NBA

Top 10 Dunks in NBA History

Photo of Mikayla Kaliser Mikayla Kaliser19/03/2024 - 01:07 pm
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Last night, Anthony Edwards threw down a viral dunk in the second half of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 114-104 win against the Utah Jazz. In the third quarter of the game, the Timberwolves shooting guard postered his slam dunk over John Collins of the Utah Jazz, but the viral play left both players injured. 

During the impressive play, Edwards’ hand collided with Collins’ cheekbone, dislocating his left ring finger and causing Collins to sit out the remainder of the game under suspicion of a possible concussion. Despite both players getting injured from the play, it is being considered the greatest dunk of the year. 

Following last night’s thrilling play, let’s look at the top 10 dunks in the history of the NBA. 

1. Kobe Bryant to Shaquille O’Neal Lob

One of the most iconic dunks in NBA history occurred in Game 7 of the 2000 NBA Western Conference Finals. 

The Los Angeles Lakers’ match against the Portland Trail Blazers was a winner-takes-all match as both franchises had won three games in the Western Conference Finals, and the winner of Game 7 would advance to the NBA Finals. 

With ten minutes left in the game, Portland was up 75-60, but the Lakers made one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the NBA. 

Future Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal led their team in the comeback. With just 40 seconds left in the game, Bryant made his famous lob to Shaquille O’Neal, who finished the pass with his remarkable dunk. 

This famous play brought the Lakers up 85-79, sealing their Game 7 win and advancing them to the NBA Finals, where they would win the 2000 NBA title. 

2. Dwyane Wade’s Dunk on Kendrick Perkins

In the 2010-2011 NBA season, former Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade threw down one of the most incredible dunks the NBA has seen.

In the second quarter of the Heat’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Miami franchise was trailing 41-30, and Wade knew he had something to prove as it was his team’s first season in the “Big Three Era” as LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade all competed on the same team. 

As Wade possessed the ball, he made his way into the paint when he spun and put up a two-handed dunk over Oklahoma’s Kendrick Perkins. 

3. DeAndre Jordan Posters on Brandon Knight

On March 10, 2013, in the Los Angeles Clippers’ match against the Detroit Pistons, Clippers center DeAndre Jordan made a monster dunk over Pistons guard Brandon Knight. 

With the Clippers leading the Pistons 55-36 in the second quarter of the game, Jordan postered on Knight practically flattening his opponent. 

After the monster dunk on the Pistons guard, “RIP Brandon Knight” was trending on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

4. Paul George’s 360 Windmill Slam Dunk

On January 18, 2014, former Indiana Pacers shooting guard Paul George made the most impressive play, performing a 360 windmill dunk in his game against the Los Angeles Clippers. 

As the Pacers were leading 94-74 with six minutes left in the game, George intercepted a pass from the Clippers and made a fast break across the court. The Pacers’ shooting guard had a clear path to the net and made a reverse 360-degree spin mid-air before dunking the ball through the net. 

5. Gerald Green’s Windmill Alley-Oop

On March 10, 2012, former Nets shooting guard Gerald Green finished an alley-oop with a windmill dunk against the Houston Rockets. 

In the third quarter of the Nets’ game against the Rockets, Houston was leading 77-73 before Green was on the receiving end of an alley-oop from teammate MarShon Brooks when he caught the ball mid-air and made a monster windmill dunk. 

The Nets shooting guard led all scorers in the match as he amassed 26 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Despite this, the Nets lost the game to the Rockets 112-106, marking their 28th loss of the season. 

6. LeBron James Posters on Jason Terry

During LeBron James’ four seasons with the Miami Heat, he secured one of his most incredible dunks of all time when he postered on Jason Terry of the Boston Celtics. 

On March 18, 2013, James received an alley-oop from former teammate Norris Cole and threw down his massive alley-oop slam dunk over Terry, leaving the Celtics guard on the ground. 

7. Blake Griffin “Mozgoved” the 7’1” Russian Center

Blake Griffin created a new verb on November 20, 2010, when he made a slam dunk over New York Knicks center Timofey Mozgov. 

As the Los Angeles Clippers were trailing behind the New York franchise 78-64 in the third quarter, Griffin made one of the greatest dunks of his career. Griffin received a pass setting him up to score, and the power forward immediately jumped and dunked over his 7’1” opponent. 

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo Posters Over Tim Hardaway Jr. 

On February 6, 2018, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo added an incredible dunk to his NBA career that season. 

With eight minutes left in the third quarter of the Bucks’ game against the New York Knicks, the Milwaukee franchise was leading the Knicks 60-50 when Khris Middleton stole a pass from Knicks’ Lance Thomas and went for a fast break. As he approached the basket, he passed the ball to Giannis, who soared over Tim Hardaway Jr. for a slam dunk. 

9. Michael Jordan Explodes Over Patrick Ewing

In Game 3 of the 1991 NBA Playoffs between the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, Jordan found himself cornered near the baseline by Knicks’ John Starks and Charles Oakley. 

The legendary Bulls player managed to spin away from the two players and soared over Knicks center Patrick Ewing in a one-handed dunk. Jordan helped the Bulls clinch their third playoff victory as they beat the Knicks 109-94 and won the 1991 NBA Championship title in the following games. 

10. Shaquille O’Neal’s Disrespectful Poster on Chris Dudley

Before his championship season in 2000, Shaquille O’Neal showed the NBA world he was in his prime. 

In the Lakers’ 1999 game against the New York Knicks, Shaq made one of the most disrespectful dunks known to the league.

After receiving the ball, the Lakers center postered on Knicks’ Chris Dudley as O’Neal dunked and hung onto the rim before singing towards Dudley and shoving the Knicks center on the ground.

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Photo of Mikayla Kaliser Mikayla Kaliser19/03/2024 - 01:07 pm

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