25 points per game this season yet is not considered a star. Top 10 Greatest NBA Dunks Ever – Watch Mojo. Example Dunk: The Baptism of Dwight Howard. There's a reason why the Dallas Mavericks shut him down in the 2011 NBA Finals: They, In the ensuing near decade, LeBron's dealt with minor injuries and major minutes, yet he remains one of the league's premiere dunkers. How do you compare the vicious power dunkers with the acrobatic aerial wizards? 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. Wilkins always added in a little extra flair even when entirely unnecessary. Slamming on someone and then shaking their hand is straight out of an AAU playbook and would probably never happen today. In addition, the Bulls and Pippen understood their greatness. Even today, there are very few players who can run a, from coast to coast on one possession and dunk opponents. Richardson made them look easy year after year. 13:45. Jordan's reputation as a dunker is understandably propped up by his dunk contest exploits. Griffin became famous by jumping over a Kia in the Slam Dunk Contest, but he was an absolutely vicious in-game dunker as well. I'll wait. In a game in November of 1979, Dawkins literally brought down the basket and shattered the backboard which caused a 90 minute delay. When Francis jumped to dunk, it seemed like he was always attempting an impossible task. Some more truth serum? "When you can dunk on somebody, on somebody's head, those are the ones you like.". You always knew he was just having fun playing the game he loved and wanted others to share in that love. But it would be a dereliction of duty to not mention him. And yes, Shaq's stats support the fact that he is likely a top-10 or top-15 player in NBA history. Dominique Wilkins had an unfulfilled NBA career. It doesn't seem impressive at game speed, but slow motion reveals Drexler starts jumping before the hoop is even in the frame. At least there is something to remember, right? This all changed when Dawkins achieved prominence. 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. Josh Smith is an all-time NBA athlete and on my short list for "players who I would most want to see travel to 1960 in a time machine.". As you can tell, a lot of big names were also incredible dunkers. If you're going to complain about why someone should be in, you have to take someone out. Nobody - and I mean NOBODY - throws down a tomahawk quite like LeBron. It seemed like dunking was no big feat for him, even though it's probably one of the hardest athletic achievements. Shaq locked in when necessary, and when he did, there was no tougher cover. The four hardest for me here were Rider, Francis, Green and Howard who all did it differently. While he, of course, was not even close to Jordan on a talent basis, Drexler was nevertheless spectacular, especially in the air. Afterward, he shrugs and says, "It was just all instinct that took over.". LaVine looks unbothered in the face of a 7-footer and never even seems to consider the possibility he might get stuffed. 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. Here's 10 minutes of him dunking. Tomahawks in traffic. 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. Dwyane Wade will rightly be remembered for incredible clutch moments and a mastery of mid-range and at-rim finishing, but it would be wrong to discuss his play without talking about the dunks. "The If-You-Ain't-Groovin', Best-Get-Movin', Chocolate-Thunder-Flyin', Robinzine-Cryin', Teeth-Shakin', Glass-Breakin', Rump-Roastin', Bun-Toastin', Glass-Still Flyin', Wham-Bam-I-Am-Jam.". There's something about Wade's particular flair when finishing a dunk that got people even more excited. He should be way higher than he is, but for now the rook can be happy to simply crack the list. After the UCLA alum tore his ACL, one of the main concerns was whether he'd recover his athleticism. The Reign Man was picked 17th overall in the 1989 draft, but not for any on-court reasons. MORE: Ranking the best Vince and MJ dunks. At the team's peak, Kemp was arguably as important to its success as Gary Payton. So apologies to the Slam Dunk artists, if you weren't throwing down spectacularly in games, this isn't the list for you. In large part, it was because of his explosive slams. Zion. Unfortunately for Stoudemire, like many others before him, the NBA didn't exactly work out as it was supposed to for a budding superstar. 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. on the next one, and none of them, from LeBron James to Zion Williamson to Giannis Antetokounmpo, are as big as Shaq. Whether it's his Iverson-lite step over Anderson Varejao in the above video or his celebration after a. on Kendrick Perkins, Wade would often turn up the swagger after a dunk, but not in an arrogant way. Fans can hope he has a few more years of gravity defiance in him. "And I always dunked on somebody.". In the 1970s, the dunk held a strange place in competitive basketball. Example Dunk: Giving Larry Bird an Existential Crisis. He's a sneaky candidate for the Mt. 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. Regardless, all of these dunks are perfect examples of the best parts of basketball. If you ever saw Vince Carter running towards you in an attempt to dunk on you, just don’t even try to stop it, honestly just run away. But Vince Carter is the best in-game dunker ever, and it's not close. 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.
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