The 10 Best Dunks That Didn’t Win The NBA Slam Dunk Contest [VIDEOS]
Written by
Kazeem Famuyide
Published on
February 14, 2013
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Michael Jordan from the free throw line. Blake Griffin over a car. Dwight Howard as Superman. We all know these iconic All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest, but some have slipped through the cracks.
Whether there were some hating judges (we are looking at you Julius Erving), lost to an amazing performance, or just plain ole’ got screwed, some of these great dunks get forgotten in the annals of time.
Not anymore.
While the world gets ready to convene down to Houston, Texas for the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, we take a look back at some of the greatest dunks in the history of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest that didn’t win.
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Stars like Amar’e Stoudemire, Tracy McGrady, Steve Francis, and even Michael Jordan have all been robbed so to speak while competing in NBA Dunk Contests and their jams aren’t as revered as the winners.
Hit the jump and countdown our top ten dunk contest dunks that weren’t winners and tune in to the NBA All Star Weekend this Saturday on TNT.
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Photo: NBAE
10. Desmond Mason – Off Two Feet, Left-Handed, Through The Legs
D-Mase was a marginal basketball player but an explosive dunker. How explosive? He sparked off this dunk-off with Jason Richardson with a through the legs dunk that looked like he was shot out of a cannon.
9. Steve Francis – Off The Bounce, Double Pump, Reverse
Everybody was playing for second place in the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest that featured Vince Carter. That is too bad for Stevie Franchise, who let loose this double pump jam.
8. Tracy McGrady – Off The Bounce, 360 Pump
Going against his similarly athletically blessed cousin, Vince Carter, T-Mac threw down this squeaky clean 360 jam before helping Carter win with an off-the-boucne through the legs banger.
7. Michael Jordan – Reverse, Cuff, Sideways
The Jordan-Wilkins trilogy started with this amazing flying, reverse cuff jam. The best part of this dunk? The shiny gold chain, of course!
6. Gerald Green – Off The Bounce, Blow Out A Candle
He blew out the candle. He blew out the damn candle. What more did you want?
5. Andre Iguodala – Off The Bounce, Behind The Back
Iguodala only lost this contest because 5’9″ dunkers are something you just don’t see everyday. Thanks a lot, Nate.
4. J.R. Smith – Behind The Back Jam
Even though he got hung on his first few attempts, J.R. Smith pulled off the first ever behind the back dunk.
3. Steve Nash to Amar’e Stoudemire – Off The Glass, Off The Head, 360 .
Although Steve Nash made this dunk even better, this was the creativity we loved from the dunk contests, not the hokey props.
2. Allen Iverson to Andre Iguodala – Off The Glass, Behind The Backboard, Reverse
1. Allen Iverson made a perfect pass. 2. The level of danger in this dunk makes this that much more awesome.
1. Jason Richardson – Off The Glass, Between The Legs
Save a few blown dunks from J. Rich attempting a 360-through-the-legs dunk, the former Warriors incredible off the glass dunk didn’t have the luxury of any buildup. It was so quick, so fast, so amazing, it went under appreciated.
