The Top 10 in-game dunks of all time (part 2)
There have been thousands of amazing dunks throughout the years in the NBA. To make the top 5 there is one key ingredient: posterizing another player, the taller the better, preferably in a playoff game. Here then, for your approval, are the top 5 in-game dunks of all time:
5. In one of the greatest poster dunks in history 6’1 during the 1994 playoffs between the Suns and the Rockets, Kevin Johnson drove baseline and dunked on the head of 7’0, two time NBA defensive player of the year Hakeem “the Dream” Olajuwon who flew stumbling backwards into AC Green. I remember watching this one live, none of us had ever really seen KJ dunk much before so for him to bring out these incredible hops, seemingly from nowhere, left the entire room utterly speechless!
4. In the 1983 playoffs Dr. Julius Erving’s revolutionized the “posterizing” slam dunk with his legendary “Rock the Cradle” jam over Michael Cooper. After beating Cooper for a loose ball Dr. J glided down the court and then in launched himself towards the rim, seeming to hang for an eternity as he brought the ball down to his waist and windmilled it down on the Laker’s head.
3. This is one has been making every dunk highlight reel for almost 2 decades! Back in the 1992-93 playoffs between the Seattle Supersonics and the Golden State Warriors Shawn Kemp and Alston Lister had been going at it all game when the Rain Man drove to the rim with a dunk which defined a career full of monster dunks. As Lister tried to position himself to draw the charge Kemp drove down the centre like a runaway train and went up for a ferocious tomahawk jam. As Lister sprawled to the floor Kemp stood over him giving him the two pointing fingers of shame.
2. On the Shoulders of Giants: three times where players skywalked over 7 footers come instantly to mind: Kobe Bryant’s baseline facial on Yao Ming, Tracey T-Mac throwing down during the playoffs on Shawn Bradley and Vince Carter actually leaping over French 7’2 enter Frederic Weis to tomahawk the ball down in the “le dunk de mort” during the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, a dunk which would immortalize Vinsanity as a living legend.
1. This is a toss-up between the two legendary dunking rivals his “Airness” Michael Jordan and the “Human Highlight Film” Dominique Wilkins. In a game against the Milwaukee Bucks Wilkins spun baseline through three defenders and finishes with a double pump, 2-hand tomahawk jams on their heads - a move which just exemplified Dominique’s sheer athleticism.
Then there was the unforgettable 1991 playoff series between the Knicks and the Bulls where Jordan left Starks and Oakley tripping over their own feet before spinning to the baseline and throwing down on Patrick Ewing’s head, perhaps the most famous posterizing dunk in history. If I had to call it I would give the edge to Jordan just because of the importance of the game as Jordan went on to lead the Bulls to victory and win his first NBA championship.
There are far too many “honourable mentions” to list and I’m sure not everyone will agree with the ten that I have chosen. In any case they provide some great inspiration to up and coming players. In order to pull off dunks of this magnitude the first thing you need is a great vertical jump – and through practice and perseverance you can work your way towards your own hoop dreams.
More articles that might interest you:
How to Dunk
Top 10 Dunkers of All Time
Allen Iverson Dunks
Kobe Bryant Dunks
Michael Jordan Dunks
Vince Carter Dunks
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