Greatest Dunker (In Game & Competition)

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game & Competition)

For me Dr.J gets my nod..

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[Jeffx]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

For me Dr.J gets my nod..

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His dunks were simple, but graceful and powerful.

The NBA never saw the best of Dr. J. Dude was even sicker in his ABA days at the Nassau Coliseum. I was so happy when he finally won the title after so many playoff disappointments.

[VDusen04]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

Im done here.

I do not understand.

I understand the footage that has been made available to the public of the highflyers of the 70's and before is limited. I understand the NBA footage of Connie Hawkins is slim and features a Hawkins well past his prime. I understand the same could be said about David Thompson and even Julius Erving to a degree. So my honest question, from a youngster to an oldster, is what kind of dunks did we miss amongst all these guys? What did David Thompson do that was not caught on tape that would place him in the running for best dunker of all-time (in-game and competition)? I have the same honest question regarding Connie Hawkins. What did Connie Hawkins do in-game and in a dunk competition that the people who are too young to have seen it first hand do not know about?

Also, without reposting what I wrote before, may I ask once more how Kenny Smith, Larry Nance, and Kevin Johnson tie into this "Greatest Dunker of All-Time" debate? I recognize that each of those three had tremendous dunking moments, but I am stumped as to how they may be relevant in this equation. Again, if they were used to illustrate the limited reach of the original poll nominees, I would concur. But if they were mentioned as a means for possibly being in the discussion as greatest dunker ever (in-game, contest, or both) then I remain flummoxed.

Finally, once more, may I ask where that quote about dunking came from?

Edit: Nevermind. I found the story that quote came from. http://www.suite101.com/content/desp...f-dunks-a99309 I was wondering because I thought it was awfully curious that the new generation included Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson but no mention of Vince Carter. Turns out the article is about Vince Carter being the greatest dunker of all-time. So that clears things up. I actually preferred this excerpt from the aforementioned article:

"More ingenious than Baylor, more elegant than Wilt; more innovative than Dr. J, more artistic and vibrant than Thompson or the Hawk; more explosive and eye-popping than Mike, more dynamic than Nique; more powerful than Clyde more brilliant and graceful than Spud and Dr. Dunkenstein, more splendid than the Reignman, more dominant than Dee, more splendid than Nate, more extravagant than Superman; much more glorious than LeBron and even more dazzling than Kobe; that is what Vince Carter has meant to the art of the dunk.

Each of those men were and some still are incredible masters of the dunk, however Carter embodies all of them and took everything which they may have done to a whole different level."

[Chef Matt]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

Great thread. Subscribed. I voted MJ, but I don't have any real evidence of it just that I remember he was my favorite to watch for his high flying dunks. In game and competition, although VC would be my choice if it were just strictly competition.

[airjoca]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

I go with MJ. Style, grace, hangtime, power, tongue.

[PrettyT11]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

This is easy. It is Vince and then there is everybody else. It really doesn't matter if we are talking about in contest or in the game. If I was choosing a second and third it would be Nique and Jordan.

On another note whoever mentioned Kenny Smith should never be allowed to post here again. Kenny Smith has absolutely no reason what so ever to ever be mentioned in this thread at all.

[Basketball GURU]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

Vince or Kemp!...or that #23 guy who played in Chicago..

[PrettyT11]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

For me Dr.J gets my nod..

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This is no diss to Dr. J cause he deserves love as one of the pioneers but J.R. Smith has a more impressive in game highlight reel than this. This reel is just some very basic dunk minus the dunk on Cooper.

[Basketball GURU]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

I seen David Thompson once take a quarter off the top of the backboard and leave two dimes and a nickel..while dunking in game.

[BATMON]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

I do not understand.

I understand the footage that has been made available to the public of the highflyers of the 70's and before is limited. I understand the NBA footage of Connie Hawkins is slim and features a Hawkins well past his prime. I understand the same could be said about David Thompson and even Julius Erving to a degree. So my honest question, from a youngster to an oldster, is what kind of dunks did we miss amongst all these guys? What did David Thompson do that was not caught on tape that would place him in the running for best dunker of all-time (in-game and competition)? I have the same honest question regarding Connie Hawkins. What did Connie Hawkins do in-game and in a dunk competition that the people who are too young to have seen it first hand do not know about?

Also, without reposting what I wrote before, may I ask once more how Kenny Smith, Larry Nance, and Kevin Johnson tie into this "Greatest Dunker of All-Time" debate? I recognize that each of those three had tremendous dunking moments, but I am stumped as to how they may be relevant in this equation. Again, if they were used to illustrate the limited reach of the original poll nominees, I would concur. But if they were mentioned as a means for possibly being in the discussion as greatest dunker ever (in-game, contest, or both) then I remain flummoxed.

Finally, once more, may I ask where that quote about dunking came from?

here's that link: http://www.suite101.com/content/desp...f-dunks-a99309

[VDusen04]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

here's that link: http://www.suite101.com/content/desp...f-dunks-a99309

Thank you. I found the link myself a few minutes ago but I appreciate the response nonetheless. As I mentioned in my edited post, I was more or less curious as to how Vince Carter was seemingly left out of that discussion (turns out the article was on Carter). It caught my eye because not even a week ago I saw an article posted claiming that Blake Griffin had become the best in-game dunker of all-time, overcoming the likes of Jordan, Wilkins and Kemp (this time really with no mention of Carter). I was beginning to think there was an anti-Carter internet conspiracy brewing. Even if ultimate opinions differed, I still couldn't believe he wasn't at least mentioned (in the Griffin article). Here is a link to that great article:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Behind-the-Box-Score-where-Blake-Griffin-is-a-b?urn=nba-298882

And an excerpt:
''In the middle of this game (Los Angeles Clippers 113, Minnesota 90), Timberwolves analyst Jim Petersen didn't think twice before including Blake Griffin in a group of the greatest all-time in-game dunkers. Soon after, without even the benefit of yet another Griffin throw-down, he didn't think twice before calling Blake the greatest in-game dunker in NBA history.

And while that may seem like a bit much, just seven weeks into his NBA career ... who else? Seriously. Who else do you have?

I watched endless hours of Dominique Wilkins on TBS growing up. Clearly I know my way around Michael Jordan's pamphlets, and even his catalogue. I was around for skinny Shawn Kemp. Julius Erving's ABA career was a bit of a miss, but we get the idea. But ... who? Reverence aside, who are you taking over this guy right now, in that area? And we're seven weeks in!"

[BATMON]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

Thank you. I found the link myself a few minutes ago but I appreciate the response nonetheless. As I mentioned in my edited post, I was more or less curious as to how Vince Carter was seemingly left out of that discussion (turns out the article was on Carter). It caught my eye because not even a week ago I saw an article posted claiming that Blake Griffin had become the best in-game dunker of all-time, overcoming the likes of Jordan, Wilkins and Kemp (this time really with no mention of Carter). I was beginning to think there was an anti-Carter internet conspiracy brewing. Even if ultimate opinions differed, I still couldn't believe he wasn't at least mentioned (in the Griffin article).

Griffin is already being deified and is well on his way to the hype machine.The kids seeing him now will treat Vince like Dr.J.

My bad Kenny (Sky)Walker not Kenny Smith.

[VDusen04]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

Griffin is already being deified and is well on his way to the hype machine.The kids seeing him now will treat Vince like Dr.J.

My bad Kenny (Sky)Walker not Kenny Smith.

Yeah, I think that's kind of inevitable. Maybe Blake Griffin truly will prove to be a better dunker than Vince Carter. Maybe not. If it's not Blake now, it'll surely be someone else later in my opinion. I don't think newer dunkers are all always better, but I feel they're all in better position to be better, if that makes sense.

For instance, I've made it clear that I feel Vince Carter is the best NBA dunker ever at this point. I don't feel he holds this title because he's so much more individually skilled than any other dunker in NBA history. I mean, I think it's pretty clear that if Carter was born in 1954, he wouldn't have been pulling off elbow dunks and between-the-legs bounce dunks in the 1976 ABA Dunk Contest. Vince Carter is an athletic freak who had a great mix of will, determination and ability who benefitted from Shawn Kemp who benifitted from Michael Jordan/Dominique Wilkins who benefitted from Julius Erving/David Thompson who benefitted from Connie Hawkins who benefitted from Elgin Baylor.

With each passing era, the new group benefits from the prior. I'm not even sure if Vince would have pulled off his between-the-legs dunk if not for J.R. Rider (I'd like to say Rider would not have pulled of his jam if not for Jerome Kersey but something about Rider doesn't convince me he ever knew Kersey existed). Anyway, I don't think Blake Griffin is pulling off the elbow dunk in high school if not for Carter. Every now and again, someone comes about and revolutionizes the process. They conquer the dunks of year's past then build their own.

It's surely not a foregone conclusion of course. Blake Griffin will not be the best just because he's the newest. Harold Miner was the newest once and I surely can't argue that what he pulled off (the same exact material in two contests by the way) was clearly better than those who came before him. That time will come though. If the NBA continues to exist and basketball continues to thrive as a sport, someone will come along with just the right mix of skills and ability to knock Vince Carter off my pedestal.

It's an interesting evolution to observe. After years of rewatching the amazingness that was J.R. Rider's Eastbay Funk Dunk (and having it still be cool when Kobe pulled off the same jam his rookie year) it's kind of funny to see a handful of players now willing to attempt that jam during a game (a playoff game in Josh Smith's case). We've also seen VC and LeBron (amongst others) hover near the free throw line on in-game takeoffs. Even Javale McGee was about to make it happen this year (shades of Space Jam). The dunk is forever growing, which for me is a beautiful thing. But it also makes it tough to put any past players' resume up next to Vince Carter's.

[lebronmvp09]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

I seen David Thompson once take a quarter off the top of the backboard and leave two dimes and a nickel..while dunking in game.

and what were you smoking when you saw this?:

[Kashanova]

Re: Greatest Dunker (In Game &amp; Competition)

I'd also take Dwight and probably Lebron off the list as well.

if kobe stays, lebron stays... lebron is a better dunker than kobe