With the talented Wembanyama joining the San Antonio Spurs, the NBA has welcomed another interior giant who is good at dunking. In this era of rampant interior beasts, the dunk performances of Embiid and Antetokounmpo have been breathtaking.
However, we should not forget that there were also many big men in the past who were as dominant on the interior as their modern counterparts, if not better.
In this new era of center re-dominance, let's take a look back at the legendary big men who once dominated the interior and feel the basketball charm they bring.
Here are the five giants who are the best at dunking in NBA history, they are not only amazingly tall, but also amazing dunking skills, which have shocked countless opponents and spectators.
Are you ready? So let's get started!
5th place: Daryl Dawkins
Daryl Dawkins is 2.11 meters tall and has a very strong body. In 1975, at the age of 18, Daryl Dawkins was drafted into the NBA by the Philadelphia 76ers with the fifth pick in the first round.
In his career, Dawkins averaged 12.0 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 57.2 percent from the field.
In his first few seasons at Dawkins, he was a growing teenager who had to contend with the likes of Dave Cowens, Moses Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, as he continued to grow and improve, the center gradually became an integral part of the championship-contendering squad, playing alongside the likes of Dr. J. Owen and Doug Collins.
- Dawkins is one of the most entertaining players in NBA history, always with passion and strength on the court. He possesses unparalleled jumping ability and creativity, and his dunk is one of the most spectacular weapons in NBA history. In his career, Dawkins has twice smashed rebounds.
The first occurred on Nov. 13 against the Kings, where Dawkins had 23 points and 15 rebounds, with the best of those episodes coming in the fourth quarter. At that time, the 76ers led the Kings by 10 points, and Dawkins received a pass from his teammates and rushed to the basket with the ball in one hand. He smashed the ball into the basket so hard that the rebound instantly shattered and the ball popped off the court.
Dawkins' second rebound came against the Spurs on Dec. 5, where Dawkins had 20 points and eight rebounds, the highlight of which came in the third quarter. At that time, the 76ers led the Spurs by 14 points, and Dawkins received a pass from his teammates and rushed to the basket with the ball in one hand. He slammed the ball into the basket, which fell off and fell to the ground with a stand.
In order to protect the game facilities, the NBA then announced fines and suspensions for players who dunk rebounds during games. However, the penalty only made Dawkins' dunk even more famous.
4th place: Larry Nance
Larry Nance was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1st round of the 1981 NBA Draft at No. 20 and has played for the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers in his career, being a three-time NBA All-Star, winning the NBA's inaugural Slam Dunk Contest in 1984, a first-team All-NBA Defensive Team in 1989, and a two-time All-NBA Defensive Team second-team selection.
In his career, Larry Nance averaged 17.1 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting 54.6 percent from the field. His outstanding performance on the court not only earned him the love of the fans, but also left a deep mark on the history of the NBA.
In 1984, the NBA held its first slam dunk contest, in which Nance shone and beat many dunk masters, including Clyde Drexler, Human Movie Essence Wilkins and Dr. J Irving.
During the game, Nance innovatively completed several one-arm cradle dunks (reverse windmills), which quickly became the standard for future dunk competitions. The victory earned Nance the nickname "The High-Ayatolla of Slamola" and underscored his prominence in the field of dunking.
However, Nance's talent isn't limited to dunks. In 1985, he made his All-Star Game debut, showing his all-round strength. In the 1986-87 season, Nance reached the peak of his career, averaging a whopping 22.5 points per game.
A few years later, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his performance did not take off, and in 1989 he was named to the First Defensive Team and was named to the All-Star Game again that season and in 1993.
Nance's son, Larry Jr., inherited his father's basketball genes and became an excellent dunk player. He participated in the 2018 Slam Dunk Contest and recreated his father's iconic cradle dunk move, showing the world the family's legacy and development in basketball.
3rd place: Blake Griffin
In the 2009 NBA Draft, Griffin was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers as the top pick, and the team had high hopes for him to contribute to the team as soon as possible.
However, fate played a joke on Griffin and the Clippers. In the final game of the preseason, Griffin suffered a knee fracture that caused him to miss the entire season. The Clippers, though anxious, also had to wait patiently for his recovery.
The Clippers' wait was not in vain, though.
Griffin's addition breathed new life into the Clippers, who single-handedly changed the fortunes of a team that was once considered one of the least competitive in the NBA.
In the early 10s of the 21st century, with the addition of DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul, the Clippers gradually rose to become one of the most spectators in the league. Their blistering speed and breathtaking aerial relay have earned them a reputation as the city of air relays.
In his career, Griffin averaged 19 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting 49.3 percent from the field.
Even though Blake Griffin is the shortest player on this list at just 6 feet 9 inches, his dunk power is unstoppable. At his peak, Blake Griffin was one of the league's most impactful and charismatic dunks, earning him the nickname "The White Monster" because he was always at breakneck speed to break through opponents' defenses and pull off shocking dunks in the air.
Griffin's dunks make people's blood rush, he often dunks through people, his dunks are an art, his dunks are an expression, his dunks are an attitude. He won the 2011 slam dunk contest when he jumped over a car and pulled off a dunk that left the crowd crazy.
2nd place Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard had already shown unusual maturity in high school. While playing at Christ College in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia, none of the opponents he faced seemed to pose a real challenge to him.
However, at a time when so many colleges are vying for the up-and-coming star, he has chosen a different path: to compete in the NBA Draft. In 2004, he was drafted by the Orlando Magic as the No. 1 pick and began his career in professional basketball.
Howard has had a stellar career, averaging 15.7 points per game, 11.8 rebounds per game, and shooting 58.7 percent from the field.
From a teenage basketball prodigy to a basketball player in his twenties, Howard's upbringing is legendary.
He was named to the All-Star team for the first time in 2007 and has won the honor eight times in a row. With his amazing athleticism, he showed great dominance on the defensive end. From 2009 to 2011, he was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year for three consecutive years.
Howard has been hailed as Superman, not only because of his flying prowess on the court, but also because of his amazing prowess in the slam dunk contest.
In 2008, he shocked the audience with a powerful dunk and eventually won the championship of the slam dunk contest. The emergence of Howard set a new standard for slamming dunks for those players who are tall and powerful. His slamming style is ferocious and domineering, which has driven countless fans crazy.
1st place: Shaquille O'Neal
In 1992, Shaquille O'Neal entered the NBA Draft. The center grew up in a military family and played high school basketball in both Germany and Texas. Subsequently, he attended Louisiana State University and became a rare center in a generation.
Everyone knows that whoever gets him is the same as getting a basketball superstar. The Orlando Magic were that lucky team, and it didn't take long for their fortunes to change.
Shaquille O'Neal's career stats are impressive, averaging 23.7 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game, and shooting 58.2% from the field.
In his first year in the league, O'Neal was selected as an All-Star starter, and his influence quickly spread around the world. In the 1994-95 season, his third season, O'Neal averaged more than 29 points per game, leading the league and helping the Magic all the way to the NBA Finals. Despite being swept by the Houston Rockets in the final, O'Neal's quality has been recognized around the world.
O'Neal has a physique as powerful as his basketball talent, and he redefined the art of slamming with a combination of strength and agility that defied his stature. Every time you dunk, it's not just about scoring, it's more like declaring your kingship. Every time he dunks, the frustrated faces of the defenders and the frantic cheers of the crowd can be seen, which is the best proof of O'Neal's dominance.
O'Neal's dunk style is very different from the likes of Jordan and Carter. His dunks don't seek elegance or skill, but rather sheer display of power. It's as powerful as a sonic boom, it's hard to ignore.
Similar to Dawkins, O'Neal's dunk is full of ferocious power and is even capable of smashing rebounds.
O'Neal had a total of two rebounds in the game. One of the best came in December 1993 when the Orlando Magic took on New Jersey on the road, and O'Neal scored 24 points and 28 rebounds in that game.
One of the best scenes takes place in the first quarter. At that time, the Magic led the Nets by 16 points, and O'Neal received a pass from his teammates and rushed to the basket with the ball in one hand. He smashed the ball into the basket so hard that the basket fell off, and the entire basketball hoop collapsed with it, and the rebound, the 24-second clock fell and almost hit O'Neal's head.
O'Neal's dunk has a shocking power, as if the whole court is controlled by the rhythm of his dunk, and every game becomes extraordinarily exciting as long as he dunks. That kind of absolute power is really awe-inspiring, making the rebounds tremble with every dunk and making the opponent look so small in front of him.
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