NBA / Dec 12, 2008 / 5:25 pm
Would LeBron Win The Dunk Contest?
In our conversation about the 10 Best In-Game Dunkers, some readers insisted that LeBron isn’t really a “good” dunker. He’s just athletic but supposedly doesn’t have any style.
Well for those who subscribe to that school of thought, what about the video above?
Do you think that LeBron would win the dunk contest if he entered?
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December 12th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
baron says:
I think kenny smith would rate that an 8.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Steve A says:
Lebron should enter and use Damon Jones as a prop…oh wait he did that a few years ago…
December 12th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
maddskizzle says:
WOW. He made that basketball net look like one of the fisher-price variety.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
K Dizzle says:
y’all gonna wake bron42 up
December 12th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Tbone says:
Anyone who says he has no style should get a lifetime ban from watching or commenting on any NBA games ever again.
It’s just pathetic.
Get your heads out of that dark warm spot you seem to like so much
December 12th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Vinny says:
Hell Yea he would win!
December 12th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Rafa23 says:
thats a good dunk, but between the legs isn’t special anymore. j-rich did it reverse jumping off two legs.
he would need some better things…
December 12th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Big Freeze says:
Would Lebron win the slam dunk contest. Um…yes.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Finally!! i’ve always wanted to get into this topic but if i started i wouldve been labeled a “hater”..
LEBRON JAMES IS NOT A CREATIVE DUNKER..
A super powerful freak dunker?? Yes.. Would he win the dunk contest?? NO.. I watched Lebron in the dunk contest in the high school all star games and the only reason he won is because he is Lebron James.. it was straight HYPE.. Yes Lebron has a style but since he can get up so high and insists on the constant ONE HANDED HAMMER slam i would rather see him Dawkins the f’in Rim with two hands.. He dunks the same way ALL THE TIME.. and while it was fun the first 3-4 years i dont get hyped off watching the SAME thing all the time.. he might spice it up with a reverse slam but that just about does it..
And the funniest part is he will admit it himself because he has..
December 12th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
MJ23 says:
If you would like to see the most robotic, mechanical dunks in the history of the dunk contest….
Enter Lebron.
He has like one dunk…wait, two counting that reverse jam he finally broke out.
The guys got no substance for dunking and dunks just far away or with power…so with athleticism like other readers have stated.
Plus he would never enter the dunk contest b/c he’d be way afraid to lose, might tarnish his “perfect” reputation.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Against Toronto he had, what, 2-3 breakaway dunks in a row ALL THE SAME and the crowd damn near came on itself..
Be a soldier and tomahawk that shit.. I’m sorry but i would rather see someone get posterized with a two handed yak than a one handed yak..
Unless its dwade of course.. But i will admit that one handed slam shit was nasty against Rasheed in 07 and KG (OUCH) in 08..
December 12th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Hey!! says:
Lebron jumps high and dunks hard, which is good but more than anything one must be creative in order to win the dunk contest. Judging from the highlights on Youtube I barely see any creativity in Lebron’s dunks, so NO.
December 12th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Most creative dunkers?? Well the most creative dunk all stars of 1998 and up! lol
Vince (a LEGEND since the Dunk contest, Nuff said)
J-Rich (180 between the legs, behind the head WITH the off hand?? rigggghhhhhtttt)
Kobe (just because he got balls to do CRAZY shit during a game with profressionals.. 180′s, reverses, etc)
And i also like Andre Iggy, Gerald Green and JSmoove..
Dwight Howard?? Ehhhhh..
December 12th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
LakeShow84 says:
I luv how dime posts that and expect for everyone to be all OOOOHHHHHH AAAHHHHHHHH HES THE BEST..
How hard was it to type this story with one hand?? cuz i know what the other hand does when it comes to Lebron..
December 12th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Say Wha? says:
With all due respect to Bron’s vicious dunks in games, he’d be no fun to watch in a dunk contest…the McDonald’s one he did in high school was weak, just like LateShow said
December 12th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Three Stacks says:
Well, his dunks during games might not be considered creative, but no one really has any idea how creative Lebron can be. I mean, he’s got the physical tools to pull off any kind of dunk he wants, probably. You can’t say he’s not creative and just leave it at that when he hasn’t been in a dunk contest. It’s not like he can take off his jersey and put on a Superman shirt during a game or anything.
I don’t know if Lebron has the creativity to come up with some new dunks, but if he does, he’d probably win.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
ball till i fall says:
if u wanted to talk about lebron in the dunk contest you should have posted the one where he throws it behind his back off the backboard and catches it with his nutsack somewhere around the top of the square
December 12th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Amar says:
I think lebron + dunk contest = correy maggetti’s dunk contest + a little bit more power.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
djho says:
he’s not going to pull out creative dunks during a game. but i’m sure he can do them with his hops and skills.
look at dwight howard, he does the same power dunk every game. but he won the dunk contest with his creativity – no one would have saw it coming.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
rob stewart says:
he wouldn’t win because he makes things look to easy
December 12th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
JCARR says:
only because the fans would want that…. he could probably do a lay in the dunk contest and still win.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Cdouble says:
I agree with 3 stacks and DJHO; I’m sure a lot of you said all the same things about Dwight Howard and his in-game dunk repertoire. For those who say “He can just jump high,” wasn’t it that ability that made the freethrow line dunk so amazing? Wasn’t the combination of jumping ability and strength what won Nique a few contests? Don’t write him off until he takes the stage. And if you’re looking for a gimmicky flair, I’m sure he’d be creative enough (See: Halloween costume wore to QL arena October 31st).
December 12th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
ninja cool says:
It was that effortless for the king. Saw a vid of a warm up dunk where he’s at the FT line, does a behind-the-back pass that goes glass, catches then tomahawks. Hands.Down.Winner.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
jiggman says:
Lebron would win. He doesn’t have the best dunks (especially off two feet, ever see him do a two-footed windmill?), but he’s more mainstream and would get the crowd behind him. Judges probably favor him more b/c he’s so popular. Basically he would need a good/solid performance and he’d win (see high school dunk contest).
December 12th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Jay says:
LeBron definitely wouldn’t be a lock to win, but he’d compete and also be entertaining. His dunks in game ARE of similar variety every time, but it just makes your jaw drop every time he smashes one while looking down on the rim.
LBJ’s body type is a bit to thick and rigid to be able to do some of the in-air maneuvers that would yield 10s across the board, even if he did had the hops to do them easily.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
FrannyDavis says:
You guys forget that Lebrons trying to build an empire, his been doing his signature dunk since the first game of his career and now has it branded as his logo just like Mike.
December 13th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend says:
1) as i said before a high school kid already did that…david lees year I think of the mcdonalds all american AND DIDNT EVEN MAKE IT OUT THE FIRST ROUND!
2) watch lebrons mcdonalds all american dunk contest..his dunks were weak and he only won because a) it was in cleveland B) jr giddens got hurt c) 4 of the 5 judges were either already on teh cavs or played for the browns (wagner,boozer, and courtney brown were 3 of the judges and a fan)
3) I never said lebron cant dunk…i mean he did do a between the legs dunk in a high school game, prompting ricky davis to do it the next day just as easy…my point is lebron isnt super creative with his dunks..IF he ever enter, we would be riskin too much if he lost and if he won, the majory would be just cuz its lebron and people would ride his dick the same way every pass he makes is “a young magic johnson is his prime” or some shit..Hes young, hes tall and hes got hops out the ass BUT a young vince, jordan, nique, hell even josh smith or a young steve francis would do him in outside of his hype factor.
December 13th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend says:
and djho, alot of us saw it coming wiht dwight cuz he said before exactly what he was gonna do like weeks in advance, he hasnt done the kiss the rim but we all kno he can do it. Like JCarr said, lebron could p0rolly fingerroll it ala darrel armstrong and still win just its lebron BUT if he lost to some bitch ass like moon or westbrook, it would crap his suit of armor that makes him seem so great
December 13th, 2008 at 1:13 am
Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend says:
and stop all this “he doesn’t pull out his good stuff during games” kobe does..vince did…jordan did…nique did…and they all also got trophys
December 13th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Mark says:
I’m not sure the logic behind Bron42′s statement. Are you saying Shobe and VC don’t pull out ridiculous dunks in-game? Because that’s most certainly not true.
BronBron’s dunks in game are just spectacular by the sheer strength he possesses. I’ve never heard BronBron to be a finesse dunker, which are my personal favourite dunkers.
December 13th, 2008 at 3:05 am
wwill says:
No. His performance will get lame by round 2. First round, people will applaud his ‘thunderous’ tomahawks to which the commentators will describe, ‘it may seem like a very average dunk, but you really have to see it to appreciate the raw power and tenacity of the dunk’.
The general public will buy that for awhile. Until Rd 2 rolls along and everyone starts to wonder if they’ll ever see something else.
December 13th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Kalan F. says:
It’s hard nowadays to come up with new dunks, especially after what Dwight Howard did during the dunk contest this past All-Star Weekend. I think LeBron is the only player in the NBA who can dunk with creativity and power at the same time in a game. It would be nice to see him, Kobe, Vince Carter, and Dwight Howard have a dunk off. However, we all know that is not going to happen. So, if LeBron wants to be in the dunk contest, fine. If not, that’s okay too.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:19 am
LEBRON Defensive Player of the Year and NBA MVP 2009 says:
THe NBA was completely STUPID when the eliminated the Dunk contest from the All Star game a few years ago. Thats like Baseball with no home run contest.
LeBron says he doesnt think about his dunks therefore he wont compete, but if he did practice the boy would take the trophy, simply because he has more hang time than most players, vertical, strength and ball control.
December 13th, 2008 at 11:51 am
the kid says:
to all who say he won’t win because of creativeness: YOU GUYS ARE DUMB.
the dunks that lebron would do in the contest are different than the dunks lebron makes in a game. the in game dunks of lebron aren’t that creative. He knows that.
The dunks he’d do in a dunk contest would be creative because that’s what dunk contests are all about. You add in Lebron’s breathtaking athleticism and it’s over.
December 13th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
YO MOMMA says:
i agree with the comment above me. when has dwight howard done anything besides a one or two handed power dunk in a game…. NOT NEVA! oh yeah he did do a windmill against argentina in 07 but thats about it. hes not a creative game dunker either but he put a brillant show in the dunk contest
December 13th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
YO MOMMA says:
oh yea and who says lebron isnt creative. imma breakdown all of the dunks ive seen from him….
-two-hand double pump reverse off one and two legs
-one or two hand windmills off one leg
-through the legs off one leg
-he can easily take off from the free throw line so he can prolly do all the same dunks that james white can do
go on youtube and search for top 200 lebron james dunks…his array of dunks is about as good as anyone’s
December 13th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend says:
Mark, No i was saying that vince and kobe DO break out crazy dunk in game…lebron really doesnt…he sticks with his 3 dunks and their all fast break dunks.
This conversation is funny cuz its bein posted buy alot of guys who can’t dunk and never done dunk contests themselves so they don’t seem to understand what goes into it…its kinda like when they had cynthia cooper as a judge…she doesn’t kno wats actually a hard dunk or not.
The Kid, ummm we’ve already seen lebron in a dunk contest and it was lame…so stop actin like we have nooo idea what hes capable of. He wasn’t creative then and he had the size and hop0s then…none of them were breath taking.
Yo Momma, dwight is naturally a creative fun kiddish guy…hence him being the showman. Lebron is kinda into himself and wants to always play it safe so he doesn’t lose the lime light..thats like comparing shaqs personality to kobe. Not to mention, ur list of lebrons dunks, none of them are tough dunks, SPECIALLY for someone 6’8. And to say hes on the level of james white? you lost the wholeeeeee argument. Scottie pippen dunked from the foul line too ya kno…was he on james whites level? and have you ever actually even seen lebron do a foul line dunk or we just assuming stuff again cuz lebron is lebron. Meanwhile james has gone from the foul line between the legs. Lebrons dunk array is weak. compare his one and only dunk contest to any james white contest, any vince carter, hell even desmond mason is a more creative in game dunker than lebron…stop with all the “oh lebron chooses not to unleash crazy stuff” comments…ummmm if he never unleashes his crazy dunks, never has won a real dunk contest, and ALL HE DOES IN GAMES IS THE SAME 3 FUCKING DUNKS…how is he suddenly the greatest dunker of all time to some of u people. hype hype hype. friggen gerald green would take lebron out in a dunk contest bare feet and all.
December 13th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
bendizzle says:
he has the power of ‘nique, the athleticism of mike, vince’s creativity and the body of an action figure. so yes, he would win.
December 14th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Sacc says:
I don’t think he’d win don’t get me wrong he’s a sick game dunker and he’d prolly come up with some good shit but Dwight holds that shit down. Lebron only won the high school dunk contest because of how high he jumped it just looks pretty. Although if he put his armpit in the rim it would make it interesting
December 14th, 2008 at 11:47 am
ERichB says:
For all those who keep on saying that vince carter needs to be back in the dunk contest: you guys are idiots. Vince can’t jump at all anymore. too many injuries. He’s one of the most boring players to watch. All he does are jump shots and the occasional drive to the basket in which he gets like an inch off the ground. His dunks are nothing now. Don’t get me wrong, i used to love watching vince play. Dude was sick. But now it’s just a disappointment.
December 15th, 2008 at 6:24 am
M Intellect says:
Until we see Lebron in an NBA Dunk Contest, we can’t say whether he is creative or not or if he would win it or not.
To go off game dunks is hard because they’re different. Maybe he just isn’t the showboating/disrepectful type?
But what we can say is that – THE ABOVE DUNK WAS SICK. Cats might have done it a different way in the Dunk Contest but this was in the warm-ups.
For me that’s a 10 purely because dude’s 270. Imagine Zach Randolph or Tractor Traylor trying that shit.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
I think the only reason Lebron hasn’t entered the dunk contest is it would be too easy for him. He can jump higher than anyone in the league and doesn’t want to waste his time…LOL
December 26th, 2008 at 11:49 am
DDEEZZ's says:
Lebron Would due well, aside from the fact he may have (what people say) weak creativity. Lets look at Rudy Gay…. Really… I would imagine Lebron could assuredly dunk from beyond the Free Throw line with ease. I would like to see that brought to life. J Moon made a vid I though it might be possible but LBJ could do it. I say go for it, the fans deserve the best dunkers in the game out there, regardless of what our thoughts might be of there creativity.