Michael Jordan and the Top Dunker in Each NBA Franchise's History

There is nothing that gets a crowd up out of its seats more than a spectacular dunk. There is no clutch three pointer, reverse layup, or half court shot that will excite a stadium, and the viewing audience at home, more than a bad-ass dunk.

It can happen anywhere. Anytime. There is nothing like it and whether it comes from the least likely of players, or the guys you've come to expect it from, it's always an event. Hey, there's a reason they still have the dunk contest. 

A good dunk elevates players to new heights. Fan bases will always remember their great players, but with the same acclaim and reverence they'll remember the dunkers. They are the ones that create singular moments to be remembered forever.

So who are the best dunkers of all time? Here's a look around the league, at every NBA franchise as we rattle off the best dunkers in each city. No duplicates. Let's take a look at a list of guys who could really throw down.  

30. Atlanta Hawks-Dominique Wilkins

Because this list is alphabetical, we get to start this off with perhaps the greatest dunker of all-time. Dominique Wilkins wasn't just one of the best players in NBA history, he was also the game's most exciting.

While Wilkins failed to win an NBA championship during his playing days, he did manage to do something that was perhaps much more significant to the game: he prolonged the life of the dunk contest for another 20 years when him and MJ went toe to toe in back-to-back dunk contests. 

His ability to get up high was awe-inspiring and there's no telling how much bigger of a star he would have been had he been doing his thing in the SportsCenter era. 

29. Boston Celtics: Gerald Green

Gerald Green is not on the level of elite players. When put in the context of Celtics greats he doesn't come close. But there was one thing Green could do better than Parish, Bird, McHale and Russell: throw down. 

The 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Champion has had a knack for getting up and has been one of the most exciting Celtics players on the breakaway in their history. 

Green, a player who's never been spectacular, has certainly made his mark on the NBA. 

28. Charlotte Bobcats: Shannon Brown

I might be called out onto the carpet for this, but believe me: picking the greatest Bobcat dunker was not easy. In their short-lived run as a franchise they have yet to have an explosive player who could really get up. There were a few that this honor could have gone to, and Brown only played with them a year. 

But since Brown hasn't been a member of any team for very long, he gets the honor. 

27. Chicago Bulls-Michael Jordan

This was a complete no-brainer. There have been few players in the world who could be considered as good as Jordan was, and there are equally as few who could be considered as exciting as he was. 

From the moment Jordan put on a Bulls uniform, there were few who ever questioned his ability to excite the masses. Nicknamed "Air" Jordan, Michael had the ability to slash through the lane and dunk on almost anyway. His dunks are as iconic as anything he's done in his career. 

Over time Jordan lost a step or two, but those who saw him in his prime, marveled at his dunking ability. 

26. Cleveland Cavaliers-LeBron James

What's scary about watching LeBron James dunk is that he doesn't dunk to half of his potential. 

There may be no scarier sight in the NBA than watching LBJ go coast to coast with a full head of steam. It's why in the NBA's history there have been few players who could impose their will to get to the rim with such ease. 

Now James has taken his talents elsewhere. The Cavaliers will desperately hope that someone comes in who can give Cleveland that type of excitement, but don't count on it. A dunker like James doesn't come along often. 

25. Dallas Mavericks-Michael FInley

Michael Finley is a guy who's easy to forget about. In the history of the Dallas Mavericks there have been very few prolific dunker's, but when Finley was around he had a few.

He was another one who lacked creativity at times, but made up for it because of his sheer strength. On a small list of great dunkers in Dallas history, it wasn't hard to find is name and looking at his highlights made it easy to pick him. 

24. Denver Nuggets-David Thompson

When you serve as an inspiration to Michael Jordan you know you must be good. 

Before there was Dominique and Jordan, there was Thompson. Thompson was one of the first true in game dunkers. His ability to move through the lane and bring the hammer down was as good as it got. 

He invented the "cradle the baby" dunk. In the NBA's first-ever Slam Dunk Competition Thompson lost to another man on this list, Julius Erving. 

The remarkable thing was that for as great as his performance was in the contest, there were those who say the dunks he did in warm-ups were far more difficult. 

23. Detroit Pistons-Jason Maxiell

There were a few guys who could have gone here, but they were used elsewhere. For the dubious honor of being the best dunker in Piston's history, you had to admire the highlight reel of Jason Maxiell.

What strikes people about Maxiell is the strength he has. When they talk about a guy who can rattle the rim they are talking about Maxiell.

Youtube is full of clips of him dunking on almost everyone. He was clearly a show stopped at times with the Pistons.  

22. Golden State Warriors-Jason Richardson

There are some that will lament the fact the Richardson wasn't a better basketball player overall, but that seems to matter very little. 

Sometimes you just have to embrace the kind of player you are and Richardson was a high flying machine. What is striking when you watch him play, is how easy he makes it all look. 

21. Houston Rockets-Tracy McGrady

Let's forget the bad stuff about McGrady. Let's forget that he never seemed to win when it mattered. Let's throw out the fact that he's been often injured and that he's definition of "wasted potential."

Let's remember McGrady the way we want to remember him: as one of the games greatest dunkers of all time. Let's never forget that his 2000 slam dunk performance was fantastic, and would have won him the crown if Vince Carter wouldn't have entered that year.

We can say a lot about McGrady the basketball player and it isn't all good, but McGrady the dunker? No complaints there. 

20. Indiana Pacers-Darnell Hillman

The man was nicknamed Dr. Dunk, there was no way he couldn't be a part of the NBA's best dunkers. 

He was on the Indiana Pacers before and after the ABA-NBA merger and is a legend today for his dunks which were almost as widely known as his hair. 

19. LA Clippers-Blake Griffin

Maybe it's premature to anoint Griffin as the franchise's best dunker when it's only his first year, but if you know the Clippers franchise and their struggles, it's not to early to go out on a limb. 

From the moment Blake began in the NBA there hasn't been a single player in the game who has had as much attention, or made people jump out of their seats more than him. 

He's managed to take the Clippers and make them must see TV. His collection of electrifying dunks have made him a SportsCenter favorite and if he improves his all-around game there is no telling how high the ceiling can go. 

18. LA Lakers-Kobe Bryant

It's easy for us to look at Kobe now, old legs, operates exclusively with that turnaround fade away jumper, that he was once one of the most exciting players in the game. 

What made the things Kobe did on a basketball court so impressive was that he didn't have the hand size to grip a basketball so his control over the rock was much less than some of the other great dunkers of all time. 

Kobe had a raw athletic ability that very few players have possessed and it's the reason he was so exciting when he came into the league. 

17. Memphis Grizzlies-Rudy Gay

The Grizzlies haven't managed to win a title yet, but they have managed to have one of the game's best dunkers on their roster. 

Perhaps it's his height, or his reach, or just his incredible hops, but Rudy Gay can flat out dunk. 

16. Miami Heat-Harold Miner

There are some who think that Dwyane Wade should be the favorite, but Miner was simply a better dunker. Wade was better at everything else, but if there was one thing that "Baby Jordan" got right it was the ability to slam it down. 

Now clearly Miner would have traded his prowess on a breakaway for ability to have sustained a longer and more successful career but if you watched hoops during the 90's there is no way you forgot him. 

15. Milwaukee Bucks-Oscar Robertson/Sidney Moncrief

Let's talk about this: I originally wanted to do Sindey Moncrief as the Bucks representative for the best dunker.

However, I never saw him play so I had to go on research alone. The research did not show(in videos or in print) that Moncrief dunked. So I was simply going off gut.

However, I did find research that Robertson dunked. Still, I got plenty of feedback from you guys that Moncrief was, by far, the more prolific dunker. And so I decided to include him on this list.

This is the only team that shall have two entries.  

14. Minnesota Timberwolves-Kevin Garnett

Let us not just think of good ole' KG as a surly, hyper-intensive player who most of the league can't stand. 

Forget the chest thumping, the crotch shots, the illegal screens and the generally cowardly nature of KG and focus on the fact that the man is a tremendous player. He was one of the better dunkers of his time as well.

His skills would not have translated well to the Dunk Contest, but in game he was as good as it came around the rim. 

13. New Jersey Nets-Daryl Dawkins

Because some of the all-time greats were so exciting, (i.e. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett) we often forget about guys like Daryl Dawkins. 

In his prime Dawkins could dunk with just about anyone. He had a quick first step and could elevate so well. 

12. New Orleans Hornets-Larry Johnson

In the history of the Hornets franchise there have been some skilled guys who could play above the rim, but there were none like Larry Johnson.

Johnson was so strong during those Hornet's day. His career would never be  the same after some injuries, but he will never be forgotten as one of the great dunkers that franchise has ever known.  

11. New York Knicks-Kenny "The Sky" Walker

I'm sorry, but anyone who has a haircut like Kenny Walker did in the 1989 slam dunk competition makes this list. 

The Knicks didn't have a particular standout dunker, but Walker was explosive and in those early days he looked like he could literally jump out of the gym. 

10. Oklahoma City Thunder(Seattle Supersonics)-Shawn Kemp

Before Blake Griffin was the most explosive player in the NBA, Shawn Kemp was all that and more. There may have been no player who was as powerful as he was around the rim. 

Every time Kemp touched the ball he could do amazing things with it. You never knew when or where he was going to explode, but you were always ready in anticipation of something memorable.

9. Orlando Magic-Shaquille O'Neal

It would be easy to put Howard right here, but there was no scarier man on the paint for the Magic than Shaq. In his time in Orlando he was completely unstoppable. 

From shattering backboards to dunking on just about everyone who got in his way he was a freak of nature that had no peer. 

Seeing Shaq with the ball would literally make you stop what you were doing and watch. It's part of the magic that made it so heartbreaking for Orlando when he left. 

8. Philadelphia 76ers-Julius Erving

Dr. J may have meant more to the Slam Dunk than any other person in the history of the Association. There may have no player that was as good at captivating an audience more than Dr. J was. 

Besides winning the first Slam Dunk contest and taking off from the free throw line, the good Dr. J was the first to be recognized as a dunking legend. 

7. Phoenix Suns-Larry Nance

Larry Nance gets credit for being one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. His time with the Suns proved that he could get to the rim as well as any of his contemporaries. There is no question that Nance was one of the most underrated dunkers in the history of the NBA. 

6. Portland Trailblazers-Clyde Drexler

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

11 Jan 1995: FORWARD CLYDE DREXLER OF THE PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS ON THE COURT DURING A 104-92 VICTORY OVER THE WARRIORS IN PORTLAND, OREGON.

Clyde "the Glide" Drexler was one of the greatest college and pro dunkers of all time. It's only fitting that a man that was nicknamed "the Glide" would be able to coast through the air in what seemed like effortless fashion. 

Just like his playing career, his dunking ability often got overshadowed by the flashier and more well known dunkers of his generation but there was no denying that in his prime Clyde would get to the hoop with the best of them. 

5. Sacramento Kings-Chris Webber

Webber's career doesn't seem like it turned out the way it should and that's saying something. Webber was a premier player in the league and was respected for his game inside and out. 

But it's time we gave him some dunking love. C-Webb was fantastic during his time on the Kings. In addition to the team success they had, he also had incredible success as a big man who could throw it down. 

4. San Antonio Spurs-David Robinson

In the interest of having no one guy represent two teams we had to disqualify Michael Finley. That left us with the shallow pool of talent for a team that has never really had an exciting dunker.

With that in mind we have David Robinson. There's no doubt that in his day he could really throw it down. But while he isn't the overwhelming dunker that many of these other guys are...he'll have to do.  

3. Toronto Raptors-Vince Carter

I could go on and on about the incredible dunking ability of Vince Carter.

Or I could simply show you the footage of the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk competition and let you enjoy for yourself. 

2. Utah Jazz-Darrell Griffith

This one was pretty easy. Darrell Griffith was not just a great player but one of the all-time great dunkers. His court vision made him so good and his ability to get out in transition made him a noticeable target on the offensive end.

Griffith doesn't get remembered in the same breath as the others who played during that time, but he clearly deserves recognition. If you were in Utah during that time and saw him play you would have never forgotten how exciting he was.  

1. Washington Wizards-Gus Johnson

Gus Johnson was dunking before dunking was cool. He was the main focal point for the Bullets offense back when he played and he he revolutionized the way forwards played the position. 

Before Johnson there were very few guys who could play above the rim at that position, and even less who tried. 

During his dunking days he wrecked three backboards and pestered countless others. All in a career for an original master of the dunk.