The 10 Most Awesome Mascot Dunks Of All Time (With Video)

They are some of the most underappreciated and most underpaid talent performing in hoops arenas across the world.

Yet, if they get their gig right, you go home talking about their feat for weeks.

That's the all-or-nothing plight of today's NBA and college basketball mascot. It's not enough to be cute and cuddly anymore. You have to have some ups in today's instant gratification world.

There's some tremendous failures out there -- and in here; it fits a broader definition of awesome.

We managed to find the 10 most awesome mascot dunks ever pulled off.

Warning: Prepare for shock and awe.

10. Lucky Gets Big Air

This one's so cool you almost forget the trampoline is there.

I was fixated on the Payne Stewart knickers. But dude got some scary vertical here.

The Celtics went human with their mascot. So Lucky gets to wear the cool outfit and thrill us with his aerial magic.

9. The Mascot Dunkoff

What's better than one cute mascot jumping off a trampoline for a dunk?

Why, 80 mascots dunking off of trampolines. We exaggerate, but a group of NBA mascots got together to celebrate Hugo's birthday with this dunkoff.

8. Mr. Raptor's Front Flip

Now, we're talking "America's Got Talent" level. Well, not quite -- more on that later.

Acrobatics, degree of difficulty and execution all in one.

Well played, Mr. Raptor.

7. The Cougar's Got a Bad Idea

I'm all for trying new things, especially when you're a college mascot like this small-time cougar.

But whomever thought one of those gym balls was the perfect substitute for a trampoline lacked brain matter. This is awesome in a whole different light.

Are we sick people for taking pleasure in the cougar crawling off the court?

6. The Gorilla Goes Cactus

We love the props.

We love the flip.

We love the Guerilla.

He is one of the Godfathers of Mascot Dunk and yet, he always finds a way to wow us.

5. Introducing ... Turbo

Before there was fluffy family-friendly mascot suits, there was Jerry "SIXFO" Burrell and his Turbo act.

Turbo travelled around to NBA arenas performing his acrodunk show. He even got a gig with the Rockets for a while.

What we like here is Turbo goes au naturel -- well, after the first trampoline dunk anyway.

4. Hugo's Magical Ring of Fire

The good news is that Hugo the Hornet's dunk through a fire ring went much better than Will Ferrell's attempt in "Old School".

The bad news: They apparently used those trick candles to light the ring. Not a bunch of happy campers trying to play a playoff game.

3. Turbo Goes Front Flip Organically

You deserve to see the face behind these organic dunks. This is Jerry "SIXFO" Burrell without the Turbo uniform.

He and his Acrodunk crew made a splash on "America's Got Talent" but he built his fan base at any arena that would book him to see things like this.

2. Bango Goes Bonkers for the Playoffs

Everybody steps up their game in the playoffs, even mascots.

It's just that mascots like Bango use step ladders to raise their game. This was definitely a factor in the Bucks evening the series at two apiece Monday night.

Don't even say it wasn't.

1. Rocky on Roller Skates

You'll have to rewind this just to see if it was trick photography or did it really happen.

It really happened.

The Nuggets mascot pulled off this gem during the 2009 playoffs. Rocky strapped on roller skates and was flung by a huge sling shot down court, on to a ramp and up for the dunk.

This. Was. AWESOME.