Ranking the best dunkers in the NBA

Who among us doesn't love to see the Unicorn take flight for a powerful rejection at one hoop before racing down the court and delivering a posterizing jam at the other rim? There's still a chance, as of the posting of this piece, that Kristaps Porzingis could return from the torn ACL he suffered last February and feature for the Knicks this season, so he makes the cut. Here's hoping the Knicks make the best business decision for his and the franchise's long-term future. 

Ranking Detroit Pistons guard Glenn Robinson III is a difficult task this fall. The 2017 Slam Dunk Contest champion certainly can soar, but he played in only 23 games last season after he tore ligaments in his left ankle in September. In April 2017, the 24-year-old wrote how he was "obsessed with dunking" for a piece published by The Players' Tribune. He'll be looking to turn the clock back to that time with the Pistons.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum posterized LeBron James in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals as a rookie. That's good enough to make the list, even though the Celtics ultimately lost that game and series to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Maybe those two will meet again in a bigger series down the road. 

Yes, this is a lifetime achievement mention. So what? Atlanta Hawks forward Vince Carter turns 42 years old in January, and the veteran still leaves his feet to assault the basket every now and again. Recently, ESPN personalities Rachel Nichols and Paul Pierce both said they believe Carter could win the 2019 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Bring Vinsanity back one last time. 

Terrance "2K" Ferguson has struggled so much in the opening month of the 2018-19 season, Oklahoma City teammate Russell Westbrook recently practiced with him after midnight, according to Maddie Lee of NewsOK. The 20-year-old needs no assistance getting up for dunks and blocks when in the lineup, but he may want to be careful about not hurting his hand on future slams. 

Back in 2014, Jim Cavan of Bleacher Report asked who the better dunker was between LeBron James and Paul George. That, of course, was before George suffered a gruesome injury that nearly cost him most of the 2014-15 campaign. The 28-year-old still possesses more than enough hops to get over opponents, and he and James could compare their current abilities during a playoff series next spring. 

Dwight Howard, who turns 33 in December, is no longer the player of old, but Superman can still don the cape and leap tall buildings in a single bound when the mood strikes. Say whatever you will about Howard's vertical not being what it was in his prime. You probably wouldn't want to be in the paint if he is driving with momentum toward the rim. 

When Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins struggles with his shot, his game can be difficult to digest, particularly for Minnesota fans. The 23-year-old isn't shy about going one-on-one with opponents underneath when he has room for a step or two before leaving his feet. At 6-foot-8, Wiggins glides through the air and to the rim, often as if doing so requires little effort. 

New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis has a certain advantage in this aspect of scoring because of his size. It's not his fault he's essentially unstoppable when provided with space for liftoffs. The 25-year-old who could win both Defensive Player of the Year and MVP in the near future is even capable of injuring guys when approaching the rim with reckless abandon. 

The argument could be made that San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan is more a finesse player than one known for vicious put-aways. DeRozan responds to those takes when he drops the hammer. He's done with dunk contests moving forward, but the 29-year-old doesn't require gimmicks or a special competition to cause fans and teammates to leap to their feet in admiration of one of his slams. 

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons tallied one of the greatest debut seasons in NBA history, one so statistically phenomenal that his individual dunk highlights were, understandably, overshadowed. Simmons' hang time doesn't always shine in his finishes, but he attacks the rim with the confidence one would expect to see from a veteran closer rather than a 22-year-old.

The first blast from the past that was the "Lob City" era is DeAndre Jordan, the center who signed with the Dallas Mavericks this past offseason. At 30 years old, Jordan can still roll to the rim and deliver violent dunks, some of which test the strength of a rim when he puts something extra into his plunges. With that said, he should probably stop stealing rebounds from younger teammates regardless of what he is able to contribute at this stage of his career. 

Guard Jaylen Brown was a revelation for the Boston Celtics when others went down to injuries during the 2017-18 season, largely because of his defense. The 22-year-old also built a lengthy personal highlight reel for himself his second season with the Cs. He deserves an invite to the 2019 dunk contest, if only to see if he can post some flashy eyes-closed jams. 

Outspoken Washington Wizards guard John Wall would likely have something to say about being this low on the list even though he played in only 41 regular-season games in 2017-18. Listed at 6-foot-4, Wall utilizes his speed to race past defenders and into open space before finishing those plays via his left hand. We may see the 28-year-old dunking while wearing a different jersey in October 2019 if the Wizards fail to compete for anything of note through next spring. 

Ben Golliver of SI.com and the Open Floor podcast clearly isn't a fan of Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. as of November 2018. What the 20-year-old will or won't be as an overall product is largely unknown, but Smith showed during his rookie campaign that he can already produce some of the best slams of any season. Unfortunately, Smith told ESPN's Tim McMahon in September that he wants no part of the 2019 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Maybe he still feels robbed over what happened in last year's competition, as explained by SB Nation's Kristian Winfield. 

Larry Nance Jr. has followed in his father's footsteps and routinely punished rims and defenders with his 7-foot-2 wingspan and no-fear attitude. It's too bad the younger Nance features for a lousy Cleveland Cavaliers side, as you may miss his best dunks of the 2018-19 campaign since casual audiences have little reason to care about the Cavs for the foreseeable future. 

Guard Victor Oladipo clearly enjoyed his first season with the Indiana Pacers, averaging a career-best 23.1 points per game in 2017-18. The 26-year-old known for 360 dunks still has room for growth, most notably if he can add some hardware to his personal trophy case by winning a certain All-Star Weekend competition. Off-topic, here's hoping you all remembered to vote on November 6. 

Some may still want to wait to see if Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine is fully recovered and as good as new following the torn ACL he suffered in February 2017 before placing him this high. The two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion started the 2018-19 campaign with a hot hand. If that continues, he could rise back to the top of such lists by next summer. 

The sun has set on the days of Blake Griffin leaping over vehicles and featuring for the "Lob City" Los Angeles Clippers, but the 29-year-old isn't completely ground-based at this portion of his career. Ask Joel Embiid if you don't believe us. Sure, his passing betrays him sometimes, but nobody is perfect. 

Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. has not yet appeared in 82 regular-season games as of the middle of November, but the three-year pro already earned himself an invite to a dunk contest, which he nearly won, for the slams he posted with the Northern Arizona Suns. The 21-year-old often appears to defy gravity when he takes off. His hang time is downright unfair. 

Donovan Mitchell, the reigning NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion, would have also won Rookie of the Year if not for the historic stats produced by Ben Simmons last season. "Spida" wasn't merely a one-night wonder, as he's already the owner of an impressive highlight reel. The 22-year-old has already proven he can attack the rim when it matters most. We need shades to protect our eyes when observing his bright future. 

Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon announced himself as an elite dunker years ago, and he has only built upon that reputation since. More importantly for the Magic, the 23-year-old who could win a slam dunk contest as soon as February 2019 has improved as an all-around player since his first season in the Association. Now in his fifth year, Gordon is the face of the franchise, not to mention a future All-Star.

In February 2017, Kevin Durant called former teammate Russell Westbrook the best "in-game dunker" during an ESPN segment. That's high praise, considering their tumultuous history. The breathing triple-double machine often attacks the hoop as if it somehow wronged him, and this passion and ferocity enhance his slams. 

Ah, the traditions of fall. Pumpkin spice everything in stores, restaurants, cafes and breweries. The leaves changing colors. People suggesting LeBron James has lost a step and an inch off his vertical before he silences critics with a tomahawk dunk or two. King James, who turns 34 before the end of December, may no longer be in his prime, but he can still stuff the rock as good as most in the NBA. 

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is hurdling guys for dunks, literally, as in landing on their heads as he stuffs the ball away. "Greek Freak" is more than just a clever nickname. The 23-year-old is an athlete unlike any other in the league, and it's why he's the best dunker in the NBA for 2018-19.