ok espn just had a little countdown on sportscenter of the best dunkers in nba history and somehow vince carter was put #4. Jordan was #1, Dr. J was #2, and Dominique was #3. for my money vince is the best dunker ever. his dunk contest performance combined with a slew of amazing in game dunks, including some all-time posterizations, just can't be topped. plus he has arguably the greatest dunk ever (the one over Weis) to his credit. plus he combines power with smoothness probably as well as anyone ever. nique and jordan may have had slightly more power, but never the finesse and smoothness that you see in a vince dunk. now maybe i can see an argument for jordan b/c he had some great in game dunks as well (with the ewing posterization being the best) but i still say vince has done more that anyone. anyone else think vince got screwed (if being screwed on an espn list really matters)?
I think Dominique and Carter fight it out for #1, and since Nique is my all time fave dunker, I give him the edge. 3. Jordan 4. Clyde (he sucked in all-start dunk contests, but he was one of the best in game dunkers)
For me, as far as IN-GAME dunks go, based on guys that I have actually watched (basically 92 to present day) I rank the top 3 this way... 1. Vince Carter / Shawn Kemp (tied) 3. Clyde Drexler I have an incredible Shawn Kemp video if anyone wants me to upload it. It might be my favorite basketball mix ever.
great point. Vince carter has the perfect balance of grace and power as far as dunking is concerned. I think Wilkins is NO. 2. He has more power dunking ability than finesse dunking. why the national networks rank MJ always as the number 1 dunker is ridiculous.
Here's a Drexler video that has quite a nice sample of dunks in it (it takes a bit to become availabe so if you get an error message, be patient)... http://www.youtube.com/?v=dXedXtnh5sI Here's the Kemp video as well... http://www.youtube.com/?v=Enc4dTLBnVA
Nique is by far my fav in-game dunker. I have one of his dunks on Kevin McHale burned in my memory. Nique basically carried McHale on his hip all the way to the basket.
oddly, i think Stro could have been like Kemp if he had work ethic, handles, and passion. A lot to ask...but basically saying the dunks seem like things he could do
Do you not remember Jordan in the 80's? He was a big time dunker back then. Ever see him dunk over Ewing? He's definitely in the top three. I'd put VC and Shawn Kemp in my top 3 as well.
My top 3 1. Dominique 2. Dr. J 3. Jordan I liked how Spud Webb was on the slam dunk contest Other on the top 10: carter, j-rich, isaiah raider, drexler, kemp, steve francis
Man, you forget just how skilled Clyde was...some of those passes.... And he was an amazingly quick leaper...incredible.
does anyone have a link for the dunk contest between francis and v carter. i watched it on tv but have never seen it since then.
Vince should be #1 if for nothing other than the dunk he did over the 7 footer. When I first saw that it seemed like VC had learned how to fly.
carter is probably the best ever. clyde doesn't get as much pub as he should and in game i think he's every bit as good as jordan or dominique, he just never had the one-on-one dunk offs with those guys to elevate his status. steve francis should probably be in the top 10 somewhere.
I grew up in an ABA city watching ABA basketball and thus caught Dr. J in his prime. In my mind anyway, everyone else is in a fight for 2nd best dunker. He was that good and that creative with IN GAME DUNKS. I'd put Dominique 2nd, MJ 3rd, Vince 4th. There are some more obscure guys who could be mentioned. In the ABA there was a guy named Darnell Hillman who could flat-out sky and was second only to Dr. J. He wasn't much of a player otherwise, though. Kind of like Kenny "Sky" Walker with more hops and a washtub 'fro.
