Image via Complex Original
Every NBA player is talented. Yes, even you, Kwame. Making it into the extremely exclusive club of the best ballers in the world is nothing to scoff at. However, not all talent is equal. Some ballers build a great profile of a unique skill set centered around an athletic background. LeBron James is an amazing athlete, but what makes him the best is that his game now features some substance in his passing ability, defense, and improved shooting efficiency. Some players on the other hand are athletes who shine bright above the rim with aerial assaults, but have never been able to eschew the label of "dunker." From Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins to the incredible stylings of one JaVale McGee, here is a look at NBA Ballers Who Were Great Dunkers But Only Average All-Around Players.
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15. Jamario Moon
Career years: 2007-2012
Stats: 6.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.0 APG
Team(s): Raptors, Heat, Cavaliers, Clippers, Bobcats
As far as random careers go, Jamario Moon had one of the more unique NBA tenures. The swingman came into the league and left before many fans ever got to know the undrafted small forward. Moon erupted on the scene as a high flyer out of the CBA for the Raptors. Unfortunately he was never able to erase his dunker image due to the lack of a refined offensive game. The problem was that he was never really good at anything besides leaping and finishing alley-oops. His jump shot was iffy, and despte being a solid defender, Moon could never find a consistent home with teams not respecting him on the perimeter.
14. James White
Career years: 2006-2007, 2009, 2012-2013
Stats: 2.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.5 APG
Team(s): Spurs, Rockets, Knicks
Despite his athletic exploits, James "Flight" White has never been able to find a home since being drafted in the second round of the 2006 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. White has bounced around the NBA and overseas, but luckily he does have a championship to show for it, winning with the Spurs in 2007. White was barely able to receive any playing time with the Knicks last season due to his lack of a jumper which killed the Knicks' classic spacing during the 2012-13 season.
13. JaVale McGee
Career years: 2008-Present
Stats: 8.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 0.4 APG
Team(s): Wizards, Nuggets
You know it's bad when your NBA career is simply centered around athleticism and bumbling plays. JaVale McGee is a highlight reel waiting to happen, but for every great play, McGee has a gaffe of the utmost proportions. It's so bad that Shaquille O'Neal's running segment of Shaqtin' A Fool features McGee on a regular basis. The problem with McGee is his focus and lack of attention to detail. McGee doesn't defend well in the pick-and-roll, is a weak overall team defender, and he zones in and out of plays mentally.
12. Ricky Davis
Career years: 1999-2010
Stats: 13.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.3 APG
Team(s): Hornets, Heat, Cavaliers, Celtics, Timberwolves, Clippers
Out of all of the players on this list, Ricky Davis has to be one of the more talented ballers. Davis was a dunker, but also had a unique ability to score in a variety of ways. A bad attitude and some questionable decisions put a negative stamp on his career. Who can forget some of Ricky's FTW moments, such as missing a between-the-legs dunk in a game and his signature triple- double ripoff. Also, if a team trades you out of the fear of poisoning LeBron James, you might be doing something wrong.
11. Tyrus Thomas
Career years: 2006-2013
Stats: 7.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.9 APG
Team(s): Bulls, Bobcats
What's worse? Tyrus Thomas' draft rights being traded by the Blazers to the Bulls for the rights to LaMarcus Aldridge or Thomas being traded to the Bobcats for a future first rounder? Let's just chop it up as any trade involving Thomas always fails for the team acquiring him.
10. Desmond Mason
Career years: 2000-2009
Stats: 12.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.6 APG
Team(s): Supersonics, Bucks, Hornets, Thunder, Kings
One of the better dunkers in the NBA in the early 2000s was Desmond Mason. The Oklahoma product won the 2001 Slam Dunk Contest and was a runner-up in the 2002 Contest as well. He had some good seasons averaging double figure scoring for six seasons in a row with a peak scoring average of 17.7 PPG for the Bucks during the 2004-05 season. If he had played with a credible jump shot or perimeter game, he could've been something even more special than a leaper.
9. Tim Perry
Career years
Stats: 6.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.9 APG
Team(s): Suns, 76ers, Nets
Tim Perry probably experienced the most average career in NBA history. If you expect to find anything about his NBA skills, you're probably going to find footage of him participating in three dunk contests. It's like he never played an NBA game, but magically appeared during All-Star weekend every year to put on an average dunk contest performance.
8. Fred Jones
Career years: 2002-2009
Stats: 7.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.3 APG
Team(s): Pacers, Raptors, Trail Blazers, Knicks, Clippers
The University of Oregon product won the contest in 2004 and never competed again in the Slam Dunk contest after winning. See, he was kind of like Kobe Bryant. Minus the five NBA championships, two Finals MVPs, 15 All-Star selections—OK, he was nothing like The Black Mamba. Jones was a solid backup guard for some good Pacers teams during the Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest era, but never amounted to more than a solid rotation player throughout his career. His dunk over Ben Wallace is still commendable.
7. Stromile Swift
Career years: 2000-2009
Stats: 8.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.5 APG. 1.2 BPG
Team(s): Grizzlies, Rockets, Nets, Suns
The Memphis Grizzlies enjoyed the "Stro" show for a few quality seasons of production. He was a solid player for the Grizzlies, and most of his success was due to his outrageous athleticism. A top shot-blocker and rim-rattler, Swift made plays on the regular, but found himself out of the league quickly due to a rapid decline in productivity in the latter part of his career.
6. Terence Stansbury
Career years: 1984-1987
Stats: 6.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 2.0 APG
Team(s): Pacers, Supersonics
Terence Stansbury is known for one thing and one thing only: His statue of liberty dunk that will remain in NBA lure forever. His career scoring average and overall tenure in the league on the other hand are looking pretty weak for his case as a quality NBA player.
5. Harold Miner
Career years: 1992-1996
Stats: 9.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.2 APG
Team(s): Heat, Cavaliers
It's never easy when you're being compared to the great Michael Jordan. Harold Miner had one of the tougher roads to follow in the NBA with the nickname "Baby Jordan" taking over his career. Miner was a solid player, and won a couple of Slam Dunk Contests (1993, 1995), but his career fell apart due to his weak shooting skills. Miner was only a 31 percent three-point shooter for his career. The former slam dunk champion fell out of the league only four years after the start of his NBA career. At the end of the day, Baby Jordan just couldn't compare to the OG.
4. Gerald Green
Career years: 2005-2009, 2012-Present
Stats: 8.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.9 APG
Team(s): Celtics, Timberwolves, Rockets, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers, Suns
In some ways, Gerald Green has the perfect game for the NBA. Green has athleticism through the roof with some spectacular dunks coming on the regular. Also, Green is a solid shooter sporting a 39 percent clip from beyond the arc in a year of resurrection with the Phoenix Suns. Green has never been able to find a consistent home because despite his talents, he makes bad decisions on the court. He's prone to defensive lapses and can't handle a basketball to save his life. He does blow out birthday candles above the rim though.
3. Jeremy Evans
Career years: 2010-Present
Stats: 3.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.5 APG
Team(s): Jazz
Jeremy Evans is still finding himself in the NBA. He has shown glimpses of brilliance in the NBA this season, but still has a long way to go. His pogo stick athleticism is a pure spectacle to watch when he's able to display it. Evans also probably wants to get away from that Slam Dunk Contest image that haunts him based off of his win in 2012 and solid showing in 2013.
2. Kenny "Sky" Walker
Career years: 1986-1991, 1993-1995
Stats: 7.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.7 APG
Team(s): Knicks, Bullets
New York Knicks fans remember Kenny "Sky" Walker for winning the 1989 Slam Dunk contest, outracing a horse, and fighting with Scottie Pippen. He had a solid seven-year career as a role player, but considering he was drafted fifth overall in the 1986 NBA draft, he could've been much better than his 7.0 PPG scoring average shows.
1. Darryl Dawkins
Career years: 1975-1989
Stats: 12.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.3 APG
Team(s): 76ers, Nets, Jazz, Pistons
Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins is one of the best personalities to ever step on an NBA court. His rim and glass-breaking jams are legendary, but that's really all we know him for. Dawkins had some solid years with the 76ers and Nets, but his relatively average all-around skills hindered him from becoming more than the athletic dunker and inside scorer who was one of the OG's to enter the NBA straight out of high school.
