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Sports InsiderGreat Dunkers Throughout NBA History.
October 6th 2006 00:51
The dunk: isn’t there a more beautiful sight on the basketball court? Basketball is custom built as a display for athletic artistry and the dunk is perhaps the pinnacle of this creative movement. Dunking is both beautiful and brutal and when done by the great artists through NBA history is a sight to behold. It’s basketball orgasm.
Players in the NBA are without a shadow of a doubt some of the most superb athletes in the world. The sheer skills and speed of the players, matched with their physical size is a corporeal marvel. As an aside isn’t it funny that the only avenue that straight men can comment on the physical attributes of other men with a deep homoerotic undercurrent and is acceptable is in the critiquing of athletes? Just an observation.
Anyway, back to the point of this post – the dunk. The ultimate visual spectacle of any basketball game is the anticipation of a dunk that would be so beautifully brutal that the sight of this play will burn in the memories of spectators forever more.
There have been many great dunkers throughout the history of the NBA, but there are a few that are out of this world. So, it is the duty of NBALOUD today to comment on the best proponents of dunking ever!
Julius Erving
A discussion on great dunkers always begins with Dr. J and his aerial
acrobatics. The man walked on air and was the first player to really be associated with the dunk. Yes, there were many great aerial athletes before the Doc but he was the one that bought the art into wider consciousness.
NBALOUD also has the distinct disadvantage of not being around on this planet during anytime in the 70’s so it’s a little hard to comment on great dunkers pre-Doc.
Erving was perhaps most synonymous as the first player to ever take off from the free throw line and jam it home in the ABA/NBA – a dunk that has been widely imitated since by many players, including the irrepressible Michael Jordan.
Rocking the afro and the rim Dr. J was the godfather of the dunk – Doc was the shit!
Michael Jordan
If the Doc was the first great dunk artist, MJ was the man who took the play through the stratosphere. When His Airness burst onto the scene as a rookie in the mid-80’s he bought a new type of funk into the NBA that was sorely missing. Sporting the bling and the kicks MJ was the epitome of basketball
cool, whilst dunking on opponents with aplomb.
Jordan owned the slam dunk competitions when he entered them, while players would cower in fear at the potential that they would be victimised by MJ via a vicious dunk.
Perhaps the best Jordan dunk related story is from the 80’s while playing the Utah Jazz in a particular game. During this contest Jordan dunked on a much shorter opponent with style. After this play he began to be heckled by the General Manager of the Jazz from the sidelines who stated that Jordan should pick on someone his own size. So what does His Airness do? On the very next play he dunked the ball straight over the Jazz’s 7-foot centre and shot back to the Jazz GM with words to this effect: Was be big enough?
Jordan was and still is the greatest.
Shaquille O’Neal
If Jordan was the foie gras of dunking than Shaq is the Big Mac version of the play – not very artistic, but dangerous to ones health. There has never been a more proficient proponent of the dunk than Shaq. The man-monster uses his size, strength and speed to brutal effect.
No player in their right mind would attempt to block a Shaq dunk for fear of having their arm being torn off from its sockets.
During his rookie season Shaq Daddy displayed his awesome power via the dunk on two occasions. In a game in Phoenix after a dunk by O’Neal the basketball support system gave up and collapsed back down.
However, it is the second example that is perhaps most impressive when during a game against New Jersey after a dunk the beast tore down the whole basket and backboard off the support system. He literally ripped the whole thing off which was a sight to behold.
Shaq Daddy wants to be a police officer so potential criminals in Miami had better watch their backs. The more pertinent question is what the fuck was Kobe Bryant thinking in wanting to brawl with O’Neal? He’d get killed!
Kobe Bryant
Speak of the devil. Bryant is arguably the most athletic player in the NBA right now and perhaps in the history of the game, thus far. Kobe is both hated and admired in equal measure, but there is no denying the man has skills.
You may hate Bryant, but as a dunker he is an artist par excellence.
Numerous foes have been dunked on by the Laker with the name of a Japanese anime character. NBALOUD has witnessed Bryant dunk on guys doing 180 and 360 spins. Can you say phenomenon?
Vince Carter
There has never been a more creative and better dunker in the history of the NBA than VC. Carter is the closest that humans have come to flying and his skills near the rim are without peer.
Perhaps the picture accompanying this entry will illustrate the point of how crazy Vinsanity is at his best. Just observe the picture in awe.
NBALOUD recognises that many great dunkers have been left off the list such as Dominique Wilkins, Tracy McGrady and LeBron James. These cats will get honourable mentions because this entry has gone on for long enough already!
Players in the NBA are without a shadow of a doubt some of the most superb athletes in the world. The sheer skills and speed of the players, matched with their physical size is a corporeal marvel. As an aside isn’t it funny that the only avenue that straight men can comment on the physical attributes of other men with a deep homoerotic undercurrent and is acceptable is in the critiquing of athletes? Just an observation.
Anyway, back to the point of this post – the dunk. The ultimate visual spectacle of any basketball game is the anticipation of a dunk that would be so beautifully brutal that the sight of this play will burn in the memories of spectators forever more.
There have been many great dunkers throughout the history of the NBA, but there are a few that are out of this world. So, it is the duty of NBALOUD today to comment on the best proponents of dunking ever!
Julius Erving
A discussion on great dunkers always begins with Dr. J and his aerial
Dr. J shaking the rim in the 70's. (Image from wikipedia)
NBALOUD also has the distinct disadvantage of not being around on this planet during anytime in the 70’s so it’s a little hard to comment on great dunkers pre-Doc.
Erving was perhaps most synonymous as the first player to ever take off from the free throw line and jam it home in the ABA/NBA – a dunk that has been widely imitated since by many players, including the irrepressible Michael Jordan.
Rocking the afro and the rim Dr. J was the godfather of the dunk – Doc was the shit!
Michael Jordan
If the Doc was the first great dunk artist, MJ was the man who took the play through the stratosphere. When His Airness burst onto the scene as a rookie in the mid-80’s he bought a new type of funk into the NBA that was sorely missing. Sporting the bling and the kicks MJ was the epitome of basketball
MJ getting dunkalicious. (Image from espn.com)
Jordan owned the slam dunk competitions when he entered them, while players would cower in fear at the potential that they would be victimised by MJ via a vicious dunk.
Perhaps the best Jordan dunk related story is from the 80’s while playing the Utah Jazz in a particular game. During this contest Jordan dunked on a much shorter opponent with style. After this play he began to be heckled by the General Manager of the Jazz from the sidelines who stated that Jordan should pick on someone his own size. So what does His Airness do? On the very next play he dunked the ball straight over the Jazz’s 7-foot centre and shot back to the Jazz GM with words to this effect: Was be big enough?
Jordan was and still is the greatest.
Shaquille O’Neal
If Jordan was the foie gras of dunking than Shaq is the Big Mac version of the play – not very artistic, but dangerous to ones health. There has never been a more proficient proponent of the dunk than Shaq. The man-monster uses his size, strength and speed to brutal effect.
No player in their right mind would attempt to block a Shaq dunk for fear of having their arm being torn off from its sockets.
During his rookie season Shaq Daddy displayed his awesome power via the dunk on two occasions. In a game in Phoenix after a dunk by O’Neal the basketball support system gave up and collapsed back down.
However, it is the second example that is perhaps most impressive when during a game against New Jersey after a dunk the beast tore down the whole basket and backboard off the support system. He literally ripped the whole thing off which was a sight to behold.
Shaq Daddy wants to be a police officer so potential criminals in Miami had better watch their backs. The more pertinent question is what the fuck was Kobe Bryant thinking in wanting to brawl with O’Neal? He’d get killed!
Kobe Bryant
Speak of the devil. Bryant is arguably the most athletic player in the NBA right now and perhaps in the history of the game, thus far. Kobe is both hated and admired in equal measure, but there is no denying the man has skills.
You may hate Bryant, but as a dunker he is an artist par excellence.
Vince dunks over a cheese eating surrender monkey. (Image from usabasketball)
Vince Carter
There has never been a more creative and better dunker in the history of the NBA than VC. Carter is the closest that humans have come to flying and his skills near the rim are without peer.
Perhaps the picture accompanying this entry will illustrate the point of how crazy Vinsanity is at his best. Just observe the picture in awe.
NBALOUD recognises that many great dunkers have been left off the list such as Dominique Wilkins, Tracy McGrady and LeBron James. These cats will get honourable mentions because this entry has gone on for long enough already!
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Comment by Ragin Cajun
Observer's Post
Death By Myopia
Comment by Sports Insider
I like the in-game dunkers, better than the dunk comp guys. Pippen, Shaq, Kemp, even Tom Chambers.
But Spud Webb, can't go past what he did a long time ago with the Hawks. Little 5-7 dunker.
Another great list and look forward to more of them.
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