Best NBA Dunk Contest dunks of all time

Since its inception in 1984, the NBA Slam Dunk Contest has been one of the most entertaining events of NBA All-Star Weekend. Players have created viral moments and have reduced announcers to simply saying “Let’s go home.”

So with the contest from this year finished, allow me to show what I believe to be the 10 greatest dunks in the dunk contest of all time.

10. All of Spud Webb’s dunks

When looking at Spud Webb’s dunks from 1986, they may seem pitiful when you compare them to the dunks we see today. But when you realize that Spud was only 5-foot-6 inches tall, you might change your opinion. Spud is the fourth shortest NBA player of all time, yet he seemed a foot taller attacking the rim in Dallas on that night.

If I had to choose, Spud’s best dunk of the night was his 360 one-hand slam. Spud inspired every short man in America to try and dunk with his performance.

9. Micheal Jordan from the free throw line

Though Doctor J was the first person to dunk from the free throw line in a dunk contest, he wasn’t the first person to do so and win. That distinction goes to the GOAT Michael Jordan. Jordan accomplished the dunk in 1988, going back-to-back in winning the dunk contest. Jordan created an iconic moment, which is still often used as a benchmark for NBA dunkers.

8. Jason Richardson's baseline lob between the legs

Jason Richardson is one of the few players in history to win multiple dunk contests. In 2003 Richardson pulled out the insane between the legs lob on the baseline which sent multiple players onto the court with perfect 10 signs in their hands. Richardson cemented his status as one of the best dunk contest competitors with this slam.

7. Cedric Ceballos blind dunk

Cedric “The Entertainer” Ceballos accomplished one of the weirder dunks in contest history in 1992. Ceballos donned a blindfold and took off from beyond half-court and somehow managed to throw it down. Ceballos stunned the entire arena and would walk away with the victory in the dunk contest that year.

6. Mac McClung over a car

The first man to ever three-peat in a dunk contest did so in impressive fashion. In the most recent dunk contest, McClung brought out a car and jumped over the roof while grabbing the ball from the sunroof. While dunking over a car isn’t a new thing, McClung was the first person to do it over the roof. McClung proved he was deserving of the three-peat.

5. Gerald Green blows out a candle

Gerald Green checks in at number five with one of the most creative uses of a prop in dunk contest history. Green placed a cupcake with a candle on the rim and lined up his dunk. As he caught a lob, he blew out the candle at the same time creating a cool visual and an incredible dunk to pair with it.

4. Dwight Howard dunks on a 12-foot rim

Dwight Howard wasn’t given the Superman nickname for no reason. Howard would cement his status as one of the best dunkers when he added extra height to the hoop before dunking while wearing a cape. Howard was denied his request to raise the rim for the contest the year prior in 2008. He got his wish and completed the amazing dunk in 2009.

3. Zach Lavine through the legs from the free throw line

Zach Lavine won the dunk contest in 2015. He repeated in 2016, in what was arguably the greatest dunk contest in NBA history. Lavine took Micheal Jordan’s free throw line dunk and accomplished one of the toughest variations. Going between his legs mid-flight before slamming it home.

2. Vince Carter’s honey dip

When you have players recreating your dunk to this day, you know you have created one of the greatest dunks of all time. Carter sticking his elbow in the rim has been quoted outside of the NBA, even in songs and pop culture. Carter will go down as one of the greatest dunkers of all time, but the best dunk in NBA Dunk Contest history belongs to . . .


1. Aaron Gordon under both legs and over a mascot

It only makes sense that the greatest dunk contest of all time would feature the greatest dunk. Though Gordon did not win the dunk contest, he shut down the arena for a time after going over a mascot and under his legs. This was something that we haven’t seen ever in a dunk contest and something that hasn’t been replicated since.

Luke Stefanisko is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ljs6415@psu.edu.