NBA: The Dirtiest Dunker from Each Team

It's the most exciting play in basketball. Nothing quite compares to a high-flying alley-oop or a thunderous slam. Nothing is on par with a galvanizing throw down followed by a scream to the crowd.

If you want to hear a roar inside an arena, there is only one thing necessary, and that is to slam the ball home. Each team has a player who is more than capable of giving photographers poster opportunities, and here they are, one from each NBA Team. 

Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith

Everything you see in Philips Arena pales in comparison to the Josh Smith dunk. That includes the Crawford crossovers, the Johnson step backs, and yes, the Pachulia tussles. 

This lefty has been an expert slammer, a master of the hammer down, a perennial dunker since his rookie year when he was the slam dunk contest champion.

Josh Smith's lefty tomahawks are brutal and utterly nasty—just ask Mr. Najera from the video to your left. 

Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett, a long time ago when his knees were just a little less shaky, his hop was just a little more bouncy, and his body was just a little more agile, was a mean, mean dunker.

He's still capable of slamming on someone's head today—just ask Ronny Turiaf. 

Charlotte Bobcats: Tyrus Thomas

As a Duke fan, I remember Tyrus Thomas literally swatting away our hopes of a 2006 National Title in the Sweet 16 as we lost to LSU. In the NBA, Thomas dishes out a healthy dose of both boisterous jams and seat-clearing blocks. 

His athleticism is implausible—just ask Jermaine O'Neal or Josh Smith. If they don't tell you, I'm sure Zach Randolph will.

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose

The MVP does not lack in bouncing ability. Sometimes I wonder if he has those moon shoes.

If I ever meet him, I'll be sure to ask him, but as for now, I'll just go off of what Danilo Gallinari, Goran Dragic, and Joel Anthony tell me: It's a yes.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Christian Eyenga

I remember when he was drafted 30th overall back when LeBron was in Cleveland. I thought it was a wasted pick. I disagree now, and so does Eric Bledsoe and Pau Gasol. 

Really though, Eyenga has turned out to be serviceable and seems to be making posters on the regular, like this one.

Dallas Mavericks: Tyson Chandler

I legitimately contemplated putting Rudy Fernandez here, and then for a split second Corey Brewer (because of this), but then I realized that few people can perfect the art of catching an alley-oop pass as well as Chandler.

Kudos to him for slamming on Joel Anthony's head and catching lob passes from the likes of Chris Paul and Jason Kidd. He's the perfect running mate for some pick and role action, and he's the second person to smash on Joel Anthony in this slideshow (the other being Derrick Rose). 

Denver Nuggets: J.R. Smith

For me, that J.R. Smith dunk on Gary Neal was the slam of the year. Just look at Carmelo nodding his head saying "yeah, alright, I see what you can do." I mean, sheesh. What a dunk.

If that doesn't do the trick for you, I'm positive this will.

I've always been a fan of positive reinforcement: click here. then click here again.

Wow. "We just saw man fly!" 

Detroit Pistons: Rodney Stuckey

Rodney Stuckey can get up, clearly, but I didn't expert him to turn the Miami Heat into Two-and-a-half Men. Chris Bosh should have gotten out of the way, and Hasheem Thabeet should have as well.

Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis

I really had a tough time with Golden State. I wanted to go with rookie Jeremy Tyler, but couldn't find too many of his dunks other than this fantastic windmill on the break from his college days. 

In the end, I went with Ellis because I had more evidence. Also, Leandro Barbosa and Ronny Turiaf told me to.

In other news, Ronny Turiaf ties Joel Anthony for most times appearing on this slideshow. They've both been dunked on twice so far.

Houston Rockets: Terrence Williams

While Williams hasn't played much since being traded to the Rockets, he's still an absolutely phenomenal dunker—just ask the Nets who had him for two years.

Chirs Kaman tends to agree with the sentiment of Williams being the Rockets best dunker, and he says Houston should play him more.

Indiana Pacers: Dahntay Jones

I love how gentle Dahntay Jones is with his dunk on Monta Ellis, but if you're looking for a power jam, he's got one of those, too—this one's an old tape from his days as a Dukie. 

If that one didn't do the trick for you, the recently retired Yao Ming told me to scrounge up this old footage.

For more, click here. And here.

Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin

Really, is an explanation necessary? How about just a bunch of "click here's"

Click here. And here.

Los Angeles Lakers: Shannon Brown

I forgot who Mikki Moore was, then Shannon Brown reminded me.

I can't let this slide go without mentioning his beautiful hand switcheroo on this dunk.

For a second I thought he was Mr. Stretch from the "Fantastic 4." I bet you thought the same right here.

Then, of course, the greatest missed dunk of all time, right here at your disposal.

I think he's my favorite dunker in the NBA.

Memphis Grizzlies: Rudy Gay

What a dunk. Really, he is quite the showboating dunker.

But like me, he loves a good ole' fashioned throw down. Do your finger wag on that one, Mr. Mutumbo.

Miami Heat: LeBron James

LeBron got his fair share of dunking in Miami, but he threw down a little harder in Cleveland—right Damon Jones? That, along with this little gem on the Mavericks in 2007, makes me drool at the mouth.

Really, he's just the best finisher in the league.

Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings

This is actually hard to give to Brandon Jennings.

He's the only player on the Bucks who can really hammer it home, but I could find close to zero footage of him dunking in the NBA, and that's absurd considering YouTube is loaded with him doing tomahawk jams and windmills in high school.

However, in the two I did see, he looked like he did not have the same lift he had in high school. I legitimately toyed with the idea of giving it to Keyon Dooling because of this dunk right here.

Still, Brandon Jennings gets the nod from high school videos.

Here is Jennings messing around and throwing down some jams.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams

I thought about Wes Johnson. I thought about Anthony Randolph. But I cannot pick against Derrick Williams, and here is why.

That, and the Wazzu Athletic Director told me not to, and here is why.

New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez

Take that, Kobe.

The Nets are a team that lacks a really talented dunker, but everyone loves a big man who hangs on the rim after his finish. Hasheem Thabeet prefers the one handed smash, though.

Now Thabeet, Gallinari, Anthony and Turiaf have all been dunked on twice in this slideshow. Who will turn out to be the most dunked on?

New Orleans Hornets: Trevor Ariza

JaVale McGee is used to blocking those. Not this time, says Mr. Ariza.

Really though, Ariza is an extremely underrated dunker, and has been since his younger days (in which he hammered home this delicious dunk).

He is quite capable of throwing it down hard, and I'm sure McGee and Grant Hill (click here) would attest to that.

New York Knicks: Amare Stoudemire

I guess we now call him King Amare after dethroning LeBron?

Stoudemire has always been one of the better dunkers in the league, and Anthony Tolliver agrees with me.

We're at your service, King Amare.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook

Off the backboard—very nice Russell Westbrook, very nice.

Kevin Durant almost won off of this alone, but the point guard who seems to always be on a pogo stick won out.

This is why (click here): I honestly thought I was watching a replay of NBA 2K, but it was just Russell Westbrook, classic mixup.

Orlando Magic: Jason Richardson

This was the toughest decision to make: Howard or Richardson?

Right now, currently, it's Dwight Howard, but historically Jason Richardson is one of the best dunkers of all time, so for that all-time classic between the legs reverse you just saw, we'll give him the nod. 

The man mastered the slam dunk contest. Watch these: here and here.

Nevermind, going with Richardson is a rather easy call.

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala

Now that's a beautiful windmill. 

Iguodala, who was famously robbed of the 2006 Slam Dunk Contest is one of the best in the league at throwing it down, no doubt about it.

And this was the benefit of having Allen Iverson and Iguodala play together for just a short while: amazing alley oop. 

Phoenix Suns: Vince Carter

Vince Carter, or as some call him, Vinsanity, is one of the best dunkers of all time, and clearly, you can see why.

He, much like Richardson, put on an all-time great performance in the 2000 Slam Dunk competition, in which he took home the trophy. You can check out all of his dunks in just two-and-a-half minutes with James Bond like music in the background right here.

He just might be the best dunker of all time, or maybe not, or maybe I'm just Vinsane.

Portland Trail Blazers: Gerald Wallace

Look at that young Gerald Wallace go.

He's still dunking on people. This is him dunking on his future teammate, as he is on the receiving end of a nasty alley oop.

Even on his new team, he's still angry at the rim (see him eat it here).

Sacramento Kings: J.J. Hickson

J.J. Hickson just destroyed Kris Humphries. Kim Kardashian might need to look for a new husband.

Seriously though, Hickson is one of the most athletic fours in the game today, and his dunk on the league-leading shot blocker, Andrew Bogut, should tell you just that.

If that doesn't get you, then just ask Dwyane Wade, who has similar sentiments (click here).

San Antonio Spurs: DeJaun Blair

Poor Ronny Turiaf, he just seems to be a poster child. 

DeJaun Blair may be an undersized power forward, but he's a fantastic rebounder, and clearly, a pretty good dunker, at least that's what I hear from Emeka Okafor (click here). The backboard echos this thought, too (click here).

In other news, Ronny Turiaf finally pulls ahead of Gallinari, Anthony and Thabeet. He's been dunked on three times now—that's quite impressive. 

Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan

Really Tyrus Thomas, take a dose of your own medicine. 

And for that matter, give Brad Miller a dose, even though it's clearly not his.

DeRozan is one of the most exciting young players in the game today, and in my mind, he had better dunks than both JaVale McGee and Blake Griffin in the dunk contest (click here).

His future is clearly bright as a dunker and player.

Utah Jazz: Derrick Favors

The rookie out of Georgia Tech exploded onto the scene last season. Well, not exactly. He had a solid rookie season, but he mainly exploded on JaVale McGee with that monster slam. 

I considered the newly drafted Alec Burks for this spot, but since Favors has a pretty good resume and already has a few good jams under his belt, I went with him.

I think I'm happy with my choice, and so is Boris Diaw (click here).

Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee

I seriously considered putting Jan Vesley here, the Czechoslovakian springboard, but decided to go with McGee after having been robbed of the slam dunk championship.

JaVale McGee, based off the finals, should have won the slam dunk contest (I think DeRozan should have won otherwise), but clearly, McGee got over it by slamming on Kyle Korver's head.