Ranking Every NBA Slam Dunk Contest from Best to Worst

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Participants: Michael Jordan (Bulls), Dominique Wilkins (Hawks), Clyde Drexler (Blazers), Otis Smith (Warriors), Jerome Kersey (Blazers), Greg Anderson (Spurs), Spud Webb (Hawks)
Champion: Michael Jordan

Did you know Michael did the free-throw dunk like 20 times by this point? The Internet loves "thinkpieces" right? Maybe one on how 'Nique got robbed in '88? Jordan had the 3s on though, and was becoming the most recognizable brand in sports. Yet and still, this one was one of the best. Jordan, Wilkins, Drexler and Kersey put on a show. With an emphasis on Mike and 'Nique. The '88 contest was a heavyweight bout between two of the greatest showman basketball has ever seen.

Participants: Vince Carter (Raptors), Steve Francis (Rockets), Tracy McGrady (Raptors), Ricky Davis (Hornets), Jerry Stackhouse (Pistons), Larry Hughes (Sixers)
Champion: Vince Carter

This contest made people believe in the dunk contest again after a couple years of subpar ones and two years without any because of 2Ball in '98 and the lockout in '99. Vince, the Franchise, and Tracy went the fuck off, but everyone was blown out of the water by Carter. Vinsanity etched his place as the greatest dunker of all time. He brought the feeling back and there hasn't been a memorable dunk contest since.

Participants: Michael Jordan (Bulls), Jerome Kersey (Blazers), Terrence Stansbury (Sonics), Clyde Drexler (Blazers), Ron Harper (Cavs), Johnny Dawkins (Spurs), Tom Chambers (Sonics), Gerald Wilkins (Knicks)
Champion: Michael Jordan

After missing the previous year's All-Star festivities (and much of the regular season) with a broken foot, Michael Jordan returned to the dunk contest with a bang. Several of them, actually. Jordan's "kiss the rim" variations and free-throw-line flush held off some tremendous competition including Seattle's own Tom Chambers (who'd have to settle for All-Star MVP), a pair of high-flying Blazers in Clyde Drexler and Jerome Kersey, as well as future teammate Ron Harper.

Participants: Spud Webb (Hawks), Dominique Wilkins (Hawks), Terrence Stansbury (Pacers), Gerald Wilkins (Knicks), Jerome Kersey (Blazers), Paul Pressey (Bucks), Roy Hinson (Cavs), Terry Tyler (Kings)
Champion: Spud Webb

Spud and his 5'6" frame surprised everybody, even his teammate Dominique. No way "The Human Highlight Film" stood a chance against the lil guy. And it's not like Spud was a scrub, he started at point guard for half the season. He was dunking off the backboard, off the bounce, all with a mind-boggling vertical. He started getting crazy endorsement money after winning the dunking crown. We wish the contest can still have a prestigous meaning like it did back then.

Participants: Dominique Wilkins (Hawks), Michael Jordan (Bulls), Terrence Stansbury (Pacers), Julius Erving (Sixers), Larry Nance (Cavs), Darrell Griffith (Jazz), Orlando Woolridge (Bulls), Clyde Drexler (Blazers)
Champion: Dominique Wilkins

The only time Michael Jordan entered an NBA dunk contest and lost was in 1985, when he was a rookie. Perhaps the judges were punishing him for his impudent outfit, including Nike's all-new Air Jordan warmups and flashing gold chains. Or maybe it's just that Dominique Wilkins was better. The rest of the field was equally strong, with Terence Stansbury (perhaps the best contest dunker to never win a contest), Dr. J in his last dunk contest appearance, and defending champ Larry Nance.

Participants: Kenny Walker (Knicks), Clyde Drexler (Blazers), Spud Webb (Hawks), Shelton Jones (Sixers), Tim Perry (Suns), Jerome Kersey (Blazers), Ron Harper (Cavs), Chris Morris (Nets)
Champion: Kenny Walker

This was Clyde's fifth and last dunk contest. He always came up short but it was because he made it look effortless. His nickname was well-earned. However, Kenny "Sky" Walker did these things with his legs whenever he went up for a dunk. He looked like he was walking on air. Walker came out of nowhere and took the title from favorites Clyde the Glide and Spud Webb.

Participants: Larry Nance (Suns), Julius Erving (Sixers), Dominique Wilkins (Hawks), Darrell Griffith (Jazz), Edgar Jones (Spurs), Ralph Sampson (Rockets), Orlando Woodridge (Bulls), Clyde Drexler (Blazers), Michael Cooper (Lakers)
Champion: Larry Nance

How can a first-time event feature a defending champion? When it's the NBA slam-dunk contest, and one of the contestants is Julius "Dr. J" Erving, winner of the first (and only) ABA dunk contest in 1976. The NBA's event featured nine competitors, including Michael Cooper, who failed to put a single dunk down. The 33-year-old Erving made it all the way to the finals—earning the contest's sole 50 in the final round—but was edged out by 6-10 Sun Larry Nance.

Participants: Dee Brown (Celtics), Shawn Kemp (Sonics), Rex Chapman (Hornets), Kenny Smith (Rockets) Kenny Williams (Pacers), Blue Edwards (Jazz), Otis Smith (Magic), Kendall Gill (Hornets).
Champion: Dee Brown

One could argue that Shawn Kemp was robbed. He was penalized for being tall and still came thru with some great dunks. However, 6'1" Dee Brown's dunks looked prettier, plus, he was wearing Reebok Pumps—the hottest sneaker not named Jordan on the market. Overall this was a good one (even though it felt like a Reebok commercial). Rex Chapman and Kenny Smith turned in some surprising performances, making it one of the most competitive contests in history. We wish we could turn back the clock to the NBA Jam Session days.

Participants: Cedric Ceballos (Suns), Larry Johnson (Hornets), Nick Anderson (Magic), John Starks (Knicks), Doug West (Timberwolves), Shawn Kemp (Sonics), Stacey Augmon (Hawks)
Champion: Cedric Ceballos

Cedric Ceballos's blindfold dunk had to be fixed. Granted, Ceballos had already locked the crown up before he put the blindfold on, but it was still corny. LJ and Nick Anderson all put out better performances than he did. Other than that, this was a good one. Each guy had a crowd-pleasing dunk and each guy didn't miss a thousand times. But Larry Johnson should've won. He was too big to be doing the dunks he was doing. They were all powerful and somehow graceful. Grandmama put on a show.

Participants: Harold Miner (Heat), Clarence Weatherspoon (Sixers), Cedric Ceballos (Suns), David Benoit (Jazz), Kenny Smith (Rockets), Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (Nuggets), Tim Perry (Sixers)
Champion: Harold Miner

The participants slug should just read: Harold Miner. Who are those guys? "Baby Jordan," as he was called back then, destroyed the field with menacing dunks. He was putting down alley-oops, windmills, 360s. Miner went hammer and took the chip from returning champ Cedric Ceballos. This contest shot him into super-stardom and unrealistic expectations.

Participants: Dominique Wilkins (Hawks), Kenny Smith (Kings), Kenny Walker (Knicks), Shawn Kemp (Sonics), Scottie Pippen (Bulls), Rex Chapman (Hornets), Billy Thompson (Heat), Kenny Battle (Suns)
Champion: Dominique Wilkins

This is why some people get mad at LeBron. Dominique came back at 30 for the love of the competition. Doing the same dunks he always did, 'Nique took his second dunk title. His power made Kenny the Jet's little man dunks look like amateur hour. In another year with Wilkins not in the competition, Smith maybe could've took the crown back to Queens.

Participants: Jason Richardson (Warriors), Desmond Mason (Sonics), Amar'e Stoudemire (Suns), Richard Jefferson (Nets)
Champion: Jason Richardson

Great slam-dunk champions defend their titles, and that's exactly what Jason Richardson did in his second season, once again emerging atop a four-man field. Amar'e Stoudemire and Richard Jefferson provided new blood, but again it came down to the two champions, Richardson and Desmond Mason. Mason pulled out all the stops and had Richardson on the ropes. But, needing a 49 to win, Richardson broke out an off-the-bounce, through-the-legs reverse that not only earned a 50 and won the contest, but was voted the single-best dunk contest dunk EVER on NBA.com in 2005.

Participants: Isaiah Rider (Timberwolves), Robert Pack (Nuggets), Shawn Kemp (Sonics), Allan Houston (Pistons), Antonio Davis (Pacers), James Robinson (Blazers)
Champion: Isaiah Rider

This was supposed to be Shawn Kemp's year finally, but his thunder was taken by Isaiah Rider. The rookie won the judges and the crowd over with his East Bay Funk dunk he made famous at the NCAA dunk contest the year prior while at UNLV. Kemp, Rider, and Robert Pack saved us from the like of Allan Houston, Antonio Davis, and some random dude from the Blazers.

Participants: Jason Richardson (Warriors), Gerald Wallace (Kings), Desmond Mason (Sonics), Steve Francis (Rockets)
Champion: Jason Richardson

They cut the dunk contest field down to four in 2002, just two short years after Vince Carter allegedly revitalized the event, but let's be honest—Jason Richardson would have won if the field was six, a dozen, a hundred. Richardson, a rookie out of Michigan State, combined power and grace to triumph over 2000 runner-up Steve Francis, defending champ Desmond Mason, and the Kings' Gerald Wallace. And the stupid wheel.

Participants: Josh Smith (Hawks), Amar'e Stoudemire (Suns), J.R. Smith (Hornets), Chris Andersen (Hornets)
Champion: Josh Smith

Denver has a special relationship with the Dunk Contest. The competition debuted in the Mile High City, as part of the 1976 ABA All-Star festivities. (Coincidentally, dunks were legalized in the NCCA that year too.) When the NBA's stars hit the Pepsi Center in 2005, hopes were high. Quickly, and sadly, they were shattered. Local favorite Chris Andersen's appalling first round performance slowed momentum. Nine attempts for a first dunk? Six for a second?

His failure was so monumental that it is easy to forget Steve Nash's header assist to Amar'e Stoudemire (the year's great innovation was the "teammate dunk") or eventual winner Josh Smith's ode to Dominique Wilkins. In short: the good didn't mask the bad.

Participants: Nate Robinson (Knicks), Andre Iguodala (Sixers), Hakim Warrick (Grizzlies), Josh Smith (Hawks)
Champion: Nate Robinson

This one should've went to Iggs, but Nate is short and the judges and the crowd like short guys. Josh Smith also put on but he still managed to come in last place. Andre should've won with the behind the backboard, alley-oop dunk made possible by A.I. But Nate jumped over Spud Webb, and looked good doing all of his throwdowns because of his height. All in all, this was a good one.

Participants: Gerald Green (Celtics), Nate Robinson (Knicks), Dwight Howard (Magic), Tyrus Thomas (Bulls)
Champion: Gerald Green

Can Gerald Green always be in the dunk contest? He did a Dee Brown dunk over Nate Robinson, he did a windmill over a table, and didn't miss many dunks. Nate and Dwight had some underrated performances, but Green dominated the field. He's one of the few that take the contest seriously.

Participants: Nate Robinson (Knicks), Dwight Howard (Magic), J.R. Smith (Nuggets), Rudy Fernandez (Blazers)
Champion: Nate Robinson

Rudy Fernandez and J.R. Smith put on some underrated performances but Nate and Dwight were way more creative in terms of props. Nate jumped on a teammates back and Howard dunked on a 12'-foot rim while wearing a Superman cape. And then Kryto-Nate jumped over "Superman" and won everybody over.

Participants: Nate Robinson (Knicks), DeMar DeRozan (Raptors), Gerald Wallace (Bobcats), Shannon Brown (Lakers)
Champion: Nate Robinson

Shannon Brown thought he was in a regular game with the weak shit he brought to the table. Gerald Wallace, too. But Nate and DeMar put on a show. The fans had control on won and Robinson was more popular than DeRozan so he took home his third dunk contest crown, even though he missed a bunch of dunks. There was really nothing special about this one. Not to mention the crowd stunk, they had no energy.

Participants: Dwight Howard (Magic), Gerald Green (Timberwolves), Jamario Moon (Raptors), Rudy Gay (Grizzlies)
Champion: Dwight Howard

Gerald Green's cupcake dunk was so underrated and Dwight's "Superman" dunk was so overrated because he didn't fucking dunk it! In what world is that a dunk??? Jamario Moon and Rudy Gay came thru with some underrated dunks as well. The Slam Dunk Contest has been hit or miss since Vince Carter came thru and crushed the buildings.

Participants: Kobe Bryant (Lakers), Chris Carr (Timberwolves), Michael Finley (Mavs), Ray Allen (Bucks), Bob Sura (Cavs), Darvin Ham (Nuggets)
Champion: Kobe Bryant

In 1997, home crowd favorite Bob Sura proved he was no more than a poor mans Rex Chapman, losing to a fresh-out-of-high-school, and a prom date with Brandy, kid. Darvin Ham, for all his backboard-breaking hype, was ineffective too. Chris Carr? We'll forgive you for asking "who the fuck is that?" Ray Allen should have declined. And, while Mike Finley might hold Wisconsin's vertical leap record, he was never known for his style. Bryant won by default and cemented his intent to be the second-coming of MJ.

Participants: Harold Miner (Heat), Isaiah Rider (Timberwolves), Jamie Watson (Jazz), Antonio Harvery (Lakers), Tim Perry (Sixers), Tony Dumas (Mavs)
Champion: Harold Miner

They called Harold Miner "Baby Jordan," which was about the worst thing that could have happened to this USC product. True, like Mike he won two dunk contests (bracketing J.R. Rider's sole win in '94) but he was out of the league at 24, a victim of high expectations and a one-dimensional game. But what a dimension it was. Miner dusted a pretty weak field (Antonio Harvey? Tim Perry?), easily beating Jamie Watson and Rider (who repeatedly misfired on his signature "East Bay Funk" dunk in the final round.

Participants: Desmond Mason (Sonics), DeShawn Stevenson (Jazz), Baron Davis (Hornets), Stromile Swift (Grizzlies), Jonathan Bender (Pacers), Corey Maggette (Clippers)
Champion: Desmond Mason

Desmond Mason almost died on his first attempt of trying to jump over teammate Rashard Lewis. However, he was able to make the second try. He had a good showing. We wish we could say the same about the other guys. There were a lot of missed dunks. Like the airball dunk Baron Davis gave us because he had a blindfold on—he should've cheated like Ceballos. It was Mason and everybody else. He won by a landslide.

Participants: Fred Jones (Pacers), Jason Richardson (Warriors), Chris Andersen (Nuggets), Ricky Davis (Celtics)
Champion: Fred Jones

Jason Richardson should've repeated but he missed his final dunk. Fred Jones did too but he had the overall better score. Judges love short dunkers. This was an entertaining one. In L.A., with stars like Jack and Leo in attendance, all four guys had some nice dunks. Richardson did his best Dominique impression but still came up short. Other than that, '04s installment wasn't half bad.

Participants: Brent Barry (Clippers), Michael Finley (Suns), Greg Minor (Celtics), Jerry Stackhouse (Sixers), Doug Christie (Knicks), Darrell Armstrong (Magic)
Champion: Brent Barry

This year's installment was eh. Brent Barry won because he jumped from the free-throw line while looking good doing it. He left the warm-up on like Larry Bird and soared his way into the history books as the first white player to win the dunk contest. Barry is a pioneer. And Darryl Armstrong thought is was a layup contest, that's why he's last.

Participants: Blake Griffin (Clippers), Javale McGee (Wizards), DeMar DeRozan (Raptors), Serge Ibaka (Thunder)
Champion: Blake Griffin

Blake jumped over a hood of a Kia, Javale dunked on two baskets, and Ibaka bit a stuffed animal. This was a weird one. When you take away all the missed trys, 2011 was entertaining. Each participant had some pretty great dunks. But the judges got wooed by corporate sponsors and gave the crown to Blake. They also penalized the real winner, DeMar DeRozan, because he didn't use props.

Participants: Jeremy Evans (Jazz), Chase Budinger (Rockets), Paul George (Pacers), Derrick Williams (Timberwolves)
Champion: Jeremy Evans

Womp, womp. This one featured way too many props. Guys rely on theatrics more than they do the art of a graceful dunk. We don't care if we've seen before, just do it with style and power. Paul George should've won for his glow in the dark dunk, though. That was pretty sick.

Participants: Terrence Ross (Raptors), Jeremy Evans (Jazz), Eric Bledsoe (Clippers), Kenneth Faried (Nuggets), Gerald Green (Pacers), James White (Knicks)
Champion: Terrance Ross

Just like all the recent dunk contests, this one lacked a big star and featured too many missed dunks. The format takes the fun out of seeing a dunk because you already saw the dunker try it 50 times. However, Jeremy Evans was the most creative by dunking over props. Kenneth Faried was impressive except that he didn't throw any down with force. Last year's installment was aight, it was aight.