Dream Slam Dunk Competition

by Fantasy Junkie on Aug 7, 2007 12:14 AM PDT in Hype

Awesome dunker, but he missed the cut

As I was driving home from YaoButtaMing’s place the other day, on KNBR they were discussing what their current dream home run derby would be. They included Ken Griffey Jr, Vlad Guerrero, and some dark horse candidates Jonny Gomes and Oakland’s own Jack Cust. So I was thinking what could we do for hoops? Obviously, host a dream slam dunk contest. There have to be some basic ground rules, but other than that anything goes. So here are two rules I’m going to enforce to pick my field. The first rule is to have only 5 contestants that could compete now. The second rule is that one of them has to be a dark horse candidate. By dark horse, I mean that he’s not a big name with casual fans. He’s got to be someone who, if he participated, would seem to just come out of nowhere. So that’s it, 2 rules,

My picks after the jump, leave yours in the comments.

1) Vince Carter
This guy is still one of the best dunkers in the game, when he wants to be. He is my favorite dunker to watch and honestly, you can make an argument for him being the greatest dunker of all time. He’s got everything you would ever want in a dunker. He’s got power, he’s got crazy hops, and he’s just so smooth about it. The guy just looks good dunking in any type of situation. He looks good dunking on people, dunking on breakaways, dunking on putbacks, and best of all dunking in dunk competitions. There hasn’t been any other player that I can watch a lot of his dunks over and over and over and not get tired of seeing it. His performance in the 2000 dunk contest in Oakland was one of the greatest performances I’ve seen. Check the youtube-ness.

The Greatest Dunk Contest (I’ve Seen) Ever

Jumping over 7-footers is easy

2) LeBron James
What’s wrong with this guy? Participate in a dunk contest already. He’s always on the sidelines acting unimpressed by the participants. If he can do better, he needs to show us. His hops and power have me intrigued, but honestly, his in game dunks aren’t as impressive as other guys. He’s on this list because he potentially has the stuff to win it. The charisma and the style combined with his power could be a joy to watch in a dunk contest. If he wins a championship and a dunk contest, nobody will think of him as just a dunker. It’s for the fans and the fans want to see you dunk. Just do it.

This is just from warm-ups

Top 10 Dunks of his Career

3) Jason Richardson
You know all about this cat. Not much I need to say about him. Explosive. Graceful. Powerful. Mad leapers. Just watch the videos and you’ll see why he’s in my dream slam dunk contest.

"I'm seeing something i've never seen before"

4) Kobe Bryant
No matter what you think of him, he’s one of the most athletic players in the league. He’s ultra-smooth, ridiculously athletic, and can dunk with the best of them. He still does dunks that make you shake your head like, "how did he do that?" While he isn’t as explosive as he was earlier in his career, there’s nothing I’ve seen from anyone else that would not make believe that Kobe has a shot at winning this dream dunk contest.

Look out Dwight Howard

Top 10 Dunks of his Career

5) Darkhorse: James "Flight" White
This guy is absolutely amazing. Sick hops and hangtime. Too bad he can’t apply all that athleticism to an actual NBA game. 2 handed free throw line dunk? No problem. A windmill from the free throw line? He’s done it. A between the legs dunk from 15 feet out? He’s done that too. Just watch the videos.

We’ve seen these highlights posted on the site before, but I never get tired of watching them.

Oh my, oh my, oh my.

Just missed the cut
Tracy McGrady
Gerald Green
Andre Iguodala

Allright, it’s time for you to drop your dream slam dunk competition.
1) 5 players who could compete right now
2) One dark horse candidate

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Comments

Oookay

Shaq
Adonal
Yao
P.J. Brown
Bob Ross

Dark Horse: Kelenna Azubuike

Tony aka Drawlz600 is AWESOME!!!!

by Zorgon on Aug 7, 2007 1:05 AM PDT reply actions

good grief.

It's now to the point where this little gimmick of yours isn't even remotely funny. At all.

http://westcoastbiased.blogspot.com

by coma @ Golden State Of Mind on Aug 7, 2007 1:31 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm tired

so sew me.

Frankly, I'm kinda tired of the dunk contests themselves to see "who can pull off the most amazing dunk". It's more a contest now of "which player you want to cheer on". Harsh, but true.

It would be more entertaining to see those guys in a "rip off the rim contest" where they break old school rims.....or, maybe not at all.

Frankly, I'm going to sleep.

Tony aka Drawlz600 is AWESOME!!!!

by Zorgon on Aug 7, 2007 1:58 AM PDT up reply actions

that's fine.

You're entitled. Just don't post in a dunk contest thread, then.

http://westcoastbiased.blogspot.com

by coma @ Golden State Of Mind on Aug 7, 2007 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Psh

Fine.

Tony aka Drawlz600 is AWESOME!!!!

by Zorgon on Aug 7, 2007 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Dude Coma ...

I've been gone for a while because of work ... but when did you become the posting nazi? I relish in the fact that people feel free to make foolish jokes ... only because it's how i relate ... but man your just down right cranky today?

by YaoButtaMing on Aug 7, 2007 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions

mine

Lebron
Jrich
Josh Smith
Kobe
Desmond Mason is my dark horse

I didnt put VC because he can't get up like he used to

by djchuckdeez on Aug 7, 2007 1:27 AM PDT reply actions

ok

well hes a darkhorse compared to the guys listed above him haha

by djchuckdeez on Aug 7, 2007 1:29 AM PDT up reply actions

Josh Smith?

The year he won the dunk contest... he wasn't that impressive... and the year he lost was evidence of that. Just had to say that...

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Aug 7, 2007 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions

dude

that guy is extremely athletic and he can fly, and he throws it down HARD. He caught an allyop from a bit past half court and did a reverse dunk..thats skillzzzz

by djchuckdeez on Aug 7, 2007 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not saying that his athleticism isn't...

impressive. I'm just saying he has no creativity around the rim. The first dunk contest was filled with half windmills and a dunk over a seated Kenyon Martin. I admit... Smith had me a little excited when he put that piece of tape down from between the freethrow line and the three point line... but when he just jumped from the freethrow line... I was MAJORLY disappointed. No denying his in the game dunks... he's just kinda wack in the creativity department.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Aug 7, 2007 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions

no

you are whack in the creativity dept!!! jk

by djchuckdeez on Aug 7, 2007 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd take Desmond Mason over Josh Smith

in a dunk contest all day everyday. The between the legs lean with the left hand (for a right handed dunker) was SICK. And you call that guy a dark horse compared to Smith... your decision making is wack. =) j/k

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Aug 7, 2007 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions

The tape that was put down he stated

was in the wrong place.

The year before he did not miss a dunk, when's the last time you've seen that in a dunk contest, especially these days with Nate Frogger Robinson missing a dozen every time out? (Or Birdman, poor Birdman should have just stayed home)

by back2back51s on Aug 7, 2007 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions

If the tape was put in the wrong place...

then why did he proceed with it? Why didn't he have the guy move it? Oh well... I must admit that the year he won... he didn't miss a dunk. But the year he lost... I distinctly remember him bricking on the 360 jump over Royal Ivey dunk multiple times... eventually changing it into a half-assed jump over Royal Ivey regular dunk. Oh... and PLEASE BELIEVE that Nate Robinson didn't deserve to win last year or to be there this year. Straight highway robbery act by the name of Kenny Smith!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Aug 8, 2007 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Kobe? gimme a break

Anyone who watched the year Kobe supposedly won the dunk competition knows Darvin Ham clearly won it. It was just set up for Kobe to win, to build his so called legend.

The same holds true for NAte Robinson he didnt exactly win it, it was given to him.

I equate Kobe's winning of the dunk contest to that of Freddie Jones. All J-rich had to do was put the ball through the rim to garner his 3rd win in a row.... but was gracious enough for the fans to try and put on a show, instead of the easy way out.

Jones, Robinson and Kobe should have their titles stripped from them.

by boogielew on Aug 7, 2007 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions

T-MAC

I guess T-MAC just missed the cut because he was only passing to VINCE CARTER and not dunking! Too bad, his off the backboard pass and dunk at the ALL-STAR game a few years ago was pretty sick!

"GO BIG or GO HOME!!!"

by scottiepimppen on Aug 7, 2007 2:17 AM PDT reply actions

my 5

1.Lebron James
2.Andre Iguodala
3.Kobe Bryant
4.Josh Smith
5.Gerald Wallace? Does he count if not David Noel
No J-rich cause his knee

by StephenO4 on Aug 7, 2007 3:47 AM PDT reply actions

mine

1.vince ok hes getting old but he can still do a reverse windmill blindfolded and with only one leg

2.kobe. if he went to the nba before jordan you would think that he was the one who you believed could fly

3.Andre Iguadola he htows down dunks with so much nasty power. and that off the back of the backboard in the all star slam is still one of my favorite dunks

Lebron though he mostly just use one power slam its like the greatest power slam ever!
J rich he got the hops back and he can still do awesome dunks but i dont know if he can beat these guys.

Dark horse: Azubuike if he was not in the D-leage and was on a nba team i think we might have seen this guy in a dunk contest

by 24k state fan since 87 on Aug 7, 2007 5:33 AM PDT reply actions

myFaves

although i'm diggin the james white and jrich selections, here's my five:

iguodala
josh smith
kobe
lebron
ryan hollins

who is ryan hollins? 7'0 tall second round draft pick by the bobcats out of ucla. dude pretty much sucked for almost four years, but he blew up during the 2006 ncaa tourney. while i was at ucla, i remember reading about him dominating in track and field. i think he had a high jump of 7'0 and over 22' on the long jump. see for yourself: http://youtube.com/watch?v=E1Nx4x4uPUA

by yuta tabuse for prime minister on Aug 7, 2007 7:31 AM PDT reply actions

for me

Lebron
Josh Smith
Andre Igudala
Dwight Howard
Gerald Wallace

The Mob

by tadams1080 on Aug 7, 2007 8:25 AM PDT reply actions

For all the people saying Gerald Wallace...

I guess you all don't remember the year when he COMPLETELY SUCKED in the dunk contest... but how could you all forget? That was the year J-Rich won his first dunk contest with the SUPER SICK reverse windmill!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Aug 7, 2007 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions

dream contest

1. Hook Mitchell (circa 1990).
2-5. Any 5 NBA players, any era, any time. Your choice. Not a one could dunk better than Hook. Compared to Hook, they're all darkhorses.

by jae on Aug 7, 2007 8:38 AM PDT reply actions

Hook Mitchell

I second that one. This cat jumped over a VW bug, and did a 180. Anyone that wants to get themselves edjumacated on Hook can check the documentary "Hook'd". Highly recommended!

by goldenstatefan on Aug 7, 2007 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree...

with the main post.

Vince Carter....best dunker of all time not named Michael Jordan, in my opinion.
Jason Richardson....2 dunk contests in a row, and still in (or before) his prime? c'mon!
LeBron James...this guy is as athletic as the come, and can fly as high as anyone....now give the people what the want, and let's see your dunking potential!
Kobe Bryant...this guy is just stellar with a basketball. It pains me to say it, but he does things with a basketball that I can't even imagine. He might not be as good an all-around player as LBJ, and he probably rapes more people than your average NBA player, but he works magic with a basketball.
James White (darkhorse)....through the legs from the charity stripe??? C'MON!!!

by bradyk2 on Aug 7, 2007 9:28 AM PDT reply actions

my five:

a young baron davis (before knee surgery)
a young steve francis (before injuries)
a young rick barry (back when he won the contest)
Vince Carter
Dark hose: Mike Connely Sr. :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKDDJH_aU9s

by dso on Aug 7, 2007 9:58 AM PDT reply actions

oops

i meant brent barry

by dso on Aug 7, 2007 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

no you didn't...

rick barry has some sic ass hops. He's got the same vert as dirk! lol

That guy James White is pretty crazy though, but i bet he travels a lot in real games.

by david240z on Aug 7, 2007 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

My five....

In no particular order:

Jason Richardson... need I say more?
Andre Iguodala: This guy was ridiculously creative and was ROBBED! I wonder what he would have done in this year's dunk contest instead of Nate Robinson?
Vince Carter: Fredrick Weis should thank him for all the highlight exposure! That dunk was NASTY!!!
Desmond Mason: I mean this guy is has super silky smooth dunks & great hops. Just gotta work on that creativity.

and who needs Lebron James when you have:

Dark Horse: James White... I mean in high school he was dominating the dunk contest scene... if he woulda hit the free-throw line between the legs he woulda beat David Noel in the college dunk contest... EASILY!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Aug 7, 2007 11:25 AM PDT reply actions

It wasn't David Noel that White lost too!!

IT WAS FREAKIN' DAVID LEE OF THE NEW YORK KNICKS!!!

Ya that right you're sleep lost to some whack white guy that threw off his shirt to win the contest.

by mcwalter44 on Aug 7, 2007 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Here's the you tube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kpQnXqWkDk

Hell, White and Lee both were going to Florida, but for some reason White just didn't cut it there and had to leave. Perhaps, he couldn't live with the fact that Lee beat him.

My top 5
Daryl Dawkins
Dr. J
MJ
Vince Carter
T-Mac

by mcwalter44 on Aug 7, 2007 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions

I was talking about the college dunk contest...

but i remember the high school dunk contest too... David Lee totally had the crowd behind him. That was craziness!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

by mightymadskillz on Aug 7, 2007 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Some darkhorses could be

Tony Allen

Shanon Brown

James White

Rudy Gay

and uhh BELLINELLI!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjbZpBlsu2s "Touch The Sky"

by protac6 on Aug 7, 2007 11:34 AM PDT reply actions

This guy could be a dark horse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9drNlclSzE

I know he isn't in the NBA, but the guy's got skillz. Who says white men can't jump!

"OHH, MAAAANN!" - Mike Tirico, NBA Playoffs '07

by Tim N Chris Burger on Aug 7, 2007 12:00 PM PDT reply actions

mine

lebron
j smoove
j rich
vince
travis outlaw

by Nellieball on Aug 7, 2007 12:11 PM PDT reply actions

dark horse

that one dude that dropped the 720 in the and1 game. air up there? throws the 360 between the legs like nothing

by disguy on Aug 7, 2007 12:23 PM PDT reply actions

5

instead of a dunk contest, they should have a dunk on someone contest.

basically have the best dunkers try to dunk on mutumbo (in his prime).

my 5:

vince
mj
dr. j
jrich
james white

by davidR on Aug 7, 2007 12:46 PM PDT reply actions

I can't disagree with most of the suggestions here

. . . . but I can't believe no one's mentioned Monta. I mean, if that rookie/soph game was any indication, Monta's got some serious hops that he just doesn't show off enough. I think he'd be a great darkhorse.

by sleepys29againstshowtime on Aug 7, 2007 1:06 PM PDT reply actions

I agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY

the Kid's got MAD HOPS. And since he's only 6'3"ish, his dunks look like he's floating. Plus he'd have more room to do crazy aerial tricks.

"OHH, MAAAANN!" - Mike Tirico, NBA Playoffs '07

by Tim N Chris Burger on Aug 7, 2007 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I've been saying

Monta for Dunk contest since last year....

while subsequently bashing his game. :(

Reguardless:

Zorgon is the OG starter of the Monta for Dunk Contest Movement!

Tony aka Drawlz600 is AWESOME!!!!

by Zorgon on Aug 8, 2007 3:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

Monta'd be good in the dunk contest. Good call (Zorgon or sleepys29againstshowtime, I'm not picking sides).

Golden State of Mind- We iBelieve

Golden State of Mind- We iBelieve

by goGSW24 on Aug 8, 2007 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions

My dream Slam Dunk Competition...

would be by the same rules & format as they used to go by. The same rules as when Jordan & Dominique were in it. 8 Players start the competion. 4 advance to round 2. Final round dunkoff between the best 2.

Round 1:
1.)Vince Carter
2.)Kobe
3.)J-Rich
4.)Lebron
5.)Josh Smith
6.)Desmond Mason
7.)Dwayne Wade
8.)Andre Iguodala

Round 2:
1.)Vince Carter
2.)J-rich
3.)Kobe
4.)Lebron

Final Round:
Vince Carter vs. Kobe

Winner: Vince Carter