The slam dunk has always been one of the most electrifying and entertaining plays in basketball. The mix of raw athleticism, timing, and sheer power keeps fans on the edge of their seats every time a player takes flight. Over the years, we’ve seen some incredible dunkers leave their mark on the NBA, but only a few have earned a permanent spot on the list of all-time greats.
Dwight Howard , one of the best in this category, knows a thing or two about what it takes to pull off those jaw-dropping slams. When it comes to naming the most powerful dunkers in NBA history, the former three-time Defensive Player of the Year has his favorites.
“You got Dominique Wilkins, Shaquille O’Neal, Chocolate Thunder [Darryl Dawkins], Dwight Howard, and then you have Vince Carter. Then you got to add Giannis [Antetokounmpo], one-leg LeBron [James], and then Josh Smith — he’s like the left-handed LeBron when he’s coming down the lane; it’s crazy,” Howard said on “House of Highlights.”
Great dunkers across the board
Howard also gives props to LeBron James , whose combination of speed, strength, and elevation makes him a force at the rim. Then there’s the “Human Highlight Film,” Dominque Wilkins, whose acrobatic and thunderous slams are still talked about today. He was the king of the '80s and early ‘90s when it came to dunking, going head-to-head with Michael Jordan in the dunk contest.
And no list of the greatest dunkers is complete without Vince Carter . His creativity and showmanship in the dunk contest were next level, setting a new standard for what was possible. But his in-game dunks were where he truly shined, finishing over some of the NBA’s greatest defenders with ease. Over his 22-year career, Carter’s dunking talents were always front and center, making him a name that’s almost synonymous with the slam dunk.
One of the most unforgettable dunk moments in basketball history was on September 25, 2000, during the Olympics, when Vince represented Team USA against France. In that game, “Vinsanity” delivered one of the nastiest dunks ever seen. After the U.S. missed a shot, France, thinking they had a fast break, saw their opportunity. Then, VC intercepted a pass and went airborne, dunking over 7-foot-2 center Frédéric Weis.
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Continued legacy
Howard isn’t just one of the most dominant big men in NBA history—he’s also one of the most creative big man dunkers the league has ever seen. With a resume that includes multiple Defensive Player of the Year Awards, a few dunk contest titles, and an NBA championship, Dwight’s career was impressive. One thing that stood out was his ability to play above the rim, often leaving defenders helpless and stuck on the wrong end of a highlight reel.
It’s tough to find many players who could dunk off the pick-and-roll quite like him. His explosive leaping ability, combined with his size and strength, made him nearly unstoppable when he had a clear path to the basket. During his time with the Orlando Magic, Howard became one of the best high-flyers in the league, so much so that he earned the nickname “Superman”—a title he more than lived up to, especially when he soared through the air with that iconic cape in the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest.
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