Image via Complex Original
The dunk contest is our once-a-year, premier showcase of aerial talent. But even All-Star Saturday Night isn’t big enough to feature all the best dunks from All-Star Weekend. While the dunk contest starts the highlight reel, the All-Star Game finishes it, as the best players in the league continue to drop jaws the very next day. As we prepare for Zoom City, and all the showmanship, athleticism, and creativity that comes with it, check out The In-Game NBA All-Star Dunks That Should’ve Been in a Dunk Contest.
Vince Carter Brings the Ball Down to His Ankles
Year: 2000
Location: Oakland
Vince Carter is arguably the greatest dunker, ever. The dude’s dunk contest showcase in 2000 was A1 perfection. From the reverse 360 to set the stage to the between-the-legs windmill that had Kenny Smith exclaiming that the contest was already over even before the final round, his arsenal of dunks were mind-blowing. The very next day, fans were treated to an encore as VC made his first-ever All-Star Game appearance. He continued right where he left off and had a crazy breakaway 360 slam where he brought the ball down to his right ankle before flushing it home.
Vince Carter Goes Baseline for the Mean 360 Flush
Year: 2001
Location: Washington, D.C.
Even though Vince Carter only entered the Slam Dunk Contest once, the buzz surrounding him during All-Star Weekend would follow him for almost a decade as he earned eight consecutive trips to the All-Star Game. The year after Carter’s epic performance out in Oakland, the follow-up contest didn’t hold a candle to what he did. He showed out in the All-Star Game and proved who the real champion was with this two-handed 360 flush from the baseline that would’ve won the contest hands-down. Sorry, Desmond Mason.
Tracy McGrady Gets an Off-the-Backboard Lob From Allen Iverson
Year: 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Tracy McGrady probably got tired of throwing the ball off of the backboard to himself, so he enlisted some help from Allen Iverson. With a star-studded crowd in Staples Center and a clear path to the basket, T-Mac opted to dish off to A.I., who threw the ball off of the glass for McGrady to bring it down with a one-handed reverse slam. After a less-than-impressive Slam Dunk Contest the night before—in which Fred Jones’ mediocre series of slams were just enough to beat two-time champ Jason Richardson—the L.A. crowd eventually got the show it deserved.
Tracy McGrady Goes H.A.M. Off the Backboard
Year: 2004
Location: Los Angeles
T-Mac was the master when it came to using the backboard for a dunk—dude was so confident in his leaping ability that he even pulled it off numerous times in real games. But his attempts always shined brightest in All-Star competition. He threw one down in 2002, but it was his dunk two years later in Los Angeles that took it to another level. Catching a wild pass from Baron Davis, T-Mac drove to the basket from the right side of the lane, kissed the ball off the glass, and went in for a two-hand jam from the left side of the rim. Just nasty.
Vince Carter Goes Coast-to-Coast and Finishes Off the Glass
Year: 2005
Location: Denver
In the All-Star Game in Denver, Vince Carter borrowed from cousin Tracy McGrady’s repertoire. VC threw the ball at the glass from the free throw line and finished with a powerful one-handed slam. Props to VC for executing the lob himself, but extra points for slamming it home single-handedly, literally.
LeBron James Does a Double-Pump Reverse Dunk
Year: 2007
Location: Las Vegas
It’s the same story every year with LeBron James when All-Star Weekend nears. Will King James finally follow in the footsteps of the other greats that came before him and enter the Slam Dunk Contest? He hasn’t yet, and, at this point of his career, most likely never will. But he always seems to put on a show in the All-Star Game that’s probably better than what fans watched the previous night. In the ’07 game, LeBron separated from the pack, took just one dribble, and lifted off from just outside of the restricted area for a double-pump reverse.
Andre Iguodala Shows He’s Still Got It
Year: 2012
Location: Orlando
This was Andre Iguodala’s first NBA All-Star Game appearance, and he definitely made a mark. He posted 12 points in just 14 minutes of action and even had this sick left-handed windmill jam. True to his dynamic defensive prowess, the dunk came off of a steal. Iguodala’s no stranger when it comes to highlights, and maybe—just maybe—if he had brought this out six years earlier, he would’ve beat Nate Robinson in the Dunk Contest.
LeBron James Cradles the Ball and Finishes With His Left
Year: 2012
Location: Orlando
In the 2012 All-Star Game, LeBron James would post 36 points—tied for the most with the eventual MVP of the game, Kevin Durant. One of his many buckets from the night would come off of this ridiculous left-handed dunk. James eluded Chris Paul, cradled the rock from one side of the bucket to the other, and finished with a one-hand slam.
LeBron James Finishes With the Reverse Cradle
Year: 2012
Location: Orlando
LeBron is known for his ferocious, rim-rattling dunks (cue Kevin Harlan’s “LeBron James, with no regard for human life!” sound bite), but he proves time and time again that he’s got a creative side, too. In the All-Star Game in Orlando, James showed up Superman in his own building with this reverse cradle slam.
LeBron James Changes Hands Mid-Flight
Year: 2014
Location: New Orleans
Every time LeBron James throws one down in an All-Star Game, basketball fans shed a tear and are left to imagine how epic it would be to see him compete in the Dunk Contest. But at the ripe age of 30 and with clear signs of slowing down, it’s just a pipe dream at this point. But just a year ago in The Big Easy, LeBron showed he could still get up there as if he were fresh out of high school. Watch as he catches the lob from Melo with his right hand, cradles the ball to his left, mid-flight, and slams it home.