The game of basketball is riddled with electrifying plays that get the crowd going, like buzzer-beaters, half-court shots, or flashy passes. But there’s nothing that could excite die-hard basketball fans more than some emphatic slam dunks!
Today, I’ve prepared for you a well-detailed review of the 20 best dunkers in NBA history. This league has seen serious high-flying slams, from MJ’s free throw dunk to Shaq’s rim-rocking dunks that shattered glass backboards.
Get ready, to discover who are the best NBA dunkers of all time!
Top 20 Dunkers in NBA:
- J.R. Smith
- Dwight Howard
- Dwayne Wade
- Derrick Rose
- Russel Westbrook
- Aaron Gordon
- Tracy McGrady
- Scottie Pippen
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Lebron James
- David Thompson
- Kobe Bryant
- Blake Griffin
- Clyde Drexler
- Shawn Kemp
- Jason Richardson
- Julius Erving
- Dominique Wilkins
- Michael Jordan
- Vince Carter
#20 – J.R. Smith
Memorable dunk: Poster dunk on Gary Neal
Vertical jump: 44”
I’ve started this list with one of the most athletic basketball players who always put on a show with his incredible dunks—J.R. Smith. His explosiveness is unmatched, and his highlight reel is full of dunks like windmills, reverses, and 360s.
He made these moves not only in his prime while playing for the Knicks and Nuggets but also later when he was a Cavalier. Besides being one of the best dunkers of all time, J.R. was a great three-point shooter and could score points from all positions on the court.
#19 – Dwight Howard
Memorable dunk: Superman dunk
Vertical jump: 39.5”
1x NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
Dwight Howard is one of the strongest centers in the NBA. He’s a true power-dunker who puts many defenders to shame, especially with his two-handed slam dunks. During his best years at Orlando, he was an unstoppable force and even led them to an NBA Final.
Also, thanks to his immense athleticism and powerful build, he was often compared to Shaq. In 2008, Dwight won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest with a Jordan-esque dunk from the free-throw line. At 37, Howard is still active and plays for the T1 League Taouyan Leopards.
#18 – Dwayne Wade
Memorable dunk: Poster jam on Anderson Varejao
Vertical jump: 36”
Dwayne Wade is a three-time NBA champion and a legend of the Miami Heat. His jump shots and mid-range shots were his trademark moves. Besides that, he’s also one of the best dunkers in NBA history.
Injuries have limited his abilities over time, but at his peak, Wade became famous for putting many big men on posters. The most notable was when he annihilated Anderson Varejao by dunking over him. No player like Wade could go fearlessly to the rim and dunk with authority.
#17 – Derrick Rose
Memorable dunk: Two-handed slam over Goran Dragic
Vertical jump: 42”
Derrick Rose has to be one of the biggest “what ifs” in basketball.
With 6’ 3” height, he did some amazing high-flying slams and soared to the rim with unmatched explosiveness. Winning the MVP award in the 2010/11 season, Rose was the youngest player to win it, and many fans thought he could be the next big Bulls superstar.
Unfortunately, multiple knee injuries ruined his path to greatness. Nevertheless, when Derrick was healthy, his capacity to hang in the air and throw such flashy throwdowns was something many players couldn’t even dream of.
#16 – Russel Westbrook
Memorable dunk: Poster jam on Rudy Gobert
Vertical jump: 36.5”
Westbrook was always criticized because of his unpredictable playing style. But no one can criticize his ability to throw slam dunks, even though he’s a point guard. Whenever basketball fans watch Westbrook play, they can expect a different dunk he’ll throw down with authority.
Even with his reckless playing style, Russel is still active and injury-free. His best years were at Oklahoma City Thunder, where he produced some jaw-dropping in-game dunks.
#15 – Aaron Gordon
Memorable dunk: Below the legs, over the mascot slam
Vertical jump: 39”
Aaron Gordon is, without a doubt, among the elite dunkers of this generation. This athletic power forward from the Denver Nuggets has produced some emphatic rim-rattling dunks during games.
Gordon is mostly famous for participating in the slam dunk contests.
He unfairly lost to Zach Lavine in 2016, and his behind-the-legs dunk over the mascot is one of the most legendary dunks fans have ever witnessed. Also, he was robbed at the 2020 dunk contest, losing to Derrick Jones Jr.
There is no doubt that Gordon gave the basketball lovers what they wanted to see in those contests.
#14 – Tracy McGrady
Memorable dunk: Poster dunk on Kornel David
Vertical jump: 42”
Prime Tracy McGrady produced some of the best high-flying poster dunks in the NBA. When health was on his side, McGrady was an absolute nightmare for big men as he quite often posterized them. Also, Tracy’s speed allowed him to make quick breakaway dunks with ease.
But, injuries got to him very fast and drained the explosiveness out of him in his late 20s. Nevertheless, McGrady was a sight to behold for the time when he played at the Rockets and deserves his spot on the list as one of the best dunkers of all time. There’s no surprise that he was an amazing dunker, given the fact that his cousin is the greatest dunker in NBA history—Vince Carter.
#13 – Scottie Pippen
Memorable dunk: Poster jam in Patrick Ewing
Vertical Jump: 41”
Scottie Pippen, the greatest sidekick ever in the NBA, won two three-peats with the Chicago Bulls. He was a complete player mostly known for being a fantastic perimeter defender, and he didn’t lack in the offensive part either.
However, Pippen was also famous for his disrespectful dunks thrown over famous centers. His best dunk was against the New York Knicks when he posterized Patrick Ewing and even stepped over him after the landing.
Other centers Pippen put to shame at the rim were Charles Barkley, Manute Bol, and Karl Malone. Big men and other players also knew that when Pippen drove through the lane, they better be careful.
#12 – Shaquille O’Neal
Memorable dunk: Glass-shattering dunk vs the Nets
Vertical jump: 32”
The NBA has never witnessed a more dominant force in the game than the massive 300-pound center Shaquille O’Neal. His one-of-a-kind build helped him to make ferocious dunks. Some of them even broke the backboard, which testifies to how terrifyingly strong Shaq was as a player. Besides being big, Shaq was pretty agile and fast, which was a real problem for many big men in the paint.
Sure, there were players on this list who dunked with more grace and elegance than him, but Shaq’s strength and supremacy on the court helped him to be included.
#11 – Lebron James
Memorable dunk: Alley-oop jam on Jason Terry
Vertical jump: 44”
When we talk about Lebron James, the main topic of discussion is whether he’ll be the GOAT by the end of his career. For many, this is already set in stone, as Lebron is also one of the best passers in NBA history, in addition to being the league’s top point scorer. However, what needs to be mentioned more often is that Lebron is one of the best dunkers of all time.
James’ athleticism and brute strength make him unstoppable when he attacks the rim and throws a mind-blowing dunk. His trademark is the tomahawk dunk.
Throughout his career, James also threw countless posters on players like Jason Terry, Damon Jones, Jusuf Nurkic, etc.
Fans still can’t get over the fact that Lebron didn’t participate in a Slam Dunk Contest. However, he often makes in-game dunks that look like the ones players make in that contest.
#10 – David Thompson
Memorable dunk: “Skywalker” dunks over Bobby Jones
Vertical jump: 48”
The top 10 list of the best NBA dunkers starts with a pioneer of high-flying dunks—David Thompson. This former Nuggets player was even part of the first dunk contest in the ABA League( later part of the NBA) alongside Julius Erving, George Gervin, and others.
His nickname, “Skywalker,” says it all. He was 6’4” tall and had an enormous vertical jump of 48”.
Nothing brought joy to Thompson more than when he posterized his opponents. Thompson took pride in the fact and even said in one interview that he would be at a psychological advantage when he dunked over a bigger man.
What’s also fascinating about Thompson is that a young Michael Jordan drew great inspiration from his fascinating dunks and wanted to be a player like him.
#9 – Kobe Bryant
Memorable dunk: Poster dunk over Yao Ming
Vertical jump: 38”
1x NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
The late Kobe Bryant was as close as someone could get to the GOAT, Michael Jordan. He always carried himself confidently, which translated into his dunks.
Kobe was unstoppable and feared absolutely no one when he attacked the rim. He regularly dunked in other players’ faces, posterizing and humbling them. He dunked on some of the biggest centers ever, like Yao Ming and Dwight Howard.
As a rookie In 1997, he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest with some vicious between-the-legs and reverse dunks. This contest was just the first of many accolades that Kobe achieved during his illustrious career.
#8 – Blake Griffin
Memorable dunk: Dunk over a KIA car
Vertical Jump: 35.5”
1x NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
Thanks to his raw strength and impressive athleticism, Blake Griffin is among the most powerful NBA dunkers ever. This 6’ 10” big man made breathtaking dunks when he was 100% healthy.
His most memorable night has to be the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest, when he put on a show with a 360-spinning dunk and a reverse dunk over a KIA car.
When Blake Griffin played for the Clippers, he put players like Timofey Mozgov and Kendrick Perkins on posters. He could throw three to four dunks in each game, and many of them kept the crowd on their feet.
#7 – Clyde Drexler
Memorable dunk: A dunk almost from the free-throw line
Vertical jump: 43”
A Portland Trailblazers legend, Clyde Drexler is known for his exciting, smooth, high-flying slams. Michael Jordan definitely overshadowed him, and if it weren’t for him, more of Clyde’s dunks would’ve been remembered.
Nevertheless, his nickname “Glide” was justified since his unmatched ability in the air was evident in most of his dunks. He moved his feet while in the air, which looked like he was walking in the air.
Dunking seemed like an easy routine while he gracefully flew in the air. Drexler also competed in numerous dunk contests, and it was an absolute joy to watch him as he threw breathtaking jams.
#6 – Shawn Kemp
Memorable dunk: Poster dunk on Alton Lister
Vertical jump: 41”
Seattle Supersonics superstar Shawn Kemp is among the most ferocious NBA dunkers in a power forward position. He liked contact and threw dunks on players with intensity and tenacity like no one had seen. Besides poster dunks, Kemp often enjoyed doing alley-oops with the help of another Seattle Supersonics legend, Gary Payton.
His unforgettable poster dunk on Alton Lister has to be one of the most disrespectful in history. To make it more ridiculous, Kemp pointed his fingers to Lister, who was on the ground. Kemp was indeed a rare sight to behold when he drove through traffic and soared in the air for a powerful slam dunk.
#5 – Jason Richardson
Memorable dunk: Reverse buzzer-beating dunk against the Grizzlies
Vertical jump: 46.5”
2x NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
One of the most underrated NBA dunkers ever was Jason Richardson.
When it comes to the Slam Dunk Contests, he won in 2002 and 2003. Richardson threw 360s, 180 reversed windmills, between-the-legs slams, and many other dunks. Also, he didn’t disappoint with his in-game dunks since most resembled those in the dunk contests.
He really had the knack for moving his feet in the air, which added to the flair of the high-flying dunks.
During his time in the NBA, Richardson had many highlight reels of superb dunks like tomahawks, putback dunks, double reversed slams, etc.
#4 – Julius Erving
Memorable dunk: “Rock the baby” Cradle dunk vs the Lakers
Vertical jump: 43”
1x ABA Dunk Contest Champion
Julius Erving, or Dr.J, is the pioneer of dunking. He revolutionized dunks in the 1970s and was one of the most influential dunkers in the modern-day NBA. Erving made dunks a big part of his playing style and performed them with great finesse and elegance. His creativity in the air was unreal.
His most famous dunk is the legendary “Rock the Baby” cradle dunk versus the Lakers. Erving effortlessly flew in the air, palmed the basketball with his hands while flying, and dunked viciously.
His impressive vertical jump and solid build helped him attack the rim and dunk without fear of big men in the paint.
NBA became a lot more entertaining when Dr. J started throwing high-flying slams.
#3 – Dominique Wilkins
Memorable dunk: Poster dunk over Bob Lanier
Vertical jump: 42”
2x NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
Number three on the list goes to the dunking maestro and former Houston Rockets player Dominique Wilkins. He put on a show in many of his games, hence the nickname “The Human Highlight Reel.” Wilkins was a rare NBA dunker who was both powerful and creative.
His collection of memorable dunks was quite long, from strong one-handed jams to 360 tomahawk dunks.
He won the 1985 and 1990 NBA Slam Dunk Contests and competed against legends like Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, Clyde Drexler, and others. The 1988 Slam Dunk Contest, in which he competed against Michael Jordan, is widely regarded as the best in the NBA’s history. Dominique is a true inspiration for many of today’s dunkers.
#2 – Michael Jordan
Memorable dunk: Free-throw line dunk at the 1987 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Vertical jump: 48”
2x NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
The greatest of all time, Michael Jordan, takes the number two spot. MJ had mind-blowing dunks during games and when he competed in the NBA Slam Dunk Contests. He may not have had great power in his dunks, but they were graceful and aesthetically impressive.
His main strength was the ability to hang in the air for so long that he made time stand still. Then, he would just jump quickly and put the ball in the basket.
MJ won two Slam Dunk Contests, with the free-throw line dunk in 1987 being his most memorable and stunning jam. His nickname, “Air” Jordan, was well deserved.
He also didn’t spare any defenders and posterized many like Patrick Ewing, Bill Laimbeer, Dikembe Mutombo, etc.
#1 – Vince Carter
Memorable dunk: Poster jam over Frederic Weis
Vertical jump: 43”
1x NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
No one can deny that Vince Carter is the best NBA dunker ever. What’s impressive about Carter is that besides doing breathtaking dunks during a dunk contest, he produced stunning in-game dunks that looked like the ones he did in the competition.
He threw down posters, windmills, alley-oops, one-handed dunks, mighty two-handed jams, and many other impressive dunks. Nicknamed “Vinsanity,” Carter had perfect timing for adjusting in mid-air and performing high-flying dunks with sharp precision.
In the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, he put a historic performance with four rounds of thunderous dunks, the most famous one being the 360 windmill dunk.
The 2000 Olympics left the crowd in shock when he jumped over a 7’2” French center, Frederic Weis, and did the best in-game poster dunk in basketball history.
His stunning feats of athleticism won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
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