I was on the Panama canal preparing to move back to the U.S. So you will have to excuse me for not having time to watch a television program
Many of the people doing the free throw line dunk do put down tape from where they want to go off, but then they just take of a foot closer to the rim. So I do not think that would have helped the dunk, because people still expect him to take of closer to the rim. Now if he had made a giant hole were the Paint was, then people would believe that he was going to jump from beyond the free throw line.
Regular FT line dunks shouldn't be impressive anymore -- they've been around since Dr. J in '76 I believe. I need at least a windmill like Josh Smith. If a guy is 6'6"-ish, I'm not impressed. The height and length don't make it an extremely difficult dunk. Let's see a 6'3" guy pull it off, and I'll give him credit. I think McGee's creativity was pretty good, save for the final dunk (which I assume was a planned FT line attempt that was undercut by Ibaka). I haven't been as impressed by a dunker since Iguodala was robbed. My personal favorite moment: Ibaka's entrance, with Reggie saying "Win the crowd, win your freedom." WHAT?!
Javale McGee should have won IMO, the two ball dunk was off the wall, then the 3 ball dunk was wooooooooooow! I like McGee, would love him if he was in Rockets Red.
Dr.J was 6'7 and Jordan 6'6. It's impressive to me because you can count on one hand how many people can do it. We are judging dunks nowadays by just creativity and not difficulty anymore. Anyone in that contest could have done that same car dunk as Blake. Judges and fans have to give props for the difficulty of the dunks too.
Ibaka and Pippen are the only player to almost pull off true free throw line dunks pippen free throw line dunk Best NBA free throw line dunk, didn't even travel Barry, Dr.J, and Jordan all had half a foot inside the line. The best in terms of pure dunking ability is James White, but imo you gotta be able to stay in he league to count.
He had a toe on the line. I'm being picky, but I'm waiting for the guy that gets his steps just right to where there is visible space between his toe and the line. All of the guys probably could have done it, Ibaka certainly could have, but it takes a large degree of luck.
If you want to then the dunk into a long jump competition then maybe yeah. If you want to get technical and include travelling - than most of the dunks these are discounted too - they double dribble, dunk from chucking the ball behind the back board, soccer kicks and all sorts of other innovations. None of those dunkers you mentioned come remotely close to the grace and style of Jordans free throw line dunk. The majestic movements from his body once he took off from that free throw line was almost fairy tale like. Once he was in the air - he kinda clocked the ball back and dunked it and also his legs looked like he was walking in the air. All the other dunkers from the free throw line look so stiff once they are in the air, they look like they are trying so hard - where as Jordan made it look so easy. Watching that dunk in slow motion literally freezes time for me. Watch that dunk in slow mo dude. I cant believe we are comparing Jordan dunks James White, Serge Ibaka and Brent Barry - What a disgrace to his AIRNESS. Pippens dunk was better than White, Barry and Ibakas as well IMO.
Anybody who thinks there is a better dunker than james white is out of their mind, he can 2 handed dunk from the free throw line. He isn't fit to do his airnesses laundry as a player, but as a dunker he is head and shoulders above the rest. He's from a different planet. james white Jordan gets too much credit because the free throw line dunk has become part of his legend, but taken for what it is it was just one of the dunks. We're not talking about ability as a basketball player. This is like a long drive competition in golf.
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Griffin second dunk was lame. How he get 46 is beyond me. Only reason was the judges want to see him in the next round.
Griffin won on hype. If you go back and look at his first dunk attempt that he misses, that would have been impressive but the dunk he actually completed that got a really high score wasn't nearly as impressive as the first attempted. The miss had a huge windmill in it that the completed didn't have. Repeat that on every single dunk-miss an amazing looking attempt and then settle for something easier. He shouldn't have been in the finals imo. I thought Vince Carter in 2000 still holds the title for best show.
I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, but... come on, mannn! James White is hands down the best dunker of any of those you have listed. Hands. Down. You may get offended since James White can't hack it in the league -- that's fine. But dunking wise, he's still the clear #1. Jordan took off from the FT line area and seemed to glide in the air -- it was truly amazing. James White took off from the FT line area and went between his legs.. there is no comparison.
I can't stand how some of you would vote for McGee. Sure, the degree of difficulty were high. But his dunks look stupid, clumsy, and amateur. If he had pulled any of those dunks off with some degree of smoothness, I can understand. The dunks are supposed to look NICE.
We've pretty much reached a point where we can basically tell who's gonna win the competition weeks before the actual event itself just by seeing the names on the list.
