15 Best Dunkers in NBA History

15. Hakeem Olajuwon

Olajuwon was one of the longest and most agile players in NBA history. With his long arms and ability to leap over defenders, he could throw down with the best of them.

14. Jason Richardson

Based on his old, broken-down frame now, it's hard to believe Richardson used to be a high riser. Really, he was one of the great athletes in the league during his prime. Don't expect him to leap over anyone nowadays, but pop in a tape of him in his prime and you'll be surprised.

13. Nate Robinson

Not many 5-foot-9 human beings can dunk a basketball, but Nate Robinson can do so much more than that. He can rise above the rim and even pull off some tricks mid-air. His battles with Dwight Howard in the Slam Dunk Contest were legendary and helped earn him national notoriety.

12. Darryl Dawkins

Dawkins was a high motor guy in his playing days and that got him in transition a lot. Getting in transition means lots of dunk opportunities. He didn't pass many up. When he got in space, he put on a show at the rim and often made defenders look silly in the process.

11. Dwight Howard

There's a reason they call Dwight Howard "Superman." He flies through the air like the superhero and lands with a force on the rim as he slams the ball home. His popularity as a great dunker came primarily from his antics in slam dunk contests in the past, but he can put on a show in regular-season games as well.

10. Shawn Kemp

More than anything else in his career, Kemp was known for his ability to rise above the rim and finish at the basket. He was a great player in his prime and at times, he absolutely dominated defenders. With the ability to fly through the air, it's easy to see why he was so dominant.

9. Clyde Drexler

It's hard to imagine, but there were a few years in Drexler's prime where he was challenging Michael Jordan as the best player in the NBA. That wasn't just because of his ability to throw down highlight-reel dunks, but that was a big part of it. People were entertained when they watched him play, and that made him memorable historically.

8. Spud Webb

Like Robinson, Webb was a short man that could really get up. He is even shorter than Robinson, though. At just 5-foot-7, it would seem almost impossible that Webb would be able to dunk. Time and time again, though, he would defy expectation and throw down over defenders.

7. Shaquille O'Neal

As one of the greatest physical forces in NBA history, Shaquille O'Neal had an advantage over nearly everyone. Nobody wanted to get in his way when he was in his prime, and justifiably so. There's a reason he shattered backboards with some of his dunks. Even the equipment made for the sport couldn't handle his fury sometimes.

6. Blake Griffin

If you throw Blake Griffin the ball anywhere near the rim, chances are you're going to get an assist. Griffin is incredible at pulling in lob passes and slamming them home in dramatic fashion. He's not the best dunker of all time, but he might be the best finisher of alley oops in league history.

5. LeBron James

As the greatest physical specimen in NBA history, LeBron James is also one of the league's best dunkers. When he wants to, he can look downright scary around the rim. If he's running at you full speed and you have no help-side defender, you best just get out of the way and get a good seat for the show.

4. Julius Erving

Dr. J could probably be considered the original high flyer. He was dunking before it was even cool to dunk. He also made dunking fancy when other people were simply dropping it in the hoop while barely touching the rim. Erving was one of the greatest players of all time and his ability to dunk was a huge part of that.

3. Vince Carter

This guy once stuck his elbow on the rim while dunking. That's all you really need to know. While injuries derailed his once-promising career, he still was one of the best dunkers the league has ever seen. There aren't many people that could compete in a dunk contest against a young Vince Carter.

2. Michael Jordan

MJ could basically do it all and when he decided to dunk the ball, it didn't matter where he was on the court. He could jump from the free throw line and still finish at the rim; it seemed like he was flying at times. How many other players have a brand built around a picture of them dunking a basketball? Not many and that's because Jordan was absolutely iconic.

1. Dominique Wilkins

Despite how talented Jordan was, Wilkins was still the best dunker in NBA history. He won the slam dunk contest twice and battled with MJ in many memorable contests. Jordan didn't get beat at much, but Wilkins was just a little better than him at dunking. That says a whole lot.