Although Steph Curry raining threes deservedly gets a lot of praise in contemporary basketball — there are few shots more satisfying in hoops than a rim-rattling slam dunk. And when it comes to slam dunks, there are few players that could do it better than former NBA player Dwight Howard, nicknamed “Superman” for his hulking physique and athletic feats on the court which made it seem like he could leap tall buildings in a single bound. One of Howard’s most iconic dunks was at the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, where — true to his nickname — he threw on a Superman cape, caught the ball just inside the free throw line a]nd slam-dunked the ball with the power of Kal-El of Krypton.
So who’s on Dwight Howard’s list of the best dunkers in NBA history?
“You got Dominique Wilkins, Shaquille O’Neal, Chocolate Thunder [Darryl Dawkins], Dwight Howard, and then you have Vince Carter. Then you got to add Giannis [Antetokounmpo], one-leg LeBron [James], and then Josh Smith — he’s like the left-handed LeBron when he’s coming down the lane; it’s crazy,” Howard said on “The House of Highlights.”
Dominique Wilkins, who played most of his career as a small forward for the Atlanta Hawks during the ’80s and early ’90s, was also known as “The Human Highlight Reel.” He won two NBA Slam Dunk championships, once in 1985 and another in 1990.
Shaquille O’Neal is someone who should need no introduction to any avid basketball fan. Standing at 7’1″ and weighing over 300 pounds, Diesel is the provider of some of the most emphatic and powerful dunks in NBA history.
Darryl Dawkins, AKA Chocolate Thunder, who played center for 14 seasons in the NBA, primarily for the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets, was such a vigorous slam dunker that he shattered the backboard on two different occasions.
Vince Carter, also known as Vinsanity, was an athletic shooting guard who played 24 seasons in the NBA, mostly for the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets, and was winner of the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Greek-Nigerian player for the Milwaukee Bucks who’s not only an NBA Champion but is also so strong and athletic that he’s literally dunked over another player — Tim Hardaway Jr. — in a game before.
LeBron James is another player that needs no introduction, as he’s not only the the all-time scoring leader in NBA history but also able to deliver the most hoop-shaking dunks in the entire world. Dwight referring to LeBron as “One Leg” LeBron refers to LeBron’s single-leg jump power technique, which allows him to jump higher off one leg because he’s able to hit the jump in perfect stride, a method which not everyone is able to utilize.
And last but not least, Josh Smith, who played 13 seasons at power forward in the NBA, the majority with the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets, won the NBA Dunk Contest in 2005 and administered some of the most assertive and loudest dunks during his playing career.
What do you think of Dwight Howard’s list of the best dunkers in NBA history? Do you agree with his list? Would you add or remove any from Dwight Howard’s list of the best dunkers in NBA history? Let us know in the comments.
