Image via Complex Original
Dunking is an art. The way players are able to twist and turn their bodies in mid-air while still managing to throw the ball through the hoop is a skill exclusive to only a select few. Similarly, every year, a handful of ballers are given the opportunity to entertain us with their aerial displays in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. While the last couple of seasons have been underwhelming, in terms of execution and star value, we must recognize the ones that came before who creatively continued to raise the bar and advance the competition to where it is today.
With the 2013 Slam Dunk Contest coming up this Saturday, we take a look at the best players and displays throughout the history of the competition. From Julius "Dr. J" Erving starting the free-throw line leap trend to Vinsanity's aerial assault, here are the 30 Best Slams in NBA Dunk Contest History.
RELATED: The Greatest Moments in NBA All-Star Weekend History (Video)
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30. Two Balls Over Hayward. Ayo!
Dunker: Jeremy Evans
Year: 2012
We're not going to lie, last year's contest was nothing to write home about. It seemed like the participants had some pretty good ideas but the implementation wasn't there and it ended up lacking a lot of the flare our favorite contests have been filled with. Jeremy Evans took home the title and this was his shining moment of the night. We hope we see creative stuff like this on Saturday.
29. The "Show Stopper"
Dunker: DeMar DeRozan
Year: 2011
If you think this is just a basic dunk, shame on you! By itself, the cradle dunk is the type of slam many folks think they can duplicate but few can actually execute. When you incorporate a lob into the mix, the degree of difficulty is elevated that much more. Oh, and did we forget to mention that DeRozen did it on his first try? Respect.
28. Superman's Sticker Dunk
Dunker: Dwight Howard
Year: 2007
One of the most under-appreciated dunks during actual competition, the sticker dunk will go down in our minds as one of the best in recent memory. Before he broke loose as Superman as he's known by today, Dwight came up with a entertaining way to show just how athletically dominant he really was. Somehow this only got Dwight a 42 from the judges. SMH.
27. The Cupcake Dunk
Dunker: Gerald Green
Year: 2008
Gerald Green has never quite lived up to some of the expectations people had for him coming to the league out of high school, but one thing is for certain, he gets up with the best of them. He won the title in '07 and entered into the contest again the next year where he faced off against Dwight Howard. This one along with his no shoes dunk later in the contest showed us that Green was thinking outside the box. Props to Chuck for saying he should have eaten it. If he did that, then gave the Vince Carter "it's over" with icing on his face that would've been amazing.
26. Paul George Glows In the Dark
Dunker: Paul George
Year: 2012
A young star in the making and current 2013 NBA All-Star, Paul George got introduced to most of the general public in this last year's dunk contest. We all knew he had the hops, but this dunk showed off some of his creativity and maybe even a hint of his flare. Probably the most underrated dunk in contest history.
25. The No Look
Dunker: Dee Brown
Year: 1991
It's one thing to be blindfolded and try fooling others into believing you weren't looking at the rim the whole time. We see you, Chase Budinger! But Dee Brown had his arm over his eyes and he was looking down! That's why Dee's version is still the best of all time. *Kanye voice*
24. Desmond Mason's Lefty Through-the-Legs Jam
Dunker: Desmond Mason
Year: 2003
Yep you saw that right, it even startled the commentators, Desmond Mason pulled this rabbit out his hat in the form of a left-handed through-the-legs one-hander. Anybody questioning the quality and degree of difficulty of this one needs to remember that: A. Mason's right-handed, and B. Even if he did this right-handed it would've been ill. He lost the title to Jason Richardson but gained a ton of respect with this one.
23. The Franchise's Errant Bounce Pass Dunk
Dunker: Steve Francis
Year: 2000
The ball probably had a titty on it because it takes a funny bounce. But once Francis was in the air, he still managed to stick with it, making the jam something memorable and worthy of being considered top 25 of all-time. *cue the soundtrack*
22. Nate Robinson Jumps Over Spud Webb
Dunker: Nate Robinson
Year: 2006
Nate Robinson paid homage to Spud Webb by dunking over him. He got it on the first try, too. Spud gave him the perfect pass and Nate through it down like he knew he was getting a 50. Easily one of the most memorable moments in NBA All-Star Weekend history.
21. The Tomahawk Off The Bounce
Dunker: Fred Jones
Year: 2004
"Who's Fred Jones?" The question heard all around the world when they found out the participants in the 2004 Dunk contest. He came out of nowhere and ended up taking Jason Richardson's title with dunks like this one-handed full extension slam off the bounce. You know you're doing it when you get Dr. J to sit up in his seat. Now we remember why Jordan gave him PEs.
20. Serge Leaps From Behind the Free Throw Line
Dunker: Serge Ibaka
Year: 2011
Yeah, Serge Ibaka attempted a dunk that many participants have tried before. However, unlike his predecessors, Ibaka took off from behind the free throw line! Not even a foot or toe on the stripe. We know what you're thinking, but he's listed at 6'10". So what? The guy deserves some props for being one of few big men who can actually fly from a distance as opposed to simply jumping really high.
19. Amar'e Connects With Nash
Dunker: Amar'e Stoudemire
Year: 2005
In a time where the dunk contest was lacking originality and creativity, Amare tapped his MVP teammate Steve Nash to add some excitement to the event. Blending Nash's soccer skills with Amar'e's ridiculous leaping ability, they put together this gem that almost stole the show that night. Soccer players rejoice!
18. T-Mac Lobs the Two-Handed 360
Dunker: Tracy McGrady
Year: 2000
A lot of people's only memory of Tracy McGrady and the dunk contest, is of him throwing the bounce pass for Vince's under-the-leg dunk in 2000. Forgotten in the midst of Vinsanity's flawless performance, is T-Mac's performance. One of those jams included this crazy two-handed 360 off a bounce that he probably should have saved for the finals. If VC wasn't on another planet that night, T-Mac might have picked up the trophy.
17. J-Rich Goes Off Backboard Between-the-Legs
Dunker: Jason Richardson
Year: 2004
The level of difficulty for this dunk is probably the sole reason we think this has to be one of the best dunks ever. It had never been done before and almost made you think you were playing the old NBA Live dunk contest with how freakish it was. Jason Richardson put it between his legs after throwing the ball off the backboard and slammed it home. Yeah, the video quality is pretty poor but this dunk—much like free porn on the Internet—is so cherished that it doesn't even even matter.
16. Nance Becomes the First NBA Dunk Contest Winner
Dunker: Larry Nance
Year: 1984
There have been tons of dunking greats that have pulled off miraculous feats in hopes of winning the Dunk contest title to the glee of us fans, but there will only be one who can say they did it first. Larry Nance took home the inaugural Dunk contest trophy and did so in part by pulling out this two ball rim rattler. Standing at 6'10" and making dunks look nice is hard, but Nance's lanky, smooth style helped him beat out Nique and Dr. J in the finals.
15. Kemp's One-Handed Double-Clutch Flush
Dunker: Shawn Kemp
Year: 1991
When he wasn't pointing at dudes he embarrassed or having illegitimate children, Shawn Kemp was a bad, bad man. In the '91 contest he decided he'd get funky on 'em with this double-pump one-handed stuff. He ended up losing in the final round to Dee Brown and his no looker, but Kemp gave the fans a little taste for what they could expect from some bigs with bunnies.
14. Josh Smith's Full Extension Slam
Dunker: Josh Smith
Year: 2005
Josh Smith put on a dazzling performance during the 2005 Dunk Contest. None more special than this beautiful 180 windmill in the opposite direction. Smith looked like Action Bronson hitting a pirouette off the hood of a hooptie. Graceful and full of life.
13. Iggy Off the Back Of the Backboard
Dunker: Andre Iguodala
Year: 2006
We're going to just say it because every real fan who watched it knows it: In the 2006 Contest Andre Iguodala got robbed! The finals pitted Nate Robinson up against Iguodala and the only reason Robinson ended up with the title was because of the little man love some of the judges seemed to have for Nate. Iggy used AI for this dunk, and as he caught a pass from his teammate off the back of the backboard he was still able to catch it, dunk it, and travel from the opposite side of the cup. Brilliance.
12. J-Rich's Backwards Between-the-Legs Dunk
Dunker: Jason Richardson
Year: 2003
It seems as though the between-the-legs dunk is the new, literal high mark in the dunk contest. Here, Richardson does the predictable but adds his own flare by flushing it down backwards. That type of creativity by J-Rich is what made him a two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion.
11. The East Bay Funk
Dunker: Isaiah Rider
Year: 1994
You get double cool points when you're able to not only come up with something new and fresh, but also give it a badass name that's instantly fun to say. East Bay Funk was Isiah Rider's masterpiece and served its purpose oh so well. Plenty have copied the dunk but there's only one originator and Rider's got that title.
10. Miner's Nasty Windmill
Dunker: Harold Miner
Year: 1993
Inglewood's own Harold Miner had a short lived NBA career but his mark on the Dunk contest will live forever. After MJ's and 'Nique's epic battles, the dunk contest wavered a bit. Miner swooped in out of nowhere, and with this performance, cemented his legacy. This violent windmill gave him the '93 Dunking crown.
9. Nique's Calling Card
Dunker: Dominique Wilkins
Year: 1985
Sometimes, nothing beats a dunk that exhibits some brute force. That's why this jam by Dominique Wilkins is on this list. Man, there was some anger in that one. 'Nique won two dunk contests (1985 and 1990) by simply windmilling power jams while trying to break the rim.
8. Kiss the Rim
Dunker: Michael Jordan
Year: 1987
Michael Jordan can soar. Obviously. But when he unleashed the "Kiss the Rim" dunk in the 1987 contest, MJ cemented himself as a leaper in a league of his own. Yes, Dominique wasn't around this year to offer up some good comp, but the very next year, Jordan revealed his pièce de résistance. Stay tuned...
7. Baby Jordan is Born
Dunker: Harold Miner
Year: 1993
To cap off his '93 campaign after already locking up the win, Miami's Harold Miner let us have another crazy slam. "Baby Jordan" gave us a cartoonish 180 windmill for the ride home. He will forever be worshipped for that. He deserves to walk on rose pedals for all eternity for this performance.
6. Spud Soars for Reverse Jam off the Bounce
Dunker: Spud Webb
Year: 1986
Remember back in '06 when Nate Robinson dunked over that short guy and all the old people got excited? This is that short guy! Back in the '80s when Robinson was a toddler, '5 7" Spud Webb was making history and served as Dominique's running mate with the Hawks. In this moment Spud decided he'd put the final touches on the '86 contest and caught a mean reverse slam off the bounce.
5. Dr. J Sets the Standard
Dunker: Julius Erving
Year: 1976
Many imitators have come and gone, but there's nothing like the original. And, in this case, the free-throw line dunk was started by Julius Erving. Sure, some participants have done the leap from the stripe justice, namely Michael Jordan, but in order to appreciate what MJ did, you need to admire what Dr. J started.
4. Vinsanity's 360 Windmill
Dunker: Vince Carter
Year: 2000
Nowadays, it's kinda sad to see the shell of his former self that is Vince Carter. However, more than a decade ago, Carter constantly defied the laws of gravity with some of the most impressive dunks we've ever seen and no moment showed off his skills more than the 2000 contest where Vinsanity gave the fans a spectacle of a show, including this incredible, victory-sealing 360 windmill.
3. MJ Rocks the Cradle
Dunker: Michael Jordan
Year: 1988
Michael Jordan wasn't the first player to pull off the rock-the-cradle dunk, but what set his version apart from all others was its fluidity. Just like his fadeaway jumper, Jordan's dunk here during the 1988 Contest was smooth and, like your favorite shot at the bar, went down easy. In both respects, there's no complaining about that.
2. VC Puts His Elbow In The Rim
Dunker: Vince Carter
Year: 2000
If this dunk wasn't enough of an indication for how superior Vince Carter's athleticism was to everybody else in the league, we don't know what is. It's one thing to slap the backboard or even try to get your head at eye level with the rim, but VC stuck his whole arm in the rim and everybody went crazy in the whole damn gym. You know it's a cold dunk when everybody has the "What the...did he just...No he didn't!!!" face coupled with stunned silence. We still can't believe it.
1. "I Believe I Can Fly"
Dunker: Michael Jordan
Year: 1988
What list on the Best Slams in NBA Dunk Contest History would be complete without Michael Jordan throwing it down from the free-throw line? While it was Dr. J's version that set the trend, Jordan's leap solidified No. 23 as His Airness. From the artistry in the double pump to the loose movement of his legs in mid-air, everything about this dunk is a thing of beauty.