Greatest NBA Slam Dunk Contest Performances: A great dunk contest performance is more than one highlight. It needs several memorable moments, a sense of occasion and a winner or loser who felt like part of history. This countdown features the greatest aerial displays ever seen on NBA All-Star Weekend.
You will see Vince Carter’s gravity-defying perfection in 2000 and Zach LaVine’s thrilling 2016 duel against Aaron Gordon. Short kings like Spud Webb and Nate Robinson proved that bounce beats height. Stars like Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin brought raw power to the dunk contest, using props like capes and cars to elevate their performances.
These ten players did not just win trophies. They broke the laws of physics and changed the event forever. Here are ten of the greatest NBA slam dunk content performances that stand out the most.
Top 10 Greatest NBA Slam Dunk Contest Performances
10. Nate Robinson, 2006
Robinson won the first of his three contests by pulling off one of the most memorable stunts in the event’s history. He jumped over Spud Webb, the 1986 champion, to complete a dunk. At 5 feet 9 inches, he made the most of his size, and his playful style fitted the show. He went on to win again in 2009 and 2010.
9. Andre Iguodala, 2006
Iguodala lost the contest, but his best dunk is among the most creative ever attempted. Allen Iverson threw the ball off the backboard from behind the basket, and Iguodala caught it, ducked under the backboard and finished with a reverse slam. It earned a perfect score. He still lost the title to Robinson in controversial fashion, which is a big part of why the performance is remembered.
8. Gerald Green, 2008
Green had already won in 2007, and his 2008 routine was one of the cleverest. Teammate Rashad McCants placed a cupcake with a lit candle on the rim, and Green leapt, blew out the candle in mid-air and dunked. The replay showed how difficult it was, but he somehow did not receive a perfect 50. He did not win that year, but the candle dunk is still one of the most-discussed in contest history.
7. Blake Griffin, 2011
Griffin won in 2011 with a dunk that became part of the contest’s lore. He jumped over the hood of a Kia, with a gospel choir performing in the background. The contest around him was uneven, but his winning dunk captured the showmanship of the event and reflected the star power he had at the time.
6. Dee Brown, 1991
Dee Brown was a rookie with the Boston Celtics, and he won by turning a simple idea into a famous image. On his final attempt, he leapt toward the rim, closed his eyes, covered them with his right arm and dunked with his left. He had already secured the title before that attempt, and he did not know it. The no-look dunk remains one of the most memorable in the history of the contest.
5. Dwight Howard, 2008
Howard’s Superman routine was one of the most theatrical performances ever seen. He wore a cape and a Superman shirt, took a pass thrown over the backboard by Jameer Nelson and threw the ball through the hoop from a spot well in front of the rim. It was not technically a dunk, but he still received a 50 and went on to win. Fans and critics are still divided on whether it deserved the score, which is part of what keeps it famous.
4. Spud Webb, 1986
Webb stands 5 feet 6 inches, the shortest player ever to win the contest. In 1986, he beat Dominique Wilkins, his own teammate on the Atlanta Hawks and the reigning champion. He produced a variety of great dunks, but the best was a one-handed 360. It was an astonishing performance for a player who many thought would not be able to dunk at all, and he changed how people thought about size in the game.
3. Aaron Gordon and Stuff the Magic Dragon, 2016
Gordon lost the 2016 contest, but he produced two of the best dunks in the event’s history. In one, he took a handoff from the Orlando Magic’s mascot, who was spinning on a hoverboard. In the other, he jumped over the mascot facing away from the rim, took the ball and put it under his legs before dunking with his other hand. Both earned perfect scores, and the final scoring sparked arguments that continue today.
2. Zach LaVine, 2016
LaVine was the winner of that famous duel, and his performance deserves separate credit. His between-the-legs dunk from near the free-throw line was one of the most athletic of the era. He went blow-for-blow with Gordon through several rounds, and he won in a contest that many regard as the best in modern times.
1. Vince Carter, 2000
Carter’s performance in Oakland is widely seen as the greatest in contest history. His first dunk was a reverse 360 windmill that had commentator Kenny Smith saying “let’s go home.” He followed it with a dunk in which he caught the ball in mid-air and put it between his legs for a one-handed jam, and he famously declared it was over. He then showed how high he could get by putting his forearm through the hoop.
FAQs
Q. Who delivered the greatest NBA Slam Dunk Contest performance?
A. Vince Carter topped the list for his iconic performance in 2000.
Q. How many Slam Dunk Contest titles has Nate Robinson won?
A. Robinson won the contest three times, in 2006, 2009 and 2010.
Q. Who was the shortest player to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest?
A. Spud Webb, who stands 5 feet 6 inches tall, won in 1986.
Q. Which player performed the Superman dunk in 2008?
A. Dwight Howard performed the Superman routine and won the contest.
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