We’re only two days away from NBA All-Star Weekend, one of my favorite weekends on the sports calendar. And one of the highlights of any All-Star Weekend is the Slam Dunk Contest.
The American Basketball Association introduced the Slam Dunk Contest in 1976, just months before the ABA-NBA merger. The NBA added the event to its All-Star festivities in 1984. (The Suns’ Larry Nance upset Dr. J and Dominique Wilkins to win the inaugural competition.)
This year’s competition—featuring the Pacers’ Paul George, the Rockets’ Chase Budinger, the T-Wolves’ Derrick Williams, and Jeremy Evans of the Jazz replacing injured Iman Shumpert of the Knicks—will be the 27th NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
To get you ready for this year’s contest, here’s a look at the ten best dunks in the event’s history:
Nate Robinson won the 2006 Slam Dunk Contest with this dunk over 1986 winner Spud Webb.
10. JaVale McGee, 2011: 2 Balls, 2 Baskets
We know (and love) JaVale McGee for this awful triple double and for running back on defense while his team was still on offense. But the Wizards center is also responsible for one of the most impressive dunks in basketball history.
At last year’s dunk contest, while Blake Griffin was busy working out endorsement deals with Kia, McGee had an extra hoop brought into the arena. While dunking two balls at the same time is nothing new, McGee put each of the balls in a separate basket.
This dunk is probably my favorite of the bunch, but I can’t place it higher than #10 for two reasons: 1) McGee needed multiple attempts to complete the dunk, a luxury not afforded many of the other dunkers on this list; and 2) this isn’t the sort of dunk one could do on a playground. I don’t mind props, so long as the props are things that are easy to come by and could be used on most any basketball court (blindfolds, chairs, other players, etc.). An extra hoop doesn’t qualify.
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9. Terence Stansbury, 1987: The Statue of Liberty 360
Terence Stansbury is known more for his three appearances in the Slam Dunk Contest than he is for the three seasons he played with the Pacers and Sonics. He only started 31 NBA games before leaving the league for a two-decade career in Europe, but he will long be remembered for his signature dunk: the Statue of Liberty 360.
Interesting fact: Both JaVale McGee and Terence Stansbury have relatives who played in the WNBA. McGee’s mother, Pamela McGee, a gold medalist with the 1984 Olympic team, was the second overall pick in the inaugural WNBA Draft. Stansbury’s daughter, Tiffany, played three seasons in the WNBA with the Sparks and Lynx.
8. Cedric Ceballos, 1992: Blindfolded
The Celtics’ Dee Brown won the 1991 Dunk Contest by covering his eyes with his right arm while he was in the air:
The following year, the Suns’ Cedric Ceballos took the no-look dunk to its obvious conclusion. He wore a blindfold.
And Ceballos didn’t put on the blindfold while he was under the basket or at the free-throw line. He ran across two-thirds of the court without sight.
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7. Spud Webb, 1986: “Judge Me By My Size, Do You?”
Anthony “Spud” Webb had a longer and more esteemed NBA career than Terence Stansbury, but like Stansbury Webb is a player best known for his performances in Slam Dunk contests.
The diminutive Hawks’ guard won the 1986 competition with a series of dunks that destroyed all sorts of assumptions about physics and physiology. Webb, standing 5 feet and 7 inches, defeated teammate and favorite Dominique Wilkins with this beauty:
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6. Nate Robinson, 2006: Over Spud Webb
After Spud Webb’s win in 1986, 20 years would pass before another player under 6-feet tall won the Slam Dunk Contest. At 5-feet, 9-inches, 2006 rookie participant Nate Robinson didn’t shy away from comparisons to Webb. Instead, he honored his predecessor by using him as a prop.
Webb, wearing his old Hawks jersey and standing a few feet in front of the hoop, bounced the ball. Robinson caught it as he jumped over the former champion and dunked the ball with ease.
A few years later, Robinson would win the second of his three Dunk Contest trophies by jumping over Dwight Howard. While jumping over Dwight Howard is more impressive than scaling Spud Webb, Robinson had to push off of Howard’s back; and he didn’t have the added challenge of catching the ball in the air.
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About Josh Tinley
You got the right dunk contest and the right guy, but the wrong dunk. Vince’s inverted 360 was and still is the greatest dunk contest dunk I have ever witnessed.
DR. J has and will be the greatest Dunk artist of ALL TIME!! THE CREATOR!!
what about adre iguadala from behind the backboard reverse slam
All 4 of iggy’s dunk’s were sick that year. He got robbed and should have been on this list as well somewhere.
List is fine…but I still think Dwight Howards bounce off the back board in mid-air is the best dunk ever. For some reason it’s a completely under-appreciated dunk.
.The first guy to do a foul line dunk was Dr. J, Julius Erving. He was also the inspiration to even have a slam dunk contest because he was the best at dunking, especially during games!
Even Michael Jordan would tell you he grew up watching Dr. J soar.
Vince’s dunk was impressive. But when he stuck his arm in the goal the arena went dead slient. That was the best contest dunk ever!
^^^ this right here. Carter put his arm through the hoop. Greatest Dunk of All Time>>>>>
No Dr. J wow how far we are removed from that great time. Spud sticks out in my memory and so does Jordan and others. But when I think of what the Dr did so often in games…so sad.
How in the world…..do you leave Doctor J’s foul line, gravity defying dunk off this list? What???
Yeah, love the love the Doc is getting as he certainly was one of the pioneers whose feats are still hard to match.No contest when you see what he did in real games. Kudo’s to VinceSanity as what a great showman.I still remember the Hawk as pre-Doctor J and just/still incredible. Yeah, Dwight Howard did it right with Superman and behind the backboard dunks. I was blessed to play with Herman Knowles (aka Helicopter) and he had some legendary dunks as did close friend Billy Davis in Brooklyn. I mean telling 6’11 NBA players how he was gonna do it, and then doing it stuff. I still think an all park squad could compete with the NBA’s best and be better than the lame programming we see. I love the game and respect what is done in a game over free air as that has to be earned. Love to see the edgier stuff come back.
Spud…just amazing. Hasn’t been done since…someone of his height.
Darvin Ham had a sick dunk in one of them but gets no love
VC’s through the leg dunk wasn’t even his best one! his 360 windmill he did with is first dunk was by far the best one ever.
Vine Carter is the best dunker in NBA history! All respect to Michael, Dr. J, and Nique but if you look back at Vince in his prime and the dunks he did in game (not at the dunk contest) this isn’t really much of a conversation.
i agree, this was not even vince’s best dunk. actually his best dunks were in game which made him so amazing… in the 30 years i’ve watched the NBA, Vince is easily the best in game and playground dunker i’ve ever watched…
rider dunk is #1 hands down.
Don’t forget David Thompson!!!!!
desmond mason between the legs 2003 Slam dunk Contest
HAROLD MINOR – Craddle and then the double pump reverse! purely executed!
What no Dr. J, the main reason we have a dunk contest is because of him. The original free throw line take off doesn’t make the cut. Thanks but no thanks on your list. Also how about Kenny Sky Walker 360 cradle/tomahawk dunk. Start over please, you missed the boat and obviously don’t know your dunk history. Do some real research.next time.
nate robinson killed it
Iman Shumpert’s would have been the best
The dunk that always gets overlooked is Jason Richardson’s off the backboard through the legs dunk. Vince’s best dunk was his inverted 360 windmill
Iguodala’s bounce behind the backboard dunk in Houston.
DeRozan dunks last year.