The NBA Slam Dunk Contest, born in 1984 as a Saturday night All-Star staple, has given us some of basketball's most electrifying moments. From Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan trading blows in the 80s to Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon pushing the boundaries in the modern era, it's a showcase of athleticism, creativity, and sometimes, outright robbery.
Larry Nance of the Phoenix Suns took home the inaugural title in Denver, besting Julius Erving. The following year, in Indianapolis, it was Dominique Wilkins, "The Human Highlight Film," who edged out Jordan. Fast forward to 1988 in Chicago, and we had arguably the most iconic showdown ever. Jordan, on his home court, delivered his famous free-throw line dunk, sealing a perfect 50 on his final attempt to narrowly defeat Wilkins, 147-145. That image of MJ soaring from the stripe is etched into NBA lore.
The 90s saw some fresh faces. Cedric Ceballos won in 1992 in Orlando, infamously doing a blindfolded dunk (though the blindfold was loose). Isaiah Rider pulled off the "East Bay Funk Dunk" in 1994, a between-the-legs jam that was ahead of its time. Brent Barry, the only white player to win, took the crown in 1996 with his free-throw line take-off, though it lacked the hang time of MJ's version. The contest went on hiatus after 1997, a casualty of a dip in star power.
It returned with a bang in 2000 in Oakland, thanks to Vince Carter. Vinsanity put on a show for the ages. His 360-degree windmill, the "elbow in the rim" dunk, and the reverse 360 were all perfect 50s. He easily defeated Steve Francis and Tracy McGrady, solidifying his place as a dunk contest legend. Dwight Howard's "Superman" dunk in 2008, where he donned a cape and took off from just inside the free-throw line, brought a new level of showmanship, though he only scored a 49. He won that contest, beating Gerald Green. The following year, Nate Robinson, at 5'9", became the first three-time winner, edging out Howard in Phoenix.
Real talk, the contest hit a lull for a few years after that. We saw some decent winners like Blake Griffin jumping over a car in 2011 (a 49, not a 50, by the way) and John Wall’s reverse alley-oop in 2014, but nothing truly mind-blowing. That all changed in 2016 in Toronto. Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon put on a duel that rivaled Jordan-Wilkins. LaVine's East Bay Funk from the free-throw line and his between-the-legs from the free-throw line were stunning. Gordon countered with his mascot-assisted 360 under-both-legs dunk, a perfect 50 that should have won. Both players had multiple perfect 50s, forcing two tie-breaking rounds. LaVine ultimately won, but many felt Gordon was robbed. Their combined artistry and sheer difficulty elevated the contest back to prominence.
Gordon, however, finally got his due in 2020 in Chicago, but not without controversy. In another epic battle, this time against Derrick Jones Jr., Gordon delivered a 360-degree between-the-legs jump over 7'5" Tacko Fall for a 47. Jones Jr. then received a 48 for a windmill, giving him the win by one point. The consensus was Gordon got shortchanged again. Mac McClung, a G-League player, injected life back into the contest in 2023 with a series of jaw-dropping dunks, including a 540-degree reverse slam, earning him two perfect 50s and the title over Trey Murphy III. McClung returned in 2024, winning again with another flawless performance, sealing it with a reverse jam over Shaquille O'Neal.
Here's the thing: while we haven't seen an official "winner" for 2025 or 2026 yet, the contest's future relies on star power. The 2023 and 2024 editions with McClung proved that even lesser-known players can steal the show if they bring the creativity and execution. But imagine if Zion Williamson ever decided to participate.
My bold prediction? By 2026, we'll see a dunk contest where a player successfully pulls off a legitimate 720-degree dunk, not just a 540 with extra spin, finally breaking that barrier.
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