Fansided

10 greatest slam dunk contest performances of all time

By Aaron Hertzog

ATLANTA - FEBRUARY 8: Judges, Dr. Julius Erving, Michael Jordan and Spud Webb during the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest on February 8, 2003 at the Georgia Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia during the 2003 NBA All-Star Weekend. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)
ATLANTA - FEBRUARY 8: Judges, Dr. Julius Erving, Michael Jordan and Spud Webb during the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest on February 8, 2003 at the Georgia Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia during the 2003 NBA All-Star Weekend. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 11
Next
MINNEAPOLIS – FEBRUARY 12: Isaiah ‘JR’ Rider of the Minnesota Timberwolves attempts a slam dunk during the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest on February 12, 1994 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1994 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS – FEBRUARY 12: Isaiah ‘JR’ Rider of the Minnesota Timberwolves attempts a slam dunk during the 1994 Slam Dunk Contest on February 12, 1994 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1994 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

7. Isaiah Rider (1994)

Rider’s 1994 performance makes our list of all-time best partially because it really was a performance. The rookie guaranteed victory in the event the night he was drafted, and from the moment the clock starts to count down the time in his opening round he proved to be a consummate showman in front of his hometown Minnesota crowd.

One of the fascinating finds in looking back at old Slam Dunk Contest footage for this list is the change in format for the event over the years. The opening round, 90-second, free-for-all really allowed a player to turn up the showmanship of their performance. Rider really shined at this aspect of the event. He pumped up the crowd, danced in between dunks, and brought a level of swagger to the competition that makes his work stand out.

HIs first dunk brought the home crowd to their feet as he flung the ball from half court, caught it off the bounce and brought down a two-handed slam after more than clearing the rim with his entire head. Rider’s next two attacks at the rim (and they were just that, not attempts, or trys, they were straight up attacks) fell short, but he gathered himself and converted on his next jam. The bicycle-kicking, air-walking, rock-a-bye-baby flush brought a smile to Patrick Ewings face. He brought home the round with a windmill self-alley-oop caught off a bounce from the floor, and for good measure a tomahawk thunder-dunk after throwing the ball off the backboard.

The composite score for the round earned Rider a 46.8 from the judges, a “he reminds me of my younger self” from Dominique Wilkins, and a spot in the finals.

Rider’s first attempt of the final round was his signature dunk, East Bay Funk. Announcer Doug Collins teased it before the attempt, and JR did not disappoint, to the benefit of the walls of the NBA-poster-loving children of the 1990’s.

The dunk began along the baseline, as Rider cleared enough space to get a proper running start. He took off from the left side of the basket, brought the ball under his leg with his left hand and into his right hand, and slammed it home as he crossed over to the right side of the hoop.

“That might be the best dunk I ever seen. That was awesome.” Charles Barkley exclaimed as he jumps from his seat in awe.

The dunk earned a 49 from the judges, with an explanation that “they wanted to keep the competition open” from the announcers, and speculation from Barkley that the only judge that could have possibly expected anything better than East Bay Funk would have to be Julius Erving.

Rider’s final attempt of the evening was unnecessary, as neither of his competitors could beat the 49 he earned from East Bay Funk. He throws down another rock-the-baby skywalker that earns him a 47, and big cheers from his hometown crowd.

Home/NBA