Sickest Dunker from Every NBA Team

In basketball, there is nothing more exciting than a mind-blowing dunk.  This is an action that one player executes against the opposition as if to say, "in your FACE, POINDEXTER!"

I'm serious.  How many of us who play or have played basketball haven't dreamed of being able to dunk the rock through the iron to the sounds of thunderous applause?  I sure did.

Sadly, genetics were not kind to me and thus I am forced to live vicariously through the many amazing dunkers that play in the NBA today.  From Kobe Bryant (pictured) to Dwight Howard, I will never deny that dunks are part of what makes basketball such a fun sport to watch.

That being said, here is each NBA team's sickest dunker, with video evidence of their domination above the rim.

Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith

Josh Smith is a phenomenal athlete who moves with such grace and finesse that his teammates have dubbed him "J-Smoove."  Sure enough, his dunking ability can sometimes be off the charts.

Watch the video at the left, when he slams one down on Charlotte Bobcats forward Eduardo Najera.  It is powerful, yet has a certain elegance about it.

Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo

At 6'1", 171 pounds, Rajon Rondo does not look like someone who can dunk a basketball.  Hell, when I first watched him play, I didn't even think he could jump that high.  Yet, ever the scrappy one, Rondo proved everyone wrong.

This dunk of his right here is one of my favorites.  He jumps straight from the foul line and executes a perfect one-handed tomahawk not on some everyday scrub, but the best center in the game today.  That's right...I'm talking about Dwight Howard.

Charlotte Bobcats: Tyrus Thomas

Tyrus Thomas has been lauded for his dunking abilities since his college days at LSU and his talent above the rim has followed him to the NBA.  He first won over the fans' hearts in Chicago before being traded to Charlotte in the 2009-2010 season.

He may be one of the more talented men on a young, small-market squad right now, but Thomas is still the same electrifying dunker he was as a rookie.  He still has the magic slams, and the fans still roar.

Chicago Bulls: Taj Gibson

Right after this dunk occurred, broadcaster Reggie Miller said that this type of play wasn't something one would expect from Taj Gibson.  Still, the fact that the backup power forward exhibited such perfection and authority with this slam on a tough defender like Dwyane Wade is just unbelievable.

Simply put, after watching this dunk, I can't not say he is the Bulls' sickest dunker.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Joey Graham

Joey Graham isn't exactly what one would call a great player, but he sure can dunk.  He just reads paths to the basket so well and has great on-court vision, you're actually surprised that he doesn't score more points.

Still, the fact remains that he can dunk, and well, as evidenced by this slam of his during his time with the Denver Nuggets.

Dallas Mavericks: Shawn Marion

Shawn Marion has been nicknamed "The Matrix" ever since his rookie year with the Phoenix Suns.  Sure enough, his tremendous athleticism made for some incredible dunks in his time there.

The man doesn't score as many points today as he did during his years in the desert, but the skills still remain.  He can still knock down threes and unleash some formidable slams.  Watch the video at the left, when he had a clutch dunk during last year's postseason.

Denver Nuggets: Ty Lawson

Ty Lawson is slowly turning into an insanely great athlete.  He has great footwork when driving to the hoop and when it comes to dunking, the 5'11" former Tar Heel is certainly one who can surprise you.

In this particular case, he flies high and dunks on seven-footer D.J. Mbenga.  The man is not exactly an elite center, but the slam is impressive nonetheless.

Detroit Pistons: Will Bynum

Will Bynum certainly can fly for someone just 6'0" tall.  After watching this clip, I've come up with a nickname for him: "The Bat."

Watch as he comes flying up the lane like a bat out of hell and just unleashes the madness with this insane putback.

Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis can simply do it all.  He can shoot, pass and play defense as well.  He is just the man who has no issue with putting the team on his back in crunch time.

Also, if the momentum ever needs to be shifted to Golden State's side, he's been known to unleash the fury with some nasty dunks.  Even though this particular one occurred against my beloved New York Knicks, I must say that I'm beyond impressed.

Houston Rockets: Courtney Lee

Although he's not the best player on his team by any means, the amount of spunk exhibited by Courtney Lee is incredible.  He just accepts his role on the team and plays his heart out no matter what.

More importantly, how many other players are fearless enough to execute a perfect one-handed jam against a tough defender like Chris "Bird Man" Andersen?

Indiana Pacers: Paul George

Paul George entered the NBA last year as a rookie out of Fresno State and, to be honest, was underwhelming.  Still, he has a bright future as his determination and athleticism are gifts that will only help him down the road.

On top of that, he never showed any hesitation when he had the opportunity to dunk.  The fact that he executes this perfect windmill jam so effortlessly is astounding.  Here's hoping that we see him in some future dunk contests.

Los Angeles Clippers: Blake Griffin

After taking a season off to recover from microfracture surgery, Blake Griffin finally made his NBA debut this past season.  Sure enough, he lived up to the hype and was everything Clippers fans hoped he would be when team management drafted him with the first overall pick in 2009.  In terms of dunking, I'm not lying when I say that he may have set a new standard for the art.

Watch the video at the left as, like the broadcaster says, his armpit flies above the rim.

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant

Ever since entering the league in 1996, Kobe Bryant has been an amazing dunker.  After watching this particular dunk, it's easy to see why his nickname is "The Black Mamba."

He gets the ball, quickly sneaks into the lane and then POW!  He has jumped up and slammed the ball through the rim, the strike on his prey now complete.

Memphis Grizzlies: Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay's biggest strength as a dunker is his fearless attitude.  It doesn't matter how many opposing players are in his way.  He just doesn't care and goes for it anyway.

Such was the case in this game against the Sixers when Gay not only got the dunk, but also did it in the face of three men.  He is just a phenomenal athlete overall and fans will be happy to have him back from injury in the coming season so that his dunks may continue to wow them.

Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade

Easily one of the best overall athletes in the NBA, if not the best, it's no secret that Dwyane Wade is a great dunker.  What makes his dunks so awesome is that they're more than just dunks.  Rather, he finds a way to make them look pretty.

Watch this little piece of insanity as Wade drives towards the basket and spins his way into the key before unleashing his authority on the enormous Kendrick Perkins, all while maintaining perfect ball control.  Keep in mind, I'm a diehard New York Knicks fan born to hate the Miami Heat, and I'm still impressed and have a ton of respect for Wade's skills here.

Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Jennings

Considering how he is turning into a talented point guard and is a great athlete overall, it's always a treat watching 6'1" Brandon Jennings dunk.  Ever since his high school days, he's wowed the fans with some of his moves driving to the basket before throwing the ball through the hoop.

He was even going to be in this past season's Slam Dunk Contest, but had to pull out due to injury.  It's truly a shame because when there's nothing but air between Jennings and the hoop, he sure knows how to execute a good slam.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Wesley Johnson

Wesley Johnson had a tough rookie season, making just 39 percent of his shots and averaging just nine points a game.  Still, when there was nothing ahead of him but the open lane, he took advantage of the opportunity and showcased just what he could do despite not making most of his jump shots.

Not only did this insane one-handed tomahawk occur against a talented defensive team in the Oklahoma City Thunder, but Johnson managed to finish it on Serge Ibaka, one of the league's toughest defenders.  After seeing this, all you can really say is "Wow."

New Jersey Nets: Deron Williams

Deron Williams is just a sick athlete in general.  He can shoot, pass, play defense and on certain days, he dunks the ball with the strength of a top center.  When he does dunk, you can just tell that he's got a lot of emotion behind it.

Check out this dunk from his days with the Utah Jazz.  Not only does he make Joel Anthony look foolish, but he slams the ball with a force as if to say, "I don't care if this is your home court.  I'm here to win and if that means clowning you, so be it."

New Orleans Hornets: Trevor Ariza

Ever since joining the NBA, Trevor Ariza has been known for his toughness and vigilance on both ends of the court.  When it comes to dunking, he shows zero mercy whatsoever.

Watch him here against JaVale McGee.  Even though the seven-footer tries to block him, Ariza never slows his momentum.

New York Knicks: Amar'e Stoudemire

One of the main reasons the Knicks signed Amar'e Stoudemire last offseason was because of his toughness when it came to scoring on the inside.  His 6'10" frame gave the team a true big man who could work the middle and score lots of points for them.  Stoudemire also provided the team with some dunking ability that could energize the fans and take the wind out of the other team's sails.

I remember this dunk well because I was actually at this game.  Against the hated Miami Heat, Stoudemire just unloaded this jam in the first quarter as if to say, "We don't care about your super-team.  This is our house and we're ready to give you a game."

Sure, the Knicks ended up losing, but the dunk was still great nonetheless seeing as how the fans all jumped out of their seats simultaneously when it happened.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant

Simply put, Kevin Durant is a great athlete.  The man can shoot, play defense, is in great shape and throws down some amazing dunks.

Just watch as he moves so naturally into the key so that he may jump up, catch the ball and throw it down with authority.  If he keeps that up, the Thunder may soon find themselves in the NBA Finals.

Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard is called "Superman" for a reason.  On the court, he is truly the Man of Steel and his only Kryptonite is the fact that his coach's offensive strategy is "Let Dwight Take Over Completely."

More importantly, he is just indestructible on either end of the hardwood.  When going up for a dunk, he'll take the ball and just wreak havoc with it.  Afterward, he'll have a look on his face as if to say, "Just another day in my office...PUNK!"

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodala first won over the nation with his dunks during his college days at Arizona.  Since coming to the pros, he has been the most amazing dunker on the Philadelphia 76ers.

Simply put, the man is just so fast and an incredible athlete that he makes the art of dunking look effortless.  Considering how he stands just 6'6" and just 207 pounds, the strength he showcases during his dunks brings back memories of Shaq.

Phoenix Suns: Marcin Gortat

Marcin Gortat is known to fans and players as "The Polish Hammer."

After watching him dunk, I think it's pretty obvious why.

Portland Trail Blazers: Gerald Wallace

Gerald Wallace is 6'7", 220 pounds.  The crazy part about his game is that he plays with the tenacity and physicality of someone much larger.

Sure enough, Wallace's toughness has turned him into one of the league's elite dunkers.  Watch here as he misses the shot, then drives the lane to receive the pass from his center before nailing the slam.

No matter how you feel about Wallace, it can't be denied that he is easily the best dunker in the Pacific Northwest right now.

Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans

Tyreke Evans is one of those tall point guards who one day could draw comparisons to some of the all-time greats on athleticism alone.  He can shoot the ball decently, but his defense and toughness shouldn't be overlooked either.  One great aspect of his toughness is his fearless attitude when it comes to dunking.

Check out this one-handed jam against Gary Neal of the San Antonio Spurs.  Evans just drives the lane with authority and then unleashes hell with one hand. 

The fact that he didn't let himself be intimidated by one of the top teams in the league and finished the move is admirable considering that the action came from such a young player.  If he keeps it up, the Kings could find themselves back in contention soon.

San Antonio Spurs: Manu Ginobili

Manu Ginobili is one of those players who just seems to get stronger with each season.  Be it draining a clutch three or playing tough defense, he is a fan favorite and tons of fun to watch.

Yet, many seem to underestimate Ginobili's toughness when driving to the basket for a dunk.  He is absolutely fearless and just looks to get the job done, as evidenced with this one-handed slam against the Chicago Bulls last season.

Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan is the type of dunker I simply love to watch.  He has such speed, such footwork and such power that you can't help but love the work he does above the rim.

Watch here as he penetrates a Utah defense with some classic spinning before going up and rocking the rim with a one-handed slam.  His Toronto Raptors may not be contenders, but they still have one of the league's best young talents in this fine dunker.

Utah Jazz: C.J. Miles

Now that Andrei Kirilenko has gone back to Russia, it could finally be time for C.J. Miles to take over at small forward and show how great an athlete he can be.  He has a great all-around game and a decent three-point shot, but one of his greater strengths is his dunking.

The man stands just 6'6", but is a stocky and strong 232 pounds.  On top of that, he has great speed to the basket and footwork that I thought only existed in Broadway shows.

Watch here as he simply posterizes young big man J.J. Hickson.

Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee

JaVale McGee is a dominant seven-footer just a year or two away from completely breaking out.  Yet, until the happens, fans will be able to enjoy both his tremendous shot-blocking and his strong dunking.

Last season, McGee was just a point away from a triple-double (points, rebounds and blocks in this case) and once he got the opportunity to unleash hell with a dunk, he made the most of it.  Not only did he slam the ball home, but he hung on the rim for a bit and reviled in his accomplishment despite it being against NBA rules to hang on basketball rims.

If you ask me, I think the technical was worth it.