The Complete List of All NBA Dunk Contest Winners and Their Legendary Slams

As I sit here scrolling through highlights of past NBA Dunk Contests, I can't help but feel a mix of awe and nostalgia. Having followed this spectacular event for over two decades, I've witnessed everything from Michael Jordan's iconic free-throw line leap to Zach LaVine's gravity-defying displays. The dunk contest represents more than just athletic competition—it's a theatrical showcase where legends are born and careers are defined. What fascinates me most isn't just the dunks themselves, but the stories behind them, the controversies that sometimes follow, and the raw emotions that players bring to the court.

Let me take you back to where it all began. The first official NBA Slam Dunk Contest took place in 1984 during the All-Star Weekend in Denver, and Larry Nance emerged victorious with his powerful, elegant slams that set the standard for years to come. What many casual fans might not realize is how much the contest has evolved. In those early years, the dunks were simpler but no less impressive—Julius Erving's baseline takeoffs and Dominique Wilkins' thunderous windmills captured imaginations in ways that still resonate today. I've always had a soft spot for the 1988 contest, where Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins went head-to-head in what I consider the greatest dunk duel of all time. Jordan's "free-throw line" dunk—though he actually took off from slightly closer—became an instant cultural icon, while Wilkins' raw power demonstrated a different but equally compelling approach to aerial artistry.

The 1990s brought us unforgettable moments from the likes of Brent Barry, who in 1996 became the first and only white player to win the contest, proving that dunking excellence transcends racial stereotypes. Then came the 2000 contest, which featured perhaps the most electrifying performance I've ever witnessed—Vince Carter's "honey dip" dunk where he literally hung from the rim by his elbow. I remember watching that live and thinking basketball would never be the same again. The early 2000s saw some creative entries, like Jason Richardson's between-the-legs reversals and Desmond Mason's artistic approaches, but if I'm being honest, the contest went through a bit of a lull around 2005-2010, with fewer memorable moments and declining viewer interest.

Everything changed when Blake Griffin jumped over a Kia in 2011—a moment that perfectly blended athleticism with commercial spectacle. While purists might criticize the gimmicky nature of that dunk, I've always appreciated how it brought mainstream attention back to the event. Then came the renaissance years with Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon's legendary battles in 2015 and 2016. Gordon's under-the-legs dunk over the mascot remains, in my personal opinion, the greatest dunk that never won the contest—a perfect example of how the scoring doesn't always reflect the quality of performance.

This brings me to the human side of these competitions, where emotions run high and dreams hang in the balance. I'm reminded of Jacob's reaction after a recent international dunk contest where he felt robbed of victory. His raw emotional statement—"Ang ganda na kasi ng laro ko e, para sa akin unfair talaga e. Hindi ako makapaniwala kasi...ito na yun e. Ito na yung bunga ng training ko sabay ganun pa."—translates to "I was playing so well, for me it's really unfair. I can't believe it because...this was it. This was the fruit of my training and then this happens." This heartfelt expression captures the essence of what these athletes invest in their performances. It's not just about winning—it's about validation for countless hours of training and sacrifice. Having spoken with several dunk contestants over the years, I've learned that the disappointment of coming up short often stings more intensely than the joy of victory.

Looking at the complete list of winners reveals interesting patterns. Did you know that only 12 players have won the dunk contest multiple times? Nate Robinson holds the record with three victories (2006, 2009, 2010), though I've always felt his 2009 win over Dwight Howard was somewhat controversial. The tallest winner was Dwight Howard at 6'11", while Spud Webb at 5'7" remains the shortest—a testament to the contest's incredible diversity of athletic talent. Recent years have seen winners like Derrick Jones Jr. (2020) and Obi Toppin (2022) bringing fresh creativity to the competition, though I must admit I'm still waiting for someone to truly replicate the magic of the Jordan-Wilkins or LaVine-Gordon eras.

As we look toward future dunk contests, I'm optimistic about the next generation of high-flyers. The incorporation of social media voting and technological enhancements has added new dimensions to how we experience these events. Still, at its core, the dunk contest remains about that breathtaking moment when human potential seems to defy physics itself. From my perspective, what makes a dunk legendary isn't just the degree of difficulty or creativity—it's the story it tells and the emotion it evokes. Whether it's the satisfaction of a perfectly executed plan or the heartbreak of coming up short despite tremendous effort, these moments remind us why we fell in love with basketball in the first place. The list of winners gives us names and dates, but the true legacy of the NBA Dunk Contest lives in those suspended seconds when players seem to touch the sky before bringing the ball—and our hearts—crashing through the hoop.

By Heather Schnese S’12, content specialist

2025-11-15 14:01