A Look Back at the Greatest Slam Dunk Competitors

Saturday night of the NBA All-Star Weekend is one of the most exciting Saturday night's of the season.  The arena hosting the All-Star Game is packed with celebrities and star athletes from multiple sports.  A night that begins with the Skills Challenge followed by the Three Point Shootout concludes with the marquee event, the Slam Dunk Contest.  A contest that dates back to 1976, when the ABA introduced it at halftime of their final All-Star Game, has expanded into a nationwide phenomenon with plenty of hype and anticipation.  This years' competition will mark the 31st year in the NBA.  To build on that hype and excitement, here's a look back at some of the greatest contestants to ever lace them up and soar high above the rim.

#25 - John Wall (2014, Champion)

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

In a year where the NBA decided to switch things up for the Dunk Contest by introducing Eastern and Western conference "teams," John Wall emerged from the pack.  Following a few impressive dunks in the team round, John Wall threw down one of the best dunks in recent memory.  To the tune of French Montana's "Pop That" and with the help of Washington Wizards' mascot G. Man positioned underneath the basket, Wall leaped over his mascot, pumping the ball below his waist and finishing with a two-handed reverse slam.  Following the dunk, Wall and Eastern conference teammate Paul George hit the nae nae, as Wall danced his way into a dunk contest championship.

#24 - Tracy McGrady (2000, 3rd Place)

(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE)

The T-Mac Attack was still very young and a fresh face to many in the association, but during the 2000 NBA All-Star Weekend, he introduced himself to the nation.  Despite playing the background to All-Star teammate Vince Carter, McGrady did not perform quietly.  He made sure that people knew that Carter wasn't the only high-flyer on Toronto.  McGrady's smooth, nearly flawless performance put him in a battle with Steve Francis for a chance to meet Vince in the final round.  Unfortunately for Tracy, he was unable to make his final dunk attempt, leading to a Francis-Carter final and T-Mac had to settle for Bronze.  Still, his exciting performance gained attention for a guy who was just eight months away from become a superstar with the Orlando Magic.

#23 - JaVale McGee (2011, 2nd Place)

(Photo by Getty Images)

"Jaaavvaaale McGeeee!"  Now a star on TNT's Inside The NBA segment "Shaqtin' A Fool," Javale McGee was once in the Dunk Contest back in 2011.  As a young 23 year old, McGee had not built much of a reputation yet, still seen by many to be very raw with decent upside.  While he never quite became the Marcus Camby type of player some thought he could become, he did put on quite the show in Los Angeles.  With 2008 Champion Dwight Howard joining the TNT broadcast set, McGee took a page out of Dwight's book, essentially one-upping him with his first dunk.  McGee brought out a second hoop, setting it up next to the main basket, and pulling off a fun yet difficult flush.  With two basketballs in hand and two rims, you can guess what happens.  It's worth mentioning that McGee was the runner-up to fellow youngblood, Blake Griffin, giving Griffin a bit of a challenge through the first few dunks.

#22 - Steve Francis (2000, 2nd Place / 2002, 4th Place)

(Photo by D. Ross Cameron/D. Ross Cameron Photography)

One word comes to mind when I think of Francis in the dunk contest: electrifying.  He didn't have much size at 6' 3", which, granted, is more than some of the guys we'll see later on the list, but he did have bounce.  Stevie Franchise put his skill on display in 2000, taking down Tracy McGrady before running into Vince Carter in the Final Round.  His return two years later was brief, losing in the first round after the dreaded "Wheel" was introduced in the Dunk Contest to try to spice things up.  It led to him having to perform Terrance Stansbury's "Statue of Liberty", a dunk where Stansbury palms the ball.  The problem: Francis couldn't palm a basketball.

#21 - Cedric Ceballos (1992, Champion / 1993, 3rd Place)

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Ceballos brought an element of power and authority to go along with grace and polish.  After the 80's battles between Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, Ceballos added his own style to the dunk contest.  He dominated the 1992 contest, beating Larry Johnson by more than 30 points.  Heading into his final dunk, the contest was all but wrapped up.  Ceballos wanted to give the fans a show, though, deciding to put on a dark blindfold for his last dunk.  With the crowd standing, Ceballos ran from half-court, jumping just in time to throw down the two-handed flush.  The following year, Ceballos attempted to defend his crown, a feat that only Jordan had been able to pull off, but struggled in the final round, losing to eventual champion and Baby Jordan, Harold Miner.

#20 - Larry Nance (1984, Champion / 1985, 5th Place)

(Photo by Rich Clarkson/Getty Images)

In Denver, Colorado, the site of the first and only ABA Dunk Contest in 1976, Larry Nance made his mark in history by winning the first ever NBA Dunk Contest.  With a number of dunks incorporating the "Rock The Cradle" move, Nance took down legendary dunkers like Julius Erving and Dominique Wilkins.  He was able to do this all without a single perfect score of 50.  In fact, the first dunk contest saw only one perfect score handed out, going to Dr. J in the finals against Nance.  It should be noted, however, that each dunker had to perform nine dunks (that's right, NINE) in order to win.  Nance was consistent throughout, combining finesse with power and claiming victory of the first ever event in NBA history.

#19 - Clyde Drexler (1984, 8th Place / 1985, 8th Place / 1987, 4th Place / 1988, 3rd Place / 1989, 2nd Place)

(Photo via Albanyword.com)

The man known as Clyde the Glide never won a dunk contest but he did have some memorable throw-downs.  His dunk contest career first began his rookie year in 1984.  He then competed in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989, getting progressively better each year.  By 1989, Clyde had mastered the swooping windmills and against-the-grain 360's but seemingly ran out of ideas by the final round, losing to Kenny "Sky" Walker by nearly 100 points in one of the more lopsided finals in dunk contest history.   Still, Clyde certainly made himself known throughout the 1980's as the league saw him blossom into a superstar.  To this day, Drexler remains the only player to participate in five contests.

#18 - Josh Smith (2005, Champion / 2006, 3rd Place)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Donning a Dominique Wilkins jersey and performing a Dominique-esque windmill flush was certainly one of the memorable moments for Josh Smith in the 2005 competition.  What was more impressive was that Smith did not miss a single attempt.  Every dunk was fluid with an aspect of power for the 6' 9" rookie.  These weren't easy attempts either.  As mentioned, he pulled off a powerful windmill dunk as well as another windmill throw-down over Kenyon Martin.  To finish things off, Smith took his own take on Vince Carter's reverse 360 windmill, throwing it down with strength and ease.

#17 - Desmond Mason (2001, Champion / 2002, 2nd Place / 2003, 3rd Place)

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

For three years straight, Seattle Super Sonics guard Desmond Mason made the final round of the competition, winning it all in 2001.  Despite struggling through a few of his dunks, his best finish came in the final round of the 2003 championship.  Mason, on his first attempt, drove down the middle of the lane, going between the legs and finishing with his left hand.  The silky transition from his right to left hand and ability to finish with so much strength makes this jam an instant classic and one of the best we've seen in the 32 year history of the NBA slam dunk contest.

#16 - Shawn Kemp (1990, 4th Place / 1991, 2nd Place / 1992, 6th Place / 1994, 2nd Place)

(Photo by Getty Images)

Kemp's four stints in the dunk competition contained a little bit of flash, a lot of power, and a whole lot of swagger.  The Reign Man loved his two-handed windmills as well as his behind-the-back tosses that were capped with a forceful finish.  When I think of what was impressive, though, was how efficient Kemp was, especially in 1991 and 1994.  He rarely missed an attempt and was able to think quickly on the court if he knew a dunk wasn't going to work.  While Kemp's most impressive career dunk came in the 1992 NBA Playoffs when he obliterated Golden State Warriors center Alton Lister, his finishes in the dunk contests' aren't far behind.

#15 - Isaiah Rider (1994, Champion / 1995, 2nd Place)

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Rider pulled off a number of entertaining dunks in his nine year NBA career.  However, none was more popular and revolutionary than his "East Bay Funk Dunk" in the 1994 slam dunk competition.  Rider, setting up from the left side out of bounds corner, took off towards the hoop parallel with the baseline, swinging the ball from the left to right side of his body through his legs and ending with an exhilarating right handed punctuation that had the crowd in Minnesota on the feet.  Charles Barkley, who had joined the TNT broadcast team for the night, exclaimed moments after that Rider's dunk might have been the best dunk he'd ever seen.  When looking back through the years at the history of the slam dunk, JR Rider's "East Bay Funk Dunk" still glistens.

#14 - Dee Brown (1991, Champion)

(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Dee Brown had it all in the 1991 dunk contest.  He had the leg kick, the rim snap, and the tight finishes.  Each one of his jams were different from the last, and at only mere 6' 1" and slim 160 pounds, Brown the little guy bounce seen by only a few dunkers through the years.  One slam that stands out to me was his double clutch reverse throw-down.  Taking off from the right wing, Brown jumped, turning in front of the rim while clutching the ball between his out-stretched legs.  With two hands, he finished the reverse jam with muscle.  The dunk had the kick, the brutality, and the pizzazz.  His most memorable dunk was the no-look slam.  Prior to the dunk, Dee came out sporting Reebok's new Pump sneakers, pumping them up in what was both theatrical and a clever marketing moment for Reebok.  Brown proceeded to take off from inside the lane, covered his face with his right arm and finished emphatically with his left hand.

#13 - Blake Griffin (2011, Champion)

(Photo by AP)

Griffin's rookie season was special.  He was named to the All-Star team, won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and was named NBA Rookie of the Year.  On All-Star Saturday night, Griffin brought the showtime to Los Angeles.  From the start, people knew this kid was serious.  He missed his first two attempts at a one-handed turned to two-handed twisting 360 but eventually nailed it on his third attempt, garnering a score of 49.  In the final round, he paid homage to Vince Carter by executing the "Honey Dip" dunk made famous by Carter in 2000.  The lasting image many have of Griffin's lone dunk contest appearance was his leap over the Kia Optima.  With Los Angeles Clippers teammate Baron Davis poking out of the sun-roof to deliver the pass and the Crenshaw Elite Choir performing R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly," Griffin took to the air, leaping over the hood of the car and flushing down the two-handed slam.

#12 - Harold Miner (1993, Champion / 1995, Champion)

(Photo by Manny Millan/Getty Images)

The success of Harold Miner as a two-time NBA slam dunk contest winner earned him the nickname "Baby Jordan", obviously in reference in Michael Jordan.  Many thought that Miner's dunk contest championship during his rookie season in 1993 would catapult him to NBA stardom.  This had been seen in the past from guys like Jordan, Dominique, and Drexler.  Although Baby Jordan did not experience the same career success that those greats did, he still goes down as one of the greatest dunkers of all time.  At only 6' 5", Miner viciously threw down each and every dunk attempted.  His power and hype in the slam dunk competition is unmatched.

#11 - Dwight Howard (2007, 3rd Place / 2008, Champion / 2009, 2nd Place)

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images)

Superman is in the building!  The 6' 11" Dwight Howard thrilled fans for three straight years in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, giving himself the nickname Superman after bringing out the cape in the 2008 contest.  First though, 2007 saw an impressive slam that may have been overlooked by the judges, who only scored him a 42.  Howard leaped with a sticker in his left hand, catching an alley-oop pass from Orlando Magic teammate Jameer Nelson with his right hand and slapping the sticker on the backboard some 12 and a half feet off the ground.  By the time everyone had seen what had happened, the judges scores were already given.  This didn't stop Howard from returning in 2008, which is when he lifted off, performing the signature Superman dunk where he literally threw the ball in.  An array of monstrous dunks followed, leading to his first and only dunk championship.  In 2009, returning to defend his title, Superman ran into his kryptonite, Nate Robinson.  He lost in the final round by an internet voting result of 52%-48% after Nate jumped over Howard to secure the win.

#10 - Gerald Green (2007, Champion / 2008, 2nd Place / 2013, 5th Place)

(Photo by Gary Dineen/Getty Images)

Beginning the top 10 is Gerald Green who happens to be the only dunker to perform in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest while representing three different teams.  A high-flyer who had perfected the windmill and between-the-legs, Green was nearly flawless in his first two competitions.  He remains as the only player to defeat Nate Robinson, dunking over him in the 2007 while sporting the Dee Brown Celtics jersey and attempting to re-enact the no-look dunk made famous in 1991.  Green's wide collection of windmills and creative dunks, such his 2008 opening dunk where he blew out a cupcake that was set on the back part of the rim, makes him one of the all-time greats.

#9 - Spud Webb (1986, Champion / 1988, 7th Place / 1989, 3rd Place)

(Photo via NBA.com)

Standing at just 5' 6" and weighing 132 pounds, Anthony "Spud" Webb dazzled the crowd in Dallas, Texas when he rose not once, not twice, but EIGHT times, converting an exciting slam each time.  Webb was certainly the first of his kind in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.  No player under six feet tall had won the competition.  Spud was phenomenal in 1986, converting on multiple attempts and performing a myriad of different finishes.  Despite two more attempts in 1988 and 1989 where Webb failed to win, his show in Dallas still stands as one of the single greatest dunk performances in the history of the event.

#8 - Aaron Gordon (2016, 2nd Place)

(Photo via Thescore.com)

2016 marked one of the greatest dunk contest matchups ever between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon.  LaVine, coming off of a win in 2015, was met by newcomer Gordon who had a few ideas up his sleeve.  Gordon did not delay in giving the fans what they paid to see, proceeding with impressive slams that had many (including myself) believing that he should have won.  With the help of Orlando Magic mascot Stuff the Magic Dragon, who made his way onto the court riding a hoverboard, Gordon did the unthinkable and changed the narrative of the dunk contest in one night.  The jam of the night occurred when Gordon jumped completely over Stuff while grabbing the ball from Stuff and moving it beneath his legs, finishing with a one-handed flush and sending Toronto into a frenzy.  He was practically sitting in the air.  On Gordon's final dunk of the night, he managed to triple-clutch the ball, moving it from behind his head to beneath his knees and then back up again for a two-handed reverse finish.  He's back for the 2017 Slam Dunk Contest with more ideas and championship to win.

#7 - Julius Erving (1976, ABA Champion / 1984, 2nd Place / 1985, 4th Place)

(Photo via SI.com)

The Doctor, Julius Erving, is the original, winning the first dunk contest ever held.  With the ABA introducing new ideas throughout its existence, one of the best ideas implemented was the dunk contest.  During halftime of the final ABA All-Star Game, the most electrifying athletes of the league took center stage to show the world what they could do outside of a typical game.  The finalists, Denver's David Thompson and New Jersey's Julius Erving, traded blows before Dr. J delivered the final punch by jumping from the free throw line.  His free throw line dunk stands as perhaps the most important and revolutionary slam in the history of slam dunks.  Eight years, after the ABA folded and Erving moved to play for the Philadelphia 76ers, the NBA adopted the idea of a slam dunk competition.  Here, a 33 year old Erving still had enough to entertain the crowd and impress the judges, making it to the final round where he eventually lost to Larry Nance.  He is credited for scoring the first ever perfect score of 50 with his final dunk of the contest.  In his final dunk, Erving performed the same dunk that had become a global sensation, taking off from the free throw line one last time.

#6 - Nate Robinson (2006, Champion / 2007, 2nd Place / 2009, Champion / 2010, Champion)

(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images)

When considering number of NBA Slam Dunk Championships won, Nate Robinson is the greatest.  He has won three times, the most of any contestant, and for good reason too.  The nation loved the 5' 9" bouncy point guard from the New York Knicks.  In 2006, Robinson brought out Spud Webb, who at the time, was the only athlete under six feet tall to win the contest.  Robinson proceeded to jump over Webb, clearing him and hammering home the slam.  In 2009, Nate the Great raised the stakes, bringing out fellow contestant, Dwight Howard.  Howard, dressed as Superman, and Robinson, dressed in all green signifying kryptonite, made for an entertaining scene as Robinson jumped over the 6' 11" Howard this time, taking back his title he had claimed in 2006.  His motto "Heart Over Height" continues to serve as motivation to many today and the legend of Nate Robinson as a dunker grows every day.

#5 - Zach LaVine (2015, Champion / 2016, Champion)

(Photo by Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP)

At a time when the dunk contest should have perhaps been swapped with the three point shootout for the final and prime time slot on All-Star Saturday Night, Zach LaVine change that thought quickly.  It all started with a Michael Jordan Tunes Squad jersey that LaVine sported for his first dunk.  That first dunk introduced us to a new star and the face of the revival of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.  One word that I think of when it comes to LaVine's performances: flawless.  The dude never misses.  It's like you're watching the highlights with all the misses cut out.  While it's still the highlights, there are no misses to cut out.  It's hard to pick one dunk to highlight, but if I had to choose one, it would have to be the dunk that sealed the win over Aaron Gordon in the 2016 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.  In what some consider to be the greatest final round of all-time, LaVine captured the win by nearly jumping from the free-throw line, his toes just inside the line, and going between the legs for the slam.  It wasn't choppy or a near miss.  He didn't have to try multiple times.  Rather, he performed it on his first try as smooth as can be.

#4 - Jason Richardson (2002, Champion / 2003, Champion / 2004, 2nd Place)

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Jason Richardson was just a rookie on the morning of February 9, 2002, but by the evening, his standing elevated.  Richardson had a knack for making it look effortless.  He took a little bit of Dominique and a little bit of Vince and added it with a little bit of J-Rich.  It was rare for him to miss, converting on nearly every dunk attempt and performing the dunk at the highest possibility.  His windmills were ferocious, his leg kicks were exuberant, and his demeanor was confident.  While his catalog is filled, one dunk that sticks out above the rest is the one he used to clinch the 2003 title.  Doing something no one had ever done or possibility even though was possible, Richardson began in the right corner of the baseline.  After a toss in the air, Richardson caught the ball off the bounce, clutching the ball with two hands.  He quickly turned his back on the rim and brought the ball behind his leg and back through to the front of his body, finishing the dunk with a reverse left handed jam.  It was something people had to see to believe.  This dunk by Richardson will live on, in some minds, as the greatest single dunk ever.

#3 - Dominique Wilkins (1985, Champion / 1986, 2nd Place / 1988, 2nd Place / 1990, Champion)

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Nicknamed “The Human Highlight Reel,” Dominique Wilkins was dominant throughout the 1980’s, competing in four dunk contest finals and winning two championships.  If there was a guy who had the windmill slam perfected, it was Nique.  He did it all with the windmill incorporated: one-handed, two-handed, reverse, underneath the basket.  Some say that he lacked creativity, only performing windmills, but the way in which he did the windmill, with the power and strength exhibited, had people waiting to see what he could do next.  1985 gave us the first of two meetings between Wilkins and Michael Jordan, with Dominique proving victorious.  However, three years later, in front of a full Chicago crowd, Wilkins and Jordan went into yet another dunk-off.  This time, with some scoring controversy, Wilkins fell to Jordan.  His last dunk, a thunderous two-handed windmill, garnered a score of only 45.  Jordan, needing a 49 to win, went back to his signature free throw line slam that he had performed in the first round for his final dunk.  Despite a miss on his first attempt, Jordan converted on the dunk from the charity stripe, giving him a 50 and the victory.

#2 - Michael Jordan (1985, 2nd Place / 1987, Champion / 1988, Champion)

(Photo by Walter Iooss/Getty Images)

Michael Jordan, the greatest to ever play the game, surely displayed his aerial authority throughout his career.  Before he started winning NBA titles, though, he was a kid from North Carolina on a Bulls team where he averaged nearly 30 points per game.  What earned him nicknames like “Air Jordan” and “His Airness” was his dominance in the early years of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.  After losing his rookie year to Dominique Wilkins, Jordan returned in 1987.  With Wilkins not in the field, Jordan was by far the most impressive contestant.  His hang time in the air was something that could only be compared to Julius Erving.  What set Jordan apart from Erving was his elegance in the air.  It seemed as if he was making up his dunks on the fly.  When 1988 rolled around, Dominique was back to take on Jordan.  The legendary back-and-forth battle inside Chicago Stadium is often regarded as the best matchup in dunk contest history.  Jordan, performing all kinds of twisting and contorted slams, could not break away from Nique.  However, with Wilkins earning a low score of 45, the door was open for Jordan to take advantage.  In front of the Chicago crowd, Jordan soared from the free throw line in an image that is stapled in the minds of all NBA fans.  Air Jordan had done it, scoring a perfect 50 and his second slam dunk championship.

#1 - Vince Carter (2000, Champion)

(Photo via Bleacherreport.com)

In my opinion, Vince’s performance at the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest was the single greatest performance in the history of the contest.  To set the scene about this specific year and contest, the NBA was just coming off a lockout shortened season.  Because of that, this was the first contest since 1997.  An electric atmosphere inside the Arena in Oakland with anticipation mounting set the stage for Vince Carter to show off.  He did just that, throwing down the most ferocious dunk ever seen in dunk contest history.  His 360 windmill against the grain with the power on the swing of the windmill signified that the Vinsanity was for real.  Carter continued his dominant night with a windmill coming from the baseline as well as his signature “Honey Dip” slam.  Perhaps his defining moment of his dunk contest career was following his second dunk.  After receiving a pass from fellow Raptor Tracy McGrady and going between the legs with a fierce finish, Carter, looking into the TNT camera, boldly proclaiming “It’s over.”  It was over, and Vince Carter will forever remain the face of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Enjoy tonight's 2017 NBA Slam Dunk Contest!