Every NBA team’s greatest dunker of all time
By John Likanje
A plethora of amazing dunkers have come and gone throughout NBA history. Here is a list of the greatest jumpers from every team.
The beauty of basketball is that it’s one of the few popular sports in which your full athletic ability is displayed with no limitations. Some of the greatest athletes in modern sports played basketball because of their dunking ability. It’s hard to believe that there was a time in which dunking was forbidden.
Now, it’s been glorified and considered a normal part of the sport for the better part of four decades. Every NBA team has had the pleasure of showcasing amazing dunkers. Here is a list of the greatest leapers from each current franchise.
Atlanta Hawks: Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins one of the greatest dunkers of all time, but he’s mostly forgotten when it comes to NBA lore. The 6-foot-8 small forward averaged 26.4 points and 6.9 boards while leading the Atlanta Hawks to the playoffs in eight of his 12 seasons with the team.
Wilkins’ prime was impressive — in 1987-88, he exploded for 30.7 points on 46.4 percent shooting along with 6.4 rebounds while leading the Hawks to 50 victories and the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
Wilkins elevated his game to the next level in the postseason. In 12 contests, he poured in 31.2 points on 45.7 percent shooting as the Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and took Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics to seven games.
The most entertaining part about Wilkins’ dunks was that not only did he love to show out, but he also loved to rub it in the opposing team’s face. The “Human Highlight Film” was no stranger to contact dunks. In fact, he relished it. Wilkins always tried to slam on defenders instead of going around them.
The key to Wilkins’ leaping ability was his explosive second step. He used his gangly, yet firm legs to his advantage by building momentum with his first step. Then, before the defender realizes it, Wilkins is already above the rim and trying to rip down the entire basket. In a way, an argument can be made that Wilkins was a skinnier and more fit version of Shaquille O’Neal.