A couple of weeks ago on ESPN’s” SportsCenter,” a segment about what the greatest dunk of all time is was brought up. However, this show didn’t consider the annual NBA contest and omitted many posters that fans deemed worthy. Whether it’s a dunk that comes at a big moment or a devastating poster, The Daily Campus Sports Section Department will give their take on the greatest dunk of all time for this week’s roundtable.
Connor Sargeant
Sports Editor
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DeAndre Jordan posterizes Brandon Knight, March 10, 2013
DeAndre Jordan pulled down 20 rebounds Dec. 31 in New Orleans, one of seven games the center recorded at least 20 rebounds this season. He averaged 13.8 boards per game this year.
While this dunk came in an otherwise forgettable regular season match between the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers, this was undoubtedly the most devastating jam of all time. Of course, I am talking about the time when DeAndre Jordan nearly broke Brandon Knight’s back on an alley-oop slam. This dunk came at the peak of “Lob City,” where Jordan and Blake Griffin put players on a poster every night. However, nothing ever came close to this slam from Jordan. Considering how iconic and devastating this dunk is, without a doubt, it’s the greatest dunk in NBA history. This slam also influenced a generation about “putting your opponent on a poster.” This dunk was also so devastating that every March 10th since 2013, #RIPbrandonknight has trended on X, formerly Twitter. It is hard to make a case for any dunk ever coming close to the immediate excitement and lasting impact that this had one had, meaning this is the most incredible dunk of all time.
Jake Loomis
Campus Correspondent
Blake Griffin was selected as an All-Star, won the NBA Slam dunk contest and was named rookie of the year all in his first season in the league. In 2011, Sports Illustrated called him one the NBA’s 15 Greatest Rookies of all time.
“Lob City” Blake Griffin poster
Instead of picking just one dunk, the entirety of Blake Griffin and “Lob City” deserves the honors of “the best dunk” of all time. The Griffin poster is the greatest dunk of all time due to the sheer magnitude and tenacity that he put the ball through the net with. He had the crowd stunned and instantly ignited his offense. Not to mention, Griffin will go down as a top five dunker of all time.
Pedro Delgado Jr.
Campus Correspondent
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Anthony “Spud” Webb’s 1986 NBA slam dunk contest win
One of the shortest players in NBA history, Anthony Webb is known for having won the 1986 NBA Slam dunk Contest.
While more flashy dunks certainly exist, Anthony Webb’s dunk stands out to me the most. In case you’re unfamiliar, Webb took home the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk title over his Atlanta Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins. While both competitors had 50-point dunks in the final round, Webb edged out Wilkins on their final dunks with a 50-48 dunk score. Wilkins was the heavy favorite going into this contest, but no one expected Webb to actually win. The main reason was due to his height. Standing at just 5-foot-7 and weighing around 130 pounds, he competed against taller, more physical opponents. For example, Dominique Wilkins is a towering 6-foot-7 and weighed in at around 200 pounds. You would think that the taller, more physical players would’ve won the dunk contest, but Webb had other plans. This unexpected victory cemented Webb’s place in basketball history, while also giving Webb the crown of the best dunk of all time.