Dwight. (photo. Eriberto Oriol)As nice as that between the legs, off the backboard, self-alley oop dunk that LeBron James pulled off in warmups at MSG was, we should all accept the reality that ‘Bron will never compete in the NBA’s All-Star Weekend dunk contest.
For LeBron and any other mega-superstar, there is more to lose than there is to gain in the deal. Win the contest and you get a whatever-thousand dollar check, maybe a separate makeup of your latest signature shoe, and your next few commercials definitely include some kind of allusion to your recently-won dunk crown. Lose the contest — which may come at the hands of some no-burn-getting rookie just as easily as it could anyone in the League — and your image takes a hit and any dunk you missed in the contest becomes a YouTube instant classic. It may not seem like a big deal (really, who remembers that Ray Allen and Amare Stoudemire were dunk contest losers?) but you have to consider the egos in question.
With LeBron in particular, a lot of people think that he wouldn’t do that well in a contest anyway. Yes, he jumps high and dunks hard, but has rarely shown much creativity in his dunks, even dating back to the McDonald’s All-American high school dunk contest, which he won in his hometown while pulling off some not-so-spectacular crams. LeBron’s best stuff is when he dunks on someone, and he’s not the only big-name superstar in that position. So with that said, who is the NBA’s best in-game dunker?
The short list:
Josh Smith
Jason Richardson
LeBron James
J.R. Smith
Carmelo Anthony
Shawn Marion
Kobe Bryant
Dwyane Wade
Vince Carter
Tyson Chandler
Andre Iguodala
Amare Stoudemire
Dwight Howard
Rudy Gay
Jamario Moon
March 6th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
jz_smoove says:
what a waste, Bron shouldve couldve never would be a dunk champ…a lot of people are for sure upset.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
GEE... Oh LORD I done found my swaaag says:
Vince Carter is the King till anyone else jumps over and dunks on a 7 footer….literally.
Shawn Kemp has to be the best before Vince, cause I can’t recall any other playing dunking so hard on his opponent, that after being dunked on the opponent has to pound Kemp up.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
jz_smoove says:
the best in-game dunker would have to go to D-Ho. quite recent it would have been Wince but hasnt shown any flashes of late.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Alf says:
Dime -
Are we talking presently? Because my other suggestions would be Kenyon and even Shaq.
Before injuries and age has reduced them to where they are today, these two wreaked havoc on the rim.
Moreover, I think a critical sub-catagory you should be in here is “In-game CHANGING dunkers”. By that I mean guys that actually execute dunks that specifically alter the game. For example, I would argue that Jamario’s dunks don’t change the momentum in Toronto’s favor - just more jazz and eye-candy. Ditto with Amare’s.
However, Lebron’s, Kobe’s and Shaq’s dunks shift the balance of the game.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Bxballer says:
Lebron’s dunks are overrated. He just jumps higher than everybody else, as for the list, I would say Rudy Gay is the best in game dunker right now, followed closely by either Amare or Jason Richardson.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Celts Fan says:
Kobe, Vince (hate him, but he’s the best in-game dunker ever,) and J-Rich do the toughest dunks in-game, while Amare and LeBron are both pretty amazing with their signature dunks (Amare’s flying through the lane, arm out-stretched over his head is literally unstoppable and LeBron comes in like a freight train before cocking the ball back behind his head and looking like he wants to rip the rim off the backboard)
March 6th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
me so smoove says:
I dunno but Dwight and Rudy have had some nasty in game dunks. Rudy gave Luis Scola a mid air peep show and Dwight had a nasty one on that Sacto Rook what’s his face.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Fabian says:
i go with Dahntay Jones… haha
March 6th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Alf says:
Hafta callout Bxballer on this one…
How is jumping higher than everyone else constitute over-rated? Jumping ability is somehting pretty difficult to begin with…and besides, did you not see the Cavs vs. Pistons series last year? The one where Lebron’s HEAD is at the rim level which Nike turned flat-out into a commercial? That wasn’t just in a game - it was a playoff game.
Other examples: Before Damon “Diddy” jones joined the Cavs..whose nuts did he get a face full of? Or perhaps where Lebron does the cock-back reverse and makes the rim cringe into a sound unheard before?
March 6th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Gareth says:
Well Vince Carter is the best in game dunker ever… but not this year. Either Dwight or LBJ….but Kenyon can definitely still smash.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
GEE... Oh LORD I done found my swaaag says:
Oh this year? This year I would have to go with Rudy. Moon is a close second but Rudy probably has more than anyone that are praised publicly on tv.
Best ever is Vince though, I’m sorry.
Can you imagine how many dudes Grant Hill would have caught by now without injury.
Whewww!
March 6th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Best in game dunk I have ever seen was when Ricky buckets on the cavs tea-bagged Nash and said “oh shit!”. Dirty.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
TJ says:
Dwight for pure volume.
Lebron for dunking in silly-ass situations. Every few games, he crams on someone when anyone else in the L would have to lay it up.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
GEE... Oh LORD I done found my swaaag says:
Dang Max that was a pretty nast dunk. Funny too lol. Had to demoralize Nash.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
2 Easy says:
Heres the deal. Best in game dunker to me is another LBJ/KB24 debate. I dont want to be another basketball fan on these dudes nuts but realistically these 2 ignite/shut up fans with their dunks and momentum naturally follows. Ask Phoenix about Kobe and ask Detroit about Lebron, particularly Tashayun (ithink) Prince. Dwights dunks should be counted as jump shots due to the high ass amount he has, dude is a monster. I dont agree wit Melo being on this list ahead of Kmart and as soft as he may be said to be Tmac should also be here. His dunks can quiet a concert, ask NO or Dallas. Melo gets high enough to throw in all his stuff so does that still count?
March 6th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
007 says:
I have Magic season tickets so I’m a little biased, but the way Dwight just gets up there and crams it on people is very impressive.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Myrie says:
Grant Hill is dunking again. Does he count? HAHA.
Still gotta be Josh Smith for in-game dunker. Any guy who dunks that hard with the LEFT hand is ill.
Kobe is still up there too. So is Andre Iguadala.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
YallAllReadyKnow says:
best kind of dunk is the type that steals your soul
the way kobe dunked on dwight howard last yr in orlando
they way flip murray jammed on hinrich in chitown last yr.
the way nocioni always gets dunked on.
they way baron davis ate ak47 heart in the playoffs last yr.
those are the best types of dunks. the dunks that have meaning. more than just 2pts
March 6th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
word says:
funny this article is about exactly what i was thinking when i saw his warm up dunk, ridiculous if he did that in a dunk comp. i would actually love to see him in one, b/c i think the pressure would only help to make him get creative on dunks cuz he obviously wants to win. meh whatever though this years dunk contest was whack anyway, previous years have been much better.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
alex says:
Best in-game dunker EVER for me is still MJ. To be the best in-game crammer you’ve gotta be dunking on someone - not some lousy 360 on a fastbreak.
Today, I’d say it would be a toss up between Lebron and Kobe. I agree with Alf that their dunks actually influence the outcome of a game; whether its a momentum shift, a demoralizer, or some crucial baskets.
“Still gotta be Josh Smith for in-game dunker. Any guy who dunks that hard with the LEFT hand is ill.” - but he is a LEFTY. The best off hand dunker ever was Scottie Pippen. He’d palm the ball with his left hand, take off effortlessly in one motion with his right foot and cram on someone.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Myrie says:
Alex–
I know Josh Smith is a lefty. But it doesn’t matter. His lefty dunks are sick!
Kendall Gill had a better left hand than Pippen when it came to dunking. utube em and you’ll see.
March 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
LD says:
gotta add Andre Bynum & Shaq to the list…
before he got hurt this year, any laker driving the lane getting stopped would just toss the ball HIGH towards the basket and Dre would grab it and Slam it home… he cathes oops from everyone
and Shaq still throws it down hard
March 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
YallAllReadyKnow says:
who is andre bynum? ‘dre bynum?
i don’t think so.
ur banned from posting anything further on this subject matter.
at least get the names right chump. andrew bynum.
come back later
March 6th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Celts Fan says:
forgot about the one Mox. that’s one of my favorites I’ve ever seen. Ricky staring straight into the camera and screaming, “OH SHIT!” was the best. He could’ve won a ring and I bet that’d still be Ricky’s favorite moment of his career (it’d sure as hell be mine!)
March 6th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
YallAllReadyKnow says:
not impressed. earl boykins can dunk on steve nash too ya know.
March 6th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
fatro says:
vince “thats why we dont feed the cat people food” carter is the best in game dunker still in the L today. but he doesnt quite hold torch no more. as for my favorite ricky davis moment still has got to be the triple double he earned.
March 6th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Speaking of scottie- the facial he gave Pat ewing was ruthless, and mj’s baseline mash on ewing too. 2 of the best. Starks had a few sick dunks back in the day. What about Kevin Johnson? He poked on a few cats
March 6th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
yoda says:
like someone said, if grant hill stayed healthy, he would be top of the list. from current players, id go with kobe. with all respect to lbj, hes a monster, while kobe is almost-average-build-guard who goes on everyone and dunks it. is there any shot blocking center who wasn’t posterised by kobe? (and ghill in old days).
March 6th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Myrie says:
One of John Starks best dunks was the left hander he threw down on Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995 in Houston.
Regular season game, but Starks put the dream on his ass!
someone please locate the footage….
March 6th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
E$ says:
let’s see how many times you can bring up a blog about Lebron….*sigh*
March 6th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Brown says:
At first I thought Rudy Gay, but the way Kobe’s been doing it lately, I’d give him the nod. Being the best in-game dunker means being able to dunk in traffic, and Kobe’s been locked in doing that all year, especially recently. LeBron is next, Howard, then Gay.
Dunking on a break with nobody in front of you is nothing special, which is what Richardson, Iguodala and Melo all do, so they get no props.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Ding Dong the Knicks are dead says:
All time? You’d have to consider Kemp and VC. What they did just demoralises the other team. These days most in the L get out of the way for KB24 and LBJ (its a certain 3 point play) these days so they aren’t as spectacular as Kemp in his hey day when he would bring the house down on someone. The most game defining dunks? KJ on Dream (revenge dunk), MJ baseline dunk on Ewing, Baron Davis on AK47 and Kemp’s coast to coast (plus the travel which they did not call). Spree’s dunks were quite energetic too, but not up there (who remembers the Landlord commercial?)
March 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
BustJlaze says:
All-time in-game dunkers: (no particular order)
Dr. J
Mike
Shawn Kemp
Vince
Kobe
‘Bron ‘Bron
I know Dime was basically asking “best in the league currently”, but who the $*%@ even puts Andrew Bynum and Shaq on THAT list???? Get the heck outa here…
March 6th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
BustJlaze says:
And I think the best SITUATION dunk of all-time is also the most UNDERRATED dunk of all time:
Robert Horry on my Pistons in the ‘05 finals!! Think about it…crunch time in the all-important game 5 of the NBA FINALS, and dude freakin’ DISLOCATES his SHOULDER to get the additional 2 inches needed to make the play. Oh my GOD. Changes the momentum of the game, and the series. An entire season came down to that dunk. I’m down with the MJ on Ewing, Starks on whoever on the Bulls, and KJ on Dream, but those did not do as much damage as Horry’s joint.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Bron42 says:
alot of people obviously dont seem to kno their dunkers…the simple fact you have lebron “never won a pro contest, dunked on anyone amazing or do more than a windmill” on the list and not dominique wilkins who the HARDEST dunker around. I mean the guy dunked on his own teammates…google people.
lebron gets wayyy to much hype with his dunks. Hes not evne the highest jumper, you forget where your head is doesnt always mean you have a high vert. His vert is mid 30s, but the fact that hes 6′8 makes it look like hes a crazy leaper. Guys like JR smith, nate robinson etc.. all are higher jumpers than him and JR is a better dunker so stop gassin him.
Best in the league right now? we talkin this season? cuz you gotta go with dwight, rudy, Iggy, etc…theres alot of springy guys now days.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Data says:
If were talking about maneuvering in the air to avoid the block and turn it into a crazy dunk then the best all-time would have to be VC. The amount of times in Toronto he’s do a windmill, 360, or pump to avoid a defender was ridiculous. Anybody remember that baseline windmill/pump reverse he had on the Pacers early in his career? One of the sickest dunks I’ve seen. Not to mention the amount of poster stores he single-handedly kept in business by terrorizing big men across the league. He has calmed down now.
If we’re talking current then it’s either LeBron or KB24.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
kowtz says:
Didn’t Nate dunk on Yao?
BTW, anybody forgot AI’s tip dunk on a missed free throw while riding someone’s back?
Gotta admit vince might be a good in game dunker, but he rarely has flare when dunkin on someone (contested dunks)…
Still loved the one where it was a long rebound, and vince had to reach behind him, and twist his body mid air to dunk it…
March 7th, 2008 at 2:50 am
karan says:
i don’t think this is an argument
vince carter - best in game, off game, whatever dunker, EVER
seriously… ask freddie weis
March 7th, 2008 at 3:57 am
Hotboi says:
All time dunker come on!!!!!! VC no question
March 7th, 2008 at 5:57 am
Mike says:
Vince is truly the best, who can forget this:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ieXETZVLJa4
http://www.jumplikevince.com
March 7th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Smitty313 says:
Right now I will go with Rudy Gay out of the people on that list I seen him dunk on more people this year. Then Amare. Lebron I don’t see him dunk in traffic that often he looks for the contact and layup. I don’t remember Kobe dunking on no one at all this year like he use to do. But Rudy had some nasty ones this year.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:01 am
JP says:
Right now I’d say kobe, just the fact that he’s an average guard and can throw it down over 7 footers with ease especially if he’s fired up (or pissed off) but all time some of the jams nique pulled off in his day where some mad in game dunks.
March 7th, 2008 at 8:09 am
GEE says:
BRON 42,
You are an asshole for saying JR fucking Smith is a better dunker than LBJ!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 11:38 am
dapro says:
Gotta put Boom Dizzle on the list, even (old school) Shaq should get some luv. @ 7ft.
March 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
doc says:
Im goin with Bronny.
March 7th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Ian says:
vince is the best
in everything dunk ever
March 7th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Bron42 says:
Gee think about it, whats lebrons best in game dunk since hes been a pro? all his fast break dunks he cocks back one hand? his windmill? Hes a 6′8 power dunker, hes not creative, he rarely ever challenges 7′0ers. His best dunk on a tall person was tim duncan takin a charge and lebron kinda went around him. JR smith as a hornet had WAYYYY better in game dunks than lebron AND he was in the dunk contest so he gets point for at least havin the balls to join. Lebron literally has 3 dunks but gets so much hype for pretty basic stuff.
Also alot of people are hypin vince over older guys like jordan because he 360’s and stuff. Your tellin me jordan couldnt 360? don’t disprespect guys like jordan and nique as dunkers just cuz they were in a earlier era meanwhile they both had higher verts, won contests and dunked on just as many people as vince. Not to mention, you forget, back in the day a windmill was pretty equal to what a 360 is now, or a foul line compared to between the legs, so for their time they were just as abusive as vince if not more. Plus J-rich has already shown he could do ever dunk vince has done. So if thats teh case, J-rich is better than vince the same way vince is supposedly better than jordan.
And as for best dunkers ever:
Nique,Jordan,Vince.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Gee says:
Lebron’s dunk on Damon Jones was sicker than any dunk JR Smith has ever pulled off.