Rims have been bent, backboards shattered and whole contests decided by a single jam. Judge with your eyes, not the stat sheet.
1Michael JordanTwo-time Slam Dunk Contest champion whose free-throw-line flight became basketball's defining image.1000pts
2Blake GriffinLob City's centerpiece who famously dunked over a Kia in the 2011 contest.730pts
3Vince CarterThe 2000 Slam Dunk Contest winner whose 'honey dip' and elbow-in-the-rim dunk changed the contest.647pts
4Aaron GordonOrlando forward and perennial dunk-contest star, who famously lost twice on controversial scoring.584pts
5Julius Erving'Dr. J,' who popularized above-the-rim play and won the first ABA dunk contest in 1976.534pts
6Clyde Drexler'Clyde the Glide,' a Hall of Fame wing with fluid rim attacks over a 15-year career.534pts
7Darryl Dawkins'Chocolate Thunder,' who shattered backboards and named his dunks.478pts
8Derrick Jones Jr.2020 dunk contest champion who beat Aaron Gordon in the final.478pts
9Kobe BryantThe 1997 Slam Dunk Contest winner, then one of the league's most athletic wings.478pts
10Spud WebbAt 5'6" he won the 1986 Slam Dunk Contest, defeating teammate Dominique Wilkins.414pts
11DeAndre JordanLob City center whose rim-rocking alley-oops and 2010s dunk totals led the league.414pts
12Dwight HowardWon the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest in a Superman cape and posterized defenders for years.414pts
13LeBron JamesA freight-train finisher whose chase-down blocks and open-court dunks have lasted two decades.341pts
14Shawn Kemp'The Reign Man,' whose backboard-shaking jams defined 1990s Seattle.257pts
15Giannis AntetokounmpoEurostep-and-throwdown finisher whose length makes him one of the league's most devastating dunkers.257pts
16Ja MorantMemphis guard who has put forward some of the most acrobatic dunks of the 2020s.257pts
17Dominique Wilkins'The Human Highlight Film,' a 1985 and 1990 dunk champion known for windmills.257pts
18Zach LaVineTwo-time dunk champion whose 2015 and 2016 duel with Aaron Gordon is a contest classic.257pts
19Nate RobinsonThe only three-time Slam Dunk Contest winner, at 5'9".159pts
Photo credits
- Michael Jordan — Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0
- Blake Griffin — Verse Photography, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Vince Carter — Danny Bollinger, CC BY 2.0
- Aaron Gordon — Reggie Hildred, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Julius Erving — Ash Carter, CC BY 2.0
- Derrick Jones Jr. — All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Kobe Bryant — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Spud Webb — Diemheych derivative work: Shakeydeal33, CC BY-SA 4.0
- DeAndre Jordan — Verse Photography, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Dwight Howard — Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
- LeBron James — Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
- Shawn Kemp — Bryan Horowitz: Flickr, website, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Giannis Antetokounmpo — Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
- Ja Morant — All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Dominique Wilkins — Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
- Zach LaVine — Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
- Nate Robinson — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
