NBA Slam-Dunk Contest: The 15 Greatest Dunk Contest Fields of All Time
It's been a long time since the Dunk Contest has been compelling. Last year's competition featured four people who looked like they'd rather be at a morgue than under the bright lights.
Maybe that's because Blake Griffin was hurt.
The former Oklahoma Sooner took the NBA by storm this season, throwing down more times than Paris Hilton has thrown up. He's the only reason to watch Los Angeles' other team and the Poster Child is coming to the Dunk Contest later this month.
Unfortunately, it's not just a Griffin exposition. Three other competitors will join him. Damn, it's not just going to be a one-man flight school.
Can Griffin, Serge Ibaka, Demar DeRozan and Javale McGee bring the event once lauded as the best part of All-Star Weekend back to prominence? Those four make a very talented field, so there is quite the buzz in the air for 2011's display.
The real question, however, is how these four dunkers stand up to the greatest fields of all-time. Do Griffin's tremendous hops take this year's group to the top?
15. 1996
1 of 15
Brent Barry—Clippers
Michael Finley—Suns
Greg Minor—Celtics
Jerry Stackhouse—76ers
Doug Christie—Knicks
Darrell Armstrong—Magic
Most people probably read those six names and said, "Ross, those guys were in the three-point shootout, not the dunk contest."
But that's why it's an awesome dunk contest. Even stale Guinness had more hops than this field.
14. 1992
2 of 15
Cedric Ceballos—Suns
Larry Johnson—Hornets
Nick Anderson—Magic
John Starks—Knicks
Doug West—Timberwolves
Shawn Kemp—Sonics
Stacey Augmon—Hawks
Fans probably just wanted Starks in the event so he could remake this immaculate throw-down. This field had a lot of promise, but once Kemp got out early, people started tuning out.
And, judging by the photo, leaving. There should be no empty seats when a man blindfolds himself before a dunk attempt and, yet, there's a lot of visible orange in that photo.
13. 2003
3 of 15
Jason Richardson—Warriors
Desmond Mason—Sonics
Amar'e Stoudemire—Suns
Richard Jefferson—Nets
The second of J-Rich's titles came against a field of high-flyers. Jefferson was an early favorite to dethrone Richardson and Amar'e made it cool for big men to return to the contest.
But of course, Desmond "I only dunk, regardless of my location on the floor" Mason made the second round instead. The fans just can't win.
12. 1991
4 of 15
Dee Brown—Celtics
Shawn Kemp—Sonics
Kenny Smith—Rockets
Rex Chapman—Hornets
Kenny Williams—Pacers
Blue Edwards—Jazz
Otis Smith—Magic
Kendall Gill—Hornets
People either haven't heard of many of these dunkers or figured they only threw down on a Nerf hoop. Having a deeper field helps, but unfortunately, this one wasn't buoyed by a bevy of greats.
However, the 6'1" Brown and 6'10" Kemp made for an awesome finals, including the brilliant no-look by Brown. Kemp would have won, if he had just used any of these jams.
11. 2006
5 of 15
Nate Robinson—Knicks
Andre Iguodala—76ers
Hakim Warrick—Grizzlies
Josh Smith—Hawks
Smith returned to defend his crown, which he won with three 50's on four dunks, but the Hawk came up way short on this night...to a (relative) midget, 5'9" Nate Robinson.
Robinson figuratively brought back nostalgia for Spud Webb, and then literally brought out Webb for a ridiculous vault. While some maintain Iguodala got robbed, losing by one in a tiebreak, the field did not disappoint.
10. 1989
6 of 15
Kenny Walker—Knicks
Clyde Drexler—Blazers
Spud Webb—Hawks
Shelton Jones—76ers
Tim Perry—Suns
Jerome Kersey—Blazers
Ron Harper—Cavaliers
Chris Morris—Nets
Anyone with a Star Wars nickname is cool in my book, regardless of the fact that this Walker demolished rims. With Jordan sitting out this year, the field lost some sheen, but the dunks were still phenomenal.
Unfortunately, this contest ended on a low note, as Drexler barely showed up in the finals. Walker threw down two near-perfect slams and not even the ridiculously short shorts could stop him.
9. 2011
7 of 15
Blake Griffin—Clippers
Javale McGee—Wizards
Demar DeRozan—Raptors
Serge Ibaka—Thunder
Doesn't it just seem like the magic might be back for 2011? The contest used to feature mostly big men, and these four guys are about as athletic as they come.
Yes, another year, another avoidance by LeBron. But hey, it's hard to beat The Poster Child.
8. 2000
8 of 15
Vince Carter—Raptors
Steve Francis—Rockets
Tracy McGrady—Raptors
Ricky Davis—Hornets
Jerry Stackhouse—Pistons
Larry Hughes—76ers
Ignoring Larry Hughes' abysmal effort (how many times has that been said...today?), 2000 boasted a great field. Cousins Carter and McGrady threw down 50's with ease, and Francis did it for the little people.
With a solid 48, even Davis put on a show, which doesn't happen very often with him. Or, frankly, ever.
7. 1986
9 of 15
Spud Webb—Hawks
Dominique Wilkins—Hawks
Terence Stansbury—Pacers
Gerard Wilkins—Knicks
Paul Pressey—Bucks
Jerome Kersey—Blazers
Roy Hinson—Cavs
Terry Tyler—Kings
Webb, the shortest player to ever compete in the dunk contest, came in merely as a novelty. Against a bevy of ferocious dunkers, Webb and teammate Wilkins went toe-to-toe until the little man came up big, winning 100-98 in the finals.
Please note that 1986 was also the first time that perennial loser Jerome Kersey threw his hat into the ring. As you will see, he is the William Jennings Bryan of dunk contests.
6. 1987
10 of 15
Michael Jordan—Bulls
Jerome Kersey—Blazers
Terence Stansbury—Sonics
Clyde Drexler—Blazers
Ron Harper—Cavaliers
Johnny Dawkins—Spurs
Tom Chambers—Sonics
Gerard Wilkins—Knicks
After Jordan took 1986 off, fans begged the legend to return and re-energize the field. With nothing lower than a 48 in the final two rounds, Jordan could not be stopped.
That's not to say the rest of the field didn't show. Kersey barely missed the crown and Stansbury had the highest first-round score (with two recorded dunks) until Vince Carter in 2000.
Unfortunately, Chambers let down white people everywhere by not kneeing more defenders in the face.
5. 1990
11 of 15
Dominique Wilkins—Hawks
Kenny Smith—Kings
Kenny Walker—Knicks
Shawn Kemp—Sonics
Scottie Pippen—Bulls
Rex Chapman—Hornets
Billy Thompson—Heat
Kenny Battle—Suns
Finally, a field without a definite loser (Kersey didn't enter). The top four had all had significant contest experience, so the first round was intense: Only one player (Battle) scored under a 90.
Generous judges or a mighty plethora of dunkers? Doesn't really matter.
4. 1988
12 of 15
Michael Jordan—Bulls
Dominique Wilkins—Hawks
Clyde Drexler—Blazers
Otis Smith—Warriors
Jerome Kersey—Blazers
Greg Anderson—Spurs
Spud Webb—Hawks
In Jordan vs. Dominique II: Electric Bugaloo, the Bulls' great finally got revenge for the beat-down he suffered to Wilkins in 1985. The final featured MJ's legendary dunk (above), as he needed a 50 on the final dunk to win.
Don't forget the rest of the field. Ex-champion Webb, former semifinalist Drexler and repeat loser Kersey all made the event as hyped as ever. They just had no chance to stop the inevitable finale.
3. 1984
13 of 15
Larry Nance—Suns
Julius Erving—76ers
Dominique Wilkins—Hawks
Darrell Griffith—Jazz
Edgar Jones—Rockets
Ralph Sampson—Bulls
Orlando Woolridge—Blazers
Michael Cooper—Lakers
Sure, champion Larry Nance isn't exactly a household name, but look at the rest of the field for the NBA's first dunk contest. Erving and Wilkins were two of the best dunkers ever and Ralph Sampson and Orlando Woolridge are two huge athletic stars.
It can't get much deeper than that, and, yet, this field still does.
2. 1976 (ABA)
14 of 15
Julius Erving—New York Nets
David Thompson—Nuggets
Artis Gilmore—Kentucky Colonels
George Gervin—Spurs
Larry Kenon—Spurs
Don't gripe about the ABA's dunk contest making the list. Without this event, the NBA's version would never have been born eight years later. So, thank your luck All-Stars.
While it may not have the depth of some of the contests with eight players, it's hard to argue with three Hall of Famers and Gilmore, who should be in too. But they all got to witness Erving's free-throw line dunk.
1. 1985
15 of 15
Dominique Wilkins—Hawks
Michael Jordan—Bulls
Terence Stansbury—Pacers
Julius Erving—76ers
Larry Nance—Suns
Darrell Griffith—Jazz
Orlando Woolridge—Bulls
Clyde Drexler—Blazers
This contest had everything, with arguably the three best dunkers ever, the champion from the past year and four other electric competitors. Putting Jordan, Wilkins, Erving and no defenders on the court for fans is like telling a five-year-old that it's Halloween every day.
Jordan, a rookie at the time, put a valiant effort, but no one could stop 'Nique. He scored below 47 once the entire time, making the other seven contestants look silly.
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