5 best dunks of the 2016-17 NBA season
By Ty Finch
3. Victor Oladipo vs. Atlanta Hawks
Dwight Howard has been the NBA’s favorite player to hate ever since he left the Orlando Magic. So it stands to reason that seeing him get eviscerated on a dunk by a man who is a full seven inches shorter than him can cause an endorphin rush for some.
What makes this play even more special than a “normal” slam dunk over one of the league’s best defenders, is the pump in the middle of Oladipo’s hang time. Normally, a pump is just another way to show off in the midst of a dunk, but Oladipo did so out of necessity. Howard likely has a clear path to stuffing the Oklahoma City guard, but that’s when the magic of this dunk happens.
A pump on any given dunk is impressive enough. One on a top-tier defensive center like Howard increases it. To escalate it even further, Howard fouls Oladipo after missing the block, and Oladipo still finishes the dunk powerfully. The only possible way for this slam to be any better is if Howard fell on the floor afterwards, for ultimate disrespect, of course.
The bench reaction can be one of the best parts of any given dunk, and the Oklahoma City bench does not disappoint. Not a single player on the away team’s sidelines is sitting down after it goes in. In fact, there’s not a single Oklahoma City player sitting down even after the Hawks drive the length of the floor. That’s when you know you’ve just done something special.