Top 10 Best Slam Dunkers in Basketball
You know a dunk is special when it makes you leap off the couch, spill your drink, and yell at a TV that can't hear you. There's just something electric about watching someone soar through the air like physics decided to take a break. Slam dunks are more than just two points. They're a statement. A well-thrown-down dunk can shift momentum, ignite the crowd, and leave defenders questioning their life choices.Over the years, basketball has given us a long line of high-flyers who made dunking an art form. Some were known for their raw power, rattling the rim like it owed them money. Others brought grace and creativity, spinning and twisting their way to jaw-dropping throwdowns that had everyone scrambling for the instant replay.
This list is your chance to weigh in on who really deserves the crown when it comes to throwing it down.
Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association. This list is severely flawed. I know everyone worships the ground Michael Jordan walks on, but the truth is MJ is a good, not great, dunker. He sure wasn't better than Dominique Wilkins in the '88 dunk contest. Wilkins killed him.
Darryl Dawkins at No. 12 is an insult. No one was better in terms of brute strength and power. And where is Larry Nance? He could rock the cradle like nobody's business. That certainly brought more style points than an MJ regular dunk from the foul line.
Dr. J was one of the greatest. His beautiful windmill dunk over Michael Cooper in the '83 Finals was one of the best I've ever seen.
No way LeBron gets elite status either. Step up to a dunk contest if you really are the King. I doubt he ever will.
Vince and Dominique Wilkins are the ultimate combination of grace, style, and power. I'd put Vince on top, but it's extremely close. If Vince gets a 99, then Dominique gets a 97 or 98.
MJ isn't even capable of dreaming about the filthy, freak-of-nature dunks of Vinsanity. That opening dunk in the 2000 dunk contest by Vince was the best I've ever seen. A 360 against-the-grain windmill. Just listen to the crowd's reaction. And Shaq's too.
When it comes to dunkers, Vince is the real King.
Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American retired professional basketball player. Widely viewed as the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan made six NBA Finals appearances in his career, winning the NBA championship each time. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984, Jordan is the greatest player of all time. His dunks have definitely stood the test of time. He was a two-time dunk contest qualifier and won it once. Plus, he's a Hall of Famer.
Created so many types of in-game dunks and was the most completely unstoppable dunking force of all time. He is easily the greatest player ever.
Hands down, Michael Jordan. Why? The one-handed slam dunk with his tongue sticking out. He had the best dunks in the '90s and the best of all time.
Julius Winfield Erving II, commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American retired basketball player who helped popularize a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and playing above the rim. I grew up in the Dr. J era. Doc is the MAN! Period, end of story! If it wasn't for his love for the game, his passion, his heart, and the entertainment on the basketball court, are you kidding me?
Come on everyone, give this man his due because he paid all of them. Someone had to be the leader and start it all, and he is it. The rest of the gentlemen learned from him. There wouldn't be any magnificent highlights in this wonderful sport if he didn't play the game.
Raise that percentage.
Dr. J was the first NBA player I loved to watch play. He played in an era where highlights were not shown all the time like they are today. I'm sure he had hundreds of amazing dunks that were only seen by the fans in the arena that night.
If Dr. J had played his entire career in the NBA, he would have been more appreciated. He was the most exciting player for the 13 years before Jordan arrived. Jordan only took over due to Erving's age.
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is an American retired professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association. Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1981, Dominique is considered one of the greatest dunkers of all time. He was known for beating Jordan in the dunk contest and is a Hall of Famer.
Best combination of creativity and power!
So underrated but so talented. Definitely the best dunker of all time. #teamdominique
Kobe Bryant (1978 - 2020) was an American retired professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Kobe Bryant has won 5 NBA championships with the Lakers and was the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history... read more Kobe is very artistic in the air. Above the rim, there's nothing he can't do in any place on the floor. Fearless, not only in dunks but in everything he does, he is a living legend and the best player of his generation. Just watch his highlights!
Thanks...
High flier, best dunker from the side. Dunks are so smooth. And by the way, Dr. J didn't invent the dunk. It just wasn't allowed... And LeBron is horrible. Anyone that big should be able to throw it down.
I can't believe LeBron James is ahead of Kobe. No way! He doesn't even come close to the finesse of Bryant.
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Throughout his career, LeBron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and the Lakers, winning a total of four NBA championships. He's the best. No one can be better than him. He should be at the top of the list because he is just like a monster eating people. He can defeat everybody.
He is like King Kong when he throws it down. So aggressive, and I love the way he does it on the court.
Greatest one-foot leaper in NBA history. Vince is the greatest two-foot leaper in NBA history.
Blake Austin Griffin is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association. Why is Blake not at the top? I can't think of anyone better. Hello, he was a slam dunk champ. Plus, he's super hot. He's got the whole package.
Plus, his Kia commercials are outrageously funny! If you haven't seen them yet, watch them. If there is anyone else who could dunk better than him and look sexy while doing it, I'm sure I would have heard of them.
Right now, there are none better than Blake at dunking. He basically makes a living off of attacking the rim. Jordan, in all honesty, was better, but today, there are none better than Griffin.
If a guy under 6 feet can whip everyone in a dunk contest, how the hell is he not the best?
Has one of the best vertical jumps in the game.
Shawn Travis Kemp is an American retired professional basketball player, who played in the National Basketball Association for 14 seasons. Power, style, creativity... Kemp had it all. Remember Lob City with Gary Payton? Kemp always threw it down hard and was explosively quick. He gets my vote.
I was never a big fan of Kemp, but this is a joke. He is hands down the best dunker to ever step foot on a court. I don't think there's even an argument.
No doubt about it. Some of those guys at the top of this list are great. Shawn Kemp was hands down the greatest of them all!
Clyde Austin "The Glide" Drexler is an American retired professional basketball player. During his career, he was a ten-time All-Star, and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1983, Clyde "The Glide" Drexler wowed people with his ability to glide as he dunked. Drexler is now a Hall of Famer.
The Newcomers
Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.
Easily one of the greatest to ever dunk a basketball. Top 3 for sure.
Mid-Michigan's finest. Oh, you didn't know.
Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson is an American professional basketball player for Homenetmen Beirut of the Lebanese Basketball League. Born in Seattle, Robinson played college basketball for the University of Washington in Seattle and was the 21st pick in the 2005 NBA draft. Nate Robinson's only 5'9. How the heck isn't he first in this whole entire all-time list? Second is Spud Webb. The last is Shaq. He doesn't jump. He only just hangs on tight!
Jumped over Dwight Howard, slammed it home, dubbed "Krypto-Nate," and won the contest. Oh, yeah, and he's 5 feet 9 inches. Now tell me again how he's not number 2. (Gotta give it to Vince.)
Little guy, but guess what! He could dunk and jump over the taller man.
Tracy Lamar McGrady Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player who is best known for his career in the National Basketball Association, where he played as both a shooting guard and small forward. Drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 1997, Tracy brought showtime dunks to Toronto. His dunks were unpredictable. They could be skillful, powerful, or athletic.
Tracy came straight from high school to the NBA and is a possible Hall of Famer.
Ask Shawn Bradley who he thinks the best dunker of all time is.
The best. He takes the most ridiculous shots and risks and comes through.
Gerald Green is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2005, he showed some of the most unbelievable and athletic dunks ever. A three-time dunk contest qualifier, he won it twice.
People don't know Gerald Green because he's never been a big-name player, but he can get up and throw down like nobody's business.
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, nicknamed Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player who is currently an analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. He is known for his fun, friendly personality, and is one of the most beloved athletes of all time. Shaq is the best dunker of all time because he makes the rim suffer.
He always broke the rim when he floated in the air and aimed for a slam dunk.
Got to remember the question is not who is the most flashy dunker. It's who is the best dunker, and he was unstoppable. But he couldn't shoot for his life.
Darryl Dawkins was an American professional basketball player, most noted for his days with the National Basketball Association's Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, although he also played briefly for the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz late in his career. Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1975, he had powerful dunks that were so strong they had to make the rims stronger because he had broken two backboards. He was one of the first players drafted out of high school.
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American basketball player. He was born on August 21, 1936 in Philadelphia and died on October 12, 1999 in Los Angeles due to heart failure... read more His "baseline dunk" was truly amazing. He jumped straight up with his head behind the backboard and reached up under the basket to dunk it in with his wrist.
Wilt is also the only player in history to actually dunk from behind the free-throw line. All the rest, including MJ and Dr. J, had their toe touch the line when they took off.
Dwight David Howard is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association. In my opinion, he is the best slam dunk contest winner. He has great leaping ability for how tall he is!
Blake Griffin's not that great and not as good as Dwight Howard. (Blake is a better shooter.)
Great dunker all around. He could win any NBA dunk contest anytime he wanted to.
He didn't have the best season, but when he wants to, he can dunk the basketball.
Totally the best dunker. He's the defending slam dunk champion and won the 2015 and 2016 slam dunk contests! Go Timberwolves!
He is the only one that might be able to challenge the GOAT, Vince Carter.
He should be first with Michael Jordan trailing him!
Josh Smith is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association. Dunk champ in 2005, and he hasn't stopped throwing down since.
ATL represent! J-Smoove is a boss.
Derrick Martell Rose is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association. He is quite possibly the best dunking PG in the history of the league.
Aaron Addison Gordon is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association. He is a really good dunker. Have you watched Zach LaVine vs. Aaron Gordon?
Russell Westbrook Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Russell Westbrook is the most athletic point guard in the game right now. Have you seen his highlights from the 2015 and 2016 All-Star games? The guy is a beast. He's a point guard that dunks like a big man.
Larry Joe Bird is an American retired professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. Bird is a 3x champ, 1x ROTY, 1x Finals MVP, 3x 3PT Contest winner, all with the Boston Celtics. (1979-1992)
Wardell Stephen Curry II is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, if not the greatest. He is one of the most beloved stars in the NBA today, as... read more