Ranking the best NBA dunk contests of all time. Plus, it’s OK to enjoy this weekend!

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All of us simply need to be Michael Keaton when watching the dunk contest.

Embrace All-Star Weekend

Don’t be too cool for celebrationsAll-Star Weekend in Indianapolis ideas off tonight with the Rising Stars Recreation – highlighting the most important and brightest first- and second-year gamers within the NBA – and the Movie star Recreation – which is like the outdated Rock ’N’ Jock Video games in the event that they have been dipped in Barbicide and proven nothing however Bob Cousy highlights in a “Clockwork Orange” state of affairs. We should always all be most excited to look at Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson ball towards YouTube creators.

I’ve seen rather less enthusiasm from some buddies and folks on-line in the case of All-Star weekend, which frustrates me fairly a bit. Why? I love All-Star Weekend. Whether or not I’m there or watching from residence, I actually get pleasure from your entire spectacle that’s this celebratory weekend of the NBA. That’s to not say it’s with out faults. It definitely can and does – there is perhaps faults on this yr’s. I get that.

Finally, I believe your entire weekend is price taking note of and provides us an excellent illustration of the NBA we love. I do know the web pattern is to be unimpressed by enjoyable issues. I’ve seen total TikTok accounts devoted to pretending stuff Vince Carter and Michael Jordan did wasn’t spectacular. It’s a bizarre strategy to be! I’m on my soapbox to say it’s acceptable to get pleasure from issues which have been seen earlier than.

Rising Stars Recreation

We’re getting Victor Wembanyama towards Chet Holmgren in some unspecified time in the future. Scoot Henderson, Jaden Ivey and Paolo Banchero are all teaming up collectively. We’ll see a sneak peek at G League Ignite prospect Matas Buzelis and an early preview of what Mac McClung may do on Saturday. It’ll be enjoyable. Prediction: Tamika Catchings’ crew wins.

Abilities Problem

I’ll admit that I don’t love the crew format and want the league would return to 4 guards and 4 massive males competing within the match. However between Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards, Wemby, Scottie Barnes and Trae Younger, we now have good personalities competing. Prediction: Trae Younger, Scottie Barnes, Tyrese Maxey win.

3-Level Contest

It’s uncommon we don’t get an amazing efficiency from the 3-point Contest – to the diploma that some basketball hipsters have been making an attempt to say it’s the primary occasion of the Saturday Evening and ought to be handled as such within the schedule. I vehemently disagree with that, however we’ll get to that in a little bit bit. It’s one other nice subject to battle it out. Prediction: Karl-Anthony Cities wins his second one.

Dunk Contest

Admittedly, this isn’t the best dunk contest subject we’ve ever seen. We additionally simply want two of those 4 to placed on a present and provides us an actual competitors. Mac McClung will do an amazing job. That is what he does. Jaime Jaquez Jr. may very well be enjoyable, however we don’t see plenty of that stuff from him in video games. Jaylen Brown ought to be nice on this, if he’s going to care sufficient to strive some loopy stuff. I’ve by no means seen Jacob Toppin dunk, however let’s hope it runs within the household along with his brother, Obi, displaying him the way in which. Sure, new-ish dunks are massive, however we want two guys to deliver power and charisma to the competitors. When the dunk contest hits, nothing beats it. Prediction: McClung goes back-to-back.

All-Star Recreation on Sunday

There isn’t any means of predicting if the 2 groups will care sufficient to placed on a full, aggressive present. With that mentioned, TNT does such a superb job of broadcasting this celebration of the NBA all weekend lengthy, that it’s why I’m nonetheless so bullish on the product as a complete weekend package deal. Plus, we love hoarse Charles Barkley. And if it sucks? “Oppenheimer” is streaming now. Plus, a brand new episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” drops Sunday evening.

Benefit from the weekend!

The Newest From Shams

Bucks add veteran floor-spacerFree agent Danilo Gallinari is finalizing a take care of the Milwaukee Bucks, sources inform The Athletic. Gallinari’s agent, Michael Tellem, had been discussing choices with a number of title contenders this week. Gallinari significantly thought of a number of groups – together with Clippers, Cavaliers and Bulls – earlier than selecting the Bucks, with whom he’ll have alternative for a powerful position underneath his outdated coach Doc Rivers.

Gallinari is a profession 38.2 p.c 3-point shooter and averaged 7.3 factors in 32 video games between the Wizards and Pistons this season.

Finest Dunk Contests Ever

Spoiler alert: It isn’t Vince Carter

I’m a giant dunk contest nerd. I do know what you’re pondering. “Zach, you didn’t want to incorporate the phrases ‘dunk contest’ in that sentence!” Increase, roasted me. With that thought of, I am a self-proclaimed NBA dunk contest aficionado. It’s one in every of my favourite sporting occasions on the market, and I nonetheless imagine it’s the crown jewel of the weekend. So, let’s dive into the 5 best dunk contests ever.

(Notice: These should not one of the best particular person performances, per se. Though, we’ll see a few these creep in. It was tough to depart out the Blake Griffin-DeMar DeRozan-JaVale McGee-Serge Ibaka contest from 2011, however its ending sort of ruined the remaining.)

5. Michael Jordan versus Dominique Wilkins in 1988: By now, these dunks look fairly fundamental in comparison with the creativity of the final couple many years, however this contest was about grace, energy, showmanship and pure charisma. Nique received in 1985. Jordan took the crown in 1987. They usually have been offering a large showdown in Chicago in 1988. There was no means Jordan would lose on his residence ground, proper? Appropriate. Some say it was rigged! However these have been two of the most important stars placing their reps on the road. Think about that at this time.

4. Zach LaVine’s first contest in 2015: On the time, we weren’t given plenty of competitors from the sector towards LaVine, however he didn’t want it to placed on a present. He had the House Jam dunk, between his legs off the bounce. He went round his again off the bounce. LaVine took it out of Andrew Wiggins’ hand and went between his legs. He capped it off by going between his legs from the aspect of the basket. It was a legendary arrival.

3. Jason Richardson versus Desmond Mason in 2003: This didn’t have the starpower of the Nique vs. MJ, but it surely was an excellent higher showdown between two energy dunkers. This was the evolution of what we noticed in ‘88, simply 25 years later. Mason had received it in 2001. J-Wealthy in 2002. And Richardson wanted an ideal rating to take it residence on the ultimate dunk, so he did this:

2. Vince Carter introduces us to Vinsanity in 2000: Don’t get me unsuitable: Tracy McGrady, Ricky Davis and Steve Francis all placed on a present that evening in Oakland. However this was all about Vince Carter. His first three dunks have been legendary, however Vince as soon as instructed me his purpose for the “elbow dunk” was to make the sector silent, and Michael Keaton’s face says all of it.

1. Zach LaVine versus Aaron Gordon in 2016: Gordon was not robbed of the championship, however he was robbed of a 50 on the double-pump dunk on the finish. They’d nonetheless be exchanging 50’s at this time if he’d acquired a correct rating there. Each he and LaVine have been deserving of the title. Gordon was doing absurd stuff with mascots, hoverboards and energy dunks. LaVine caught an alley-oop from the free-throw line, went by way of the legs from the free-throw line and ended up with the win. However we will all agree this was one of the best dunk of the competition.