The 1988 dunk contest between Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins is widely regarded as the best dunk-off in NBA history. To me, Nique, and Charles Barkley, it's always been known as the Chicago home job where Nique was robbed.
The 2000 Dunk Contest is widely regarded as the best dunk contest ever, but as great as Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis were, not many would consider it much of a “dunk off” against Vince Carter.
The 2016 dunk contest between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon, for many, will go down as the new best dunk off in NBA history. And to some (not me), it will also be known as the day Aaron Gordon was robbed in what may have been the best dunk contest of all-time.
Is it the best ever?
Kenny Smith thinks so, but I'm going to quote Charles Barkley, who said, "We live in the moment" and not think too much about where today's event belongs in the history books. What I will do is give out a few shout-outs, starting with Zach for dedicating the win to his late coach, Flip Saunders (RIP).
I dedicate this dunk contest and the trophy to my late coach, Flip Saunders and the Saunders family. He's the one that always believed in me and drafted me! We all loved Flip and his memory will live on forever!
Shaq deserves a special shout-out for making the event more interesting by serving as the Russian judge and handing out 9s to dunks we have never seen in an NBA contest.
- LaVine: 50, 49, 50, 50
- AG: 45, 49, 50, 47
- Drummond: 36, 39
- Barton: 44, 30
And a special shout-out goes out to pro dunkers Werm, Guy Dupuy, Kenny Dobbs, Reemix, and all the guys you see on TFB and Dunkademics for creating these epic dunks.