Slam dunks. We all love ‘em. The adrenaline. The roar of the crowd. The “Did that just happen?” moment. You know the ones. Whether it’s in a contest or a high-stakes playoff game, a jaw-dropping dunk can change everything. And let’s be real: some of these dunks are so insane that they’re etched into basketball history. And if you’re like me, you’ve probably watched them a hundred times on YouTube just to feel something again.
Anyway, here’s the kicker—whether you’re a casual fan or a die-hard hoops head, there are certain dunks you absolutely have to see. These aren’t just any dunks. These are the moments that made fans shout, “What in the world?!”
1. Michael Jordan’s Free-Throw Line Dunk (1988 Dunk Contest)
Okay, I don’t even know where to start here. Michael Jordan and the free-throw line dunk? I mean, come on. It was 1988, and the man launched himself from the free-throw line like he had wings. And I swear, time slowed down when he took flight. Seriously—he was literally hovering above the basket, tongue out, eyes locked on the hoop. If Jordan hadn’t been such a master on the court, you might’ve thought it was some sort of wizardry.
Anyway, fun fact—he actually landed this dunk with more style than my first attempt at making an omelette. Once he made that dunk, everyone knew he was going to be the king of basketball. Forever.
2. Vince Carter’s 2000 Dunk Contest Performance
Okay, let me tell you about Vince Carter in 2000. The man changed dunk contests forever. He took the term “air” to a whole new level. That dunk over Fredrick Weiss? Yeah, it was as insane as it sounds. Carter flew like a superhero, threw down a dunk that was both brutal and graceful at the same time, and honestly, I’m still mad I wasn’t there to see it live. It’s like when you hear people talk about seeing The Beatles perform or something. This was that level of iconic.
But hold up—once Vince took off, it wasn’t just about the dunk itself. It was his style. His mix of power and finesse? He dunked with the flair of someone who knew they had just changed the game.
3. LeBron James’ “The Dunk on Jason Terry” (2013 Playoffs)
Look, I’m not saying LeBron James doesn’t dunk hard. But this particular dunk? It was just rude. Game 3 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals, Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics. LeBron took it to the rim like he was on a mission—and then bam, he annihilated Jason Terry with a dunk that was nothing short of vicious. You know that feeling when you see something so ridiculous that you have to pause the video and say, “Wait, did that really just happen?” Yeah, that was me.
Once LeBron dunked on Terry, the entire TD Garden went silent. It was one of those moments where you know you’ve just witnessed history. Also, no one’s ever really going to forget that look on Jason Terry’s face.
4. Kobe Bryant’s Reverse Dunk Over Yao Ming (2003)
Kobe Bryant. The man was a walking highlight reel, but this reverse dunk over Yao Ming in 2003? I can still see it in my head like it was yesterday. Yao Ming was 7’6″, and Bryant… well, he was just Kobe. The dude barely blinked as he put Yao in a blender and dunked with the kind of poise that only Kobe could pull off.
As for me? I tried to do a reverse dunk once. Let’s just say it didn’t go so well. Once Kobe did his thing over Yao, it was clear: some players are just built different.
5. Dwight Howard’s Superman Dunk (2008 Dunk Contest)
Alright, speaking of people who are just built different—Dwight Howard’s Superman dunk in 2008? I’ll be real, I couldn’t tell if he was dunking a basketball or lifting a car. Howard took off from just inside the free-throw line, donning a Superman cape, and boom, he slammed it home with the kind of force that made you think gravity was scared of him.
Look, I tried dunking once at a park in high school, and let’s just say, I wasn’t lifting off the ground like Superman. So yeah, once Dwight decided to throw on a cape, he turned an already epic dunk contest into a full-blown theatrical event. Can’t say I didn’t enjoy the drama.
6. Zach LaVine’s 2016 Dunk Contest Performance
Zach LaVine. Now, that dude has flair. His 2016 Dunk Contest performance was nothing short of wild. Between the between-the-legs dunks and 360s, I was left saying, “Did he just… what?!” Especially that one dunk—LaVine leapt from the free-throw line and nailed a perfect between-the-legs slam. It was smooth. It was flawless.
I tried a between-the-legs dunk once—yeah, don’t ask. Anyway, once LaVine hit that dunk, the internet basically exploded. It was the kind of dunk you watch over and over, wondering if physics just gave up on trying to keep up.
7. Blake Griffin’s Dunk Over a Car (2011 Dunk Contest)
Blake Griffin’s dunk over a car. I feel like I don’t even need to explain this, but here we are. The 2011 Dunk Contest was all about that dunk—Griffin leapt over the hood of a car (and yes, there was an alley-oop involved), and the crowd went absolutely wild. It was a spectacle. It was ridiculous. It was the kind of dunk that made you rethink your entire existence. Like, if a guy can dunk over a car, what the heck have I been doing with my life?
And don’t get me started on how I overwatered my plants during my “green thumb” phase. Once I saw Griffin’s dunk, I realized I need to reconsider my approach to almost everything, including jumping over cars (spoiler alert: it’s not happening anytime soon).
8. Julius Erving’s “Baseline Reverse Dunk” (1980 Finals)
Julius Erving, man. He was ahead of his time. The way he flew through the air, with that fluid grace, was like watching poetry in motion. But the baseline reverse dunk during the 1980 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers? That was the kind of dunk that made people rethink what dunking could even be. Erving was one of the pioneers of modern basketball, and that moment was proof of that.
I mean, I can barely manage a layup without tripping. But once Erving did that reverse dunk, I’m pretty sure every basketball player in the world was like, “Okay, we need to step up our game.” That was the gold standard.
9. Shaquille O’Neal’s Dunk on Chris Dudley (1999)
Look, Shaquille O’Neal dunking on Chris Dudley was like watching a freight train collide with a mailbox. Dudley tried to take a charge, but Shaq wasn’t having it. He dunked so hard on him that Dudley ended up flat on his back, looking completely bewildered. This dunk didn’t just show power, it showed O’Neal’s sheer dominance. Shaq wasn’t just dunking for points; he was sending a message.
Meanwhile, I tried to dunk on my buddy Tim once. He’s 5’10” and I’m 5’11” on a good day, so you can guess how that turned out. Once Shaq dunked on Dudley, I realized my basketball aspirations would stay strictly on the couch.
10. Kawhi Leonard’s Dunk Over Paul George (2017 Playoffs)
Finally, let’s talk Kawhi Leonard. You know, Kawhi is all quiet and calm—until he’s not. In Game 1 of the 2017 Western Conference Finals, Leonard delivered a dunk that left Paul George in his tracks. Leonard wasn’t flashy about it; he just executed. The dude calmly drove to the basket and dunked so cleanly that you’d swear he was on autopilot.
And me? I’m just over here trying to figure out if my jump shot is ever going to look decent. But once Leonard finished that dunk, it was clear—this dude was cold-blooded.
Slam dunks are more than just basketball plays. They’re cultural milestones. These moments didn’t just make the highlights—they changed the game forever. Each one of these dunks broke records, altered the course of games, and left an imprint on the sport that will be remembered for generations. So, next time you catch one of these plays, take a moment to appreciate the sheer artistry and athleticism. You’re watching history in the making.
