The Top 10 Best NBA Dunkers of All Time

Slam dunks are captivating and exciting. Great dunks can tell a story, energize a spirit, and thril the soul.

Dunking is one of the most exciting aspects of basketball, and it takes a great deal of skill and athleticism to execute a powerful slam dunk. 

Every day, millions of basketball fans rush to YouTube to see highlights of slam dunks. This has become part of the routine of everyday fans of the NBA. The dunk has become one of the biggest attractions.

The rise in popularity of the slam dunk in the 1970’s and 1980’s led to the creation of the NBA slam dunk competition. This gave a platform to stardom for high flyers like Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, who in turn helped elevate the popularity of the NBA.

Throughout the history of the NBA, there have been numerous players who have taken dunking to new heights and set new standards for excellence in this area. They are some of the most exciting players to ever live. 

Here are the top ten greatest dunkers in the history of the NBA:

1. Michael Jordan

Known as “His Airness,” Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time. He revolutionized dunking with his aerial acrobatics, creating iconic moments such as the “Jumpman” dunk and the “Free Throw Line” dunk. Jordan won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest twice and is known for his signature tongue-wagging dunk. He also boasted a long catalog of in game dunks that drew raves. He is widely considered the greatest dunker of all time.

2. Vince Carter

Carter is widely regarded as one of the greatest dunkers in NBA history, and for good reason. He has a career highlight reel full of jaw-dropping dunks, including his iconic 2000 Olympic dunk over 7’2″ French center Frederic Weis. Carter won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2000, where he debuted several new dunks, and is known for his incredible hang time and creativity.

3. Dominique Wilkins

Known as “The Human Highlight Film,” Wilkins was one of the most electrifying dunkers of his era. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest twice and is known for his powerful two-handed windmill dunk and his one-handed tomahawk dunk. Wilkins’ dunks were so impressive that they inspired a young Michael Jordan to become a great dunker himself.

4. LeBron James

While James is known more for his all-around game than his dunking ability, he has still had numerous highlight-reel dunks throughout his career. James is known for his powerful one-handed tomahawk dunk and his incredible ability to finish with authority in traffic.

5. Julius Erving

Known as “Dr. J,” Erving was one of the pioneers of modern dunking and helped popularize the slam dunk in the 1970s. He won the ABA Slam Dunk Contest in 1976 and is known for his graceful, high-flying dunks, including his famous “Rock the Cradle” dunk.

6. Blake Griffin

Griffin is known for his explosive athleticism and his ability to dunk over anyone. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2011 by dunking over a Kia automobile and is known for his signature one-handed, off-the-backboard dunk.

7. Dwight Howard

Howard is one of the most dominant dunkers in NBA history, and his size and power make his dunks even more impressive. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2008 and is known for his powerful two-handed dunks and his ability to dunk from a standing position.

8. Shawn Kemp

Known as the “Reign Man,” Kemp was one of the most explosive dunkers of the 1990s. He is known for his powerful two-handed dunks and his incredible hang time, as well as his ability to dunk over defenders with ease.

9. Jason Richardson

Richardson is one of the most underrated dunkers in NBA history, but his highlight-reel dunks are some of the most impressive you’ll ever see. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2002 and 2003 and is known for his powerful one-handed dunks and his ability to dunk from difficult angles.

10. Spud Webb

At only 5’7″, Webb was one of the most unlikely NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions in history. He won the contest in 1986 and is known for his incredible vertical leap and his ability to dunk over much taller defenders.

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These ten players are just some of the greatest dunkers in NBA history, and their aerial acrobatics have thrilled fans for decades.