In the NBA, the Slam Dunk is one of the greatest plays that you could witness. A slam dunk is a type of shot in basketball that is performed when a player jumps up into the air in a vertical movement, as they move into a horizontal plane towards the rim, and scores the ball by slamming the ball directly into the basket with one or both hands.
One of the greatest things about the slam dunk is how it comes with many variations. One of my favorite plays in basketball is to see the posterizing dunk. It is when the offensive player dunks over a player on defense.
Not everyone has the luxury/ability to dunk a basketball. A lot of basketball players out there dream to have the ability to dunk, but again not everyone has the ability to do it. Most people are under the impression that dunking is an ability that can only be possessed by those who are tall, but this is false. This assumption is completely wrong. People assume this because the average height in the NBA is roughly around 6”7. Although being tall does help, dunking on a regular basketball net [10 feet] is most certainly possible for those who are shorter. Think about those players like Nate Robinson – dunk contest champion – and the shortest player to ever win the slam dunk contest, Spud Webb.
Here is how I have ranked what I view to be some of the greatest dunkers of all time in NBA history:
10) Blake Griffin
At number 10, we got the one and the only Blake Griffin. I just feel like Blake has a spot in my top 10 list because he is known to have some of the greatest dunks in NBA history. I mean who doesn’t remember Blake Griffin’s infamous dunk in the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie where he jumped over a KIA car to win the slam dunk contest. Blake Griffin was known to be one of the greatest dunkers when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers, but a lot has changed with the Detroit Pistons – his current team. The reason why I put Blake at number 10 is because of how his career has fallen off this season due to injuries. He is still a great player but injuries have slowed him down and his ability to dunk the ball. Griffin lost some of his lift to his jump because of his knee troubles, but before that, he was DUNK MACHINE, and he will be known for his first few years in the league for that.
9) Giannis Antetokounmpo
Now some of you may think it’s crazy to include Giannis Antetokounmpo into the greatest dunkers of all time list just because of how young he is and how there are better dunkers out there. I was very close to putting him on the Honorary List, but I just felt like I had to include him in my actual list. I added him to the list because of his potential and just how young he actually is. Giannis is just a DUNKING MACHINE. I have never seen a player in the NBA who dunks as effortlessly as Giannis does. Every Time he enters anywhere near the painted area he is going to dunk the ball. It only takes him 1-2 steps from the three-point line and it’s GAME OVER. Giannis is just an animal on the court and ultimately a highlight machine. Giannis has grown to be one of my favorite players in the NBA and my site is actually inspired by his nickname a little bit (The Greek FREAK). His work ethic is something I wish to have someday.
*Note that this list was made in 2020, so you can definitely see how well this ranking tracks four years later*
8) Shawn Kemp
Without someone like Shawn Kemp, we wouldn’t see players like Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, or Aaron Gordon possibly. Shawn Kemp has inspired generations of big men. Shawn Kemp proved to the league that you don’t need to just do a little hop to dunk a ball. Shawn Kemp is known as “Reign Man” for a very good reason. He played for the Seattle Supersonics. He has inspired big men to add flair and flashiness to their dunks. Think of players like Aaron Gordon and Blake Griffin, Shawn Kemp inspired them. Shawn Kemp was probably the first one to throw it down with flair at his height. No one could soar like he did. Shawn Kemp performed better dunks than those who were like 6+ inches shorter than he could. His dunks were just POWERFUL and he really knew how to throw it down hard. Shawn Kemp just loved dunking on dudes and physically dominating in the painted area. Seriously if you see Shawn Kemp running at you towards the rim, YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY PLEASE!
7) Zach LaVine
This is a list of the greatest dunkers, so why wouldn’t I include Zach LaVine. Zach LaVine was probably one of the greatest dunkers during this last decade. He won dunk contests with ease, and at one he just got so bored of winning that he decided to give others a shot. He even joined the 3-point contest, and actually recorded a very good score for his first attempt [he did not win]. LaVine is probably one of the best dunkers to ever dunk between the legs and behind-the-back. He just performs those dunks with such ease. Zach LaVine is a two-time dunk contest champion in 2015 and 2016. This man can truly fly and he just had to be included on this list. Zach LaVine is a GREAT dunker and he deserves to be on this list. If you are a basketball fan, and you haven’t seen the dunk contest showdown between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon, you must see it, even if you aren’t a basketball fan. IT WAS AMAZING!
6) Jason Richardson
Ever since Jason Richardson first entered the league, he has always been known as one of the greatest dunkers in the game of basketball. You can go online and find hundreds of LONG highlight reels of him dunking. Even today, it is still hard to believe and shocking what Jason Richardson did during the Slam Dunk Contests. He was actually the first slam dunk winner to win it back-to-back since Michael Jordan, and honestly, Jason Richardson deserves it. Jason Richardson has won both the 2002 and 2003 NBA Slam Dunk Contests. Some argue that he should have won even more than two. Even though his career was short-lived, and his career ultimately fell off while playing with bad teams, he deserves to be on this list just because of what he has done. HE IS one of the greatest dunkers in NBA History.
5) Kobe Bryant
R.I.P To A Legend
In my opinion, Kobe Bryant is VERY underrated when it comes to dunking. There were people out there who just hated Kobe Bryant because of those G.O.A.T arguments Before Kobe Bryant was this great all-around player we all knew him to be, he was known for his dunking back in the day when he first got drafted in the NBA. Kobe Bryant was one of the league’s top dunkers, and he even won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest as an 18-year-old, THE YOUNGEST TO EVER DO IT. Kobe is also known for posterizing some of the greatest shot-blocking defenders in NBA History like Ben Wallace, Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, and Tim Duncan, the list just goes on and on forever. Kobe Bryant is probably the closest thing we’ll ever see to someone like Michael Jordan. He is our generation’s Michael Jordan. Although Kobe Bryant started to hone his skills to be one of the best players in NBA History, he always kept on reminding us throughout his career of how much of a great dunker he truly is. He could turn it on whenever he chose to. He always gave us those reminders of why he deserved to be on this spot. We will always remember Kobe Bryant, and to me, he will always be the greatest basketball player of all time, the man who got me in love with the sport. R.I.P Kobe Bryant
4) Dominique Wilkins
He most certainly deserves to be in the top 5. Dominique Wilkins aka “The Human Highlight Film” is a nine-time NBA All-Star and a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest Winner. He was probably one of the first players in NBA history to ever perform CRAZY, BREATHE TAKING dunks during NBA games. Before Dominique Wilkins, people would never perform the type of spectacular dunks we see in today’s game. Wilkins’ signature windmill dunk through the lane is a trademark during the 80s in the NBA. Dominique Wilkins was electrifying back in the day and was certainly one of the most fun players to watch in NBA history, it’s honestly a shame I wasn’t able to witness him play in an actual FULL game. Wilkins is arguably one of the best dunkers in NBA history and I could honestly say that any of these dunkers in the top 5 could be number one. We can call Wilkins #1d instead of #4.
3) Michael Jordan
I mean come on, It’s Michael Jordan, he has to be on a top ten dunkers list. Jordan revolutionized the dunk in the game of basketball. Jordan has had HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of highlights that will be remembered forever by many. I don’t think I will ever forget his free-throw-line dunk where he took flight in the NBA dunk contest. Michael Jordan won back-to-back NBA Slam Dunk Contests back in 1987 and 1988. Jordan is most known for his posterizers. His name is “Air Jordan” and he could do EVERYTHING on the court throughout his HISTORIC career. He is after all considered the G.O.A.T in the NBA. Michael Jordan left people in awe and has left some of the greats with embarrassment. I mean Michael Jordan’s JUMPMAN logo is just iconic, and it is for a very good reason.
2) Julius Erving
Arguably one of the greatest dunkers of all time. Dr.J made dunking an art as soon as he first took a step in the NBA. Julius Erving may even be responsible for one of the best in-game dunks in the NBA. Now I know I said above that Michael Jordan is known for his free-throw-line dunk, Dr.J was actually the first one to ever do it in the ABA. Dr.J was probably the first “DUNK KING” that we have ever seen. He is known for his cradle dunk which he first did against the Lakers in 1983. The only reason why Dr.J hasn’t won a single NBA Slam Dunk Contest is because the event didn’t even exist during the time he was playing basketball, and honestly, that is a shame.
1) Vince Carter
His name is “Half Man-Half Amazing”, and in my mind and most people’s minds, he is CERTAINLY one of the greatest dunkers of all time. 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. No one could ever stop a Vince Carter dunk. 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. What makes him even better is how he can still dunk at the age of 43 in an NBA basketball game. Vince Carter took dunking to a whole nother level and he is known for his dunking. He even brought more attention to the NBA during the early 2000s and ultimately increased its popularity. Vince Carter is mainly known because of that one night in 2000 when he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Every dunk he did was impressive and just breathtaking. This list is most certainly arguable but there is one thing that can’t be argued. Vince Carter is the best dunker of all time, and ultimately the #1 dunker in the NBA.
Honorable Mentions:
Not everyone can fit on a top 10 list and that is why I am making an honorable mentions list, because there are so many players out there who just deserve to make the list, but can’t. These players need to be respected for what they can do.
Clyde Drexler
His name is Clyde “The Glide” Drexler and he deserves to be on the top 10 list. He almost made it look too easy. Drexler was very well known for posterizing players during games.
Nate Robinson
Nate Robinson is probably the best shortest dunker in NBA History. I don’t know what it is about short people dunking, but it is honestly just insanely fun to watch compared to those who are taller. He has amazing hops, and he has blocked Yao Ming. Nate Robinson definitely deserves a spot here. Oh here is something else I forgot to say, Nate Robinson owns the most NBA Slam Dunk Contest wins in NBA history with 3. There is only one and his name is Nate Robinson.
LeBron James
LeBron James is most certainly in the conversation for the greatest of all time. Some call him the “human freight train”. There is a reason why I never included LeBron James on the list and that is because he has never participated in an NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but honestly even then he still deserves to be on the list. Matched up with his speed, power, size, and difficulty, LeBron makes up for one of the greatest dunkers we have seen.
Aaron Gordon
Now we all know why he is on the list. Aaron Gordon deserves to be on this list and is a GREAT dunker. Arguably he should have won two dunk contests during the last few years, and honestly many agree that he got snubbed from the 2020 slam dunk contest.
Dwight Howard
SUPERMAN IS IN THE BUILDING. In his prime, Dwight Howard was the best center in the NBA. Dwight Howard has won countless NBA Slam Dunk Contests and is known to be a GREAT dunker. No one will ever forget that Dwight Howard used to be dubbed “SUPERMAN” in the NBA.
Darryl Dawkins
His nickname was Chocolate Thunder. This man shattered glasses in the NBA. He dunks the ball so hard he made a backboard made out of fiberglass EXPLODE. Why wouldn’t he be on the list, I mean come on, he broke a backboard.
Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady deserves to be on the list and has performed dozens of AMAZING dunks. I mean his cousin was Vince Carter, and I’m sure you guys are never going to forget his dunk contest with his cousin Vince. T-Mac was just a beast.
Spud Webb
Spud Webb is the shortest to ever win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, I truly don’t need to go any further. He is 5”7 and he can dunk. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contests against those who are over a foot taller than him.
Gerald Green
In his prime, Gerald Green was known to be a dunker. Nowadays he has a career in the NBA for being a sharpshooter, and a good one at that. Gerald Green was just a pure dunker, and his dunking is the reason why he even got a job in the NBA. He has performed many great dunks which will be seen throughout NBA history and he has also won the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Do You Want To Learn How To Dunk?
Now that you have seen some of the greatest dunkers of all time, you just want to be able to dunk as well. If you are that person who wants to be able to dunk just like these NBA athletes, check out vertical jump programs such as Vert Shock and The Jump Manual.
If you want to dunk but don’t have the vertical please make sure to check out these two vertical jump programs as they are both designed to help you increase your vertical jump. If you pick any of these two programs, I guarantee that you will reach one step closer to dunking a basketball. These programs guarantee that you will increase your vertical by 8-15+ inches in just a matter of months.
If you want to know more about The Jump Manual, please check out my full review here
If you want to know about Vert Shock, please check out my full review here.