Picture Credit: Basketballsociety.com
Since the inception of the NBA in 1946, the sport of basketball has always witnessed many changes. From the league focusing more on players scoring from the paint to acquiring a plethora of elite 3-point shooters. But one thing which has remained constant for almost a century has been the devastating dunks.
Be it LeBron James or Michael Jordan or Giannis Antetokounmpo, there isn't a stadium in the world that doesn’t applaud a beautifully crafted dunk. Justifying the same in this article, we will take a look at the top 5 dunks in NBA history, wherein the audience was brought to the edge of the seat.
5. LeBron James on Jason Terry (Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics 2013)
Before Boston Celtics met Miami Heat for this encounter, Dallas Mavericks’ Terry stopped LeBron James along with his Super Heat team in 2011’s NBA Finals. However, post that, Terry was vocal about LeBron James being overrated until came the game on March 18, 2013, between Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.
In the 2nd quarter, Dwayne Wade made a steal and passed the ball towards Mario Chalmers who gave it to Norris Cole, while Terry seemed to be all over the place trying to recover the ball after being outnumbered in the defensive end, Norris tossed the ball as LeBron James came running at a breakneck speed towards Jason Terry and BAM! Not only was there pin drop silence around the stadium but Jason Terry laid dead on his back in front of LeBron James who gave him a stare to remember for his life.
4. Scottie Pippen on Patrick Ewing (Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks 1994)
It was Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals between Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks. When Bulls got a block on their end of the court, they charged down to make it count. While Jordan played a breakthrough pass, Scottie Pippen came running and jumped horizontally on the big and strong Patrick Ewing.
Arguably one of the best poster dunks of all time, Pippen not only slam-dunked the ball but walked over Ewing to stamp his authority while the crowd was in awe of the ‘Robin’.
3. Shawn Kemp on Alton Lister (Golden State Warriors vs Seattle Supersonics 1992)
It all started from Game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs series when Supersonics’ Lister did a superb job of defending power forward Shawn Kemp. As a result of the frustration, punches were thrown by both the players at one another in the same game.
But came Game 4, wherein Shawn Kemp dominated and decided to announce his arrival in the 7-game series by slamming a Tomahawk Dunk in the face of Alton Lister, which made him land on his back right underneath the basket.
2. Shaquille O'Neal on Chris Dudley (Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks 1999)
This isn’t a dunk, wherein the player being dunked on fell upon the ground but is regarded as one of the prettiest after moments. Shaquille O’Neal was being guarded by Chris Dudley when the former dunker tried pushing the defender off via his shoulder. Just when everyone thought Shaquille O’Neal was done, he turned, jumped and dunked.
What followed was Shaq clenching Dudley between his legs and pushing him off to the floor. While Dudley could not understand what happened, he threw the ball towards Shaq when the entire stadium went rolling.
1. Dwyane Wade on Anderson Varejao (Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Dwayne Wade arguably grabs the numero uno spot in the top 5 dunks in NBA history. The sequence leading to Wade’s dunk begins at the other end of the court, as LeBron James drives to the rim and goes up for a dunk of his own, only to be blocked by Jermaine O’Neal. Dwayne Wade then gathers the rebound and pushes the ball up the right side.
When no Cleveland Cavalier defender could stop the ball, Wade veers into the middle of the lane, where Anderson Varejao is the last line of defense for the Cavaliers. Wade explodes to the rim and almost takes the basket off the hoops. Interestingly, Wade is 6’4, whereas Anderson Varejao is 6’11.