Better dunker Brent Barry or Lebron James

[MC Gusto]

Then how did Dwight win it?

He had better props, and Gerald Green did the same dunk over and over.

[SpecialQue]

Leboring isn't even that great of a dunker.

[MavsSuperFan]

I even like lebron now but his fear of joining the dunk contest is hilarious

[MavsSuperFan]

[hitmanyr2k]

Young Barry always had that flair...

[pauk]

lol, if Lebron did his dunk repertoir during any 90s dunk contest he would be known as the most "creative" dunker in NBA history.... and sadly any of the dunk contest winners from 90s and earlier being in the dunk contest today would be nothing special at all, not MJ, not Nique, not Dr J, not Harold Minor, nobody, what they did back then by todays standards is absolutely nothing.... dunk contest is dead, creatively there is nothing we have seen before.... to get excited over a 360 or between the legs or FT line dunk today as it was exciting in the 90s or especially earlier someone would have to make a summersault alleyoop backflip between the legs from the FT line or something.... and that essentially is the expectations Lebron has to meet being in the dunk contest today, anything else is just a failure, it is just a lose lose situation... Hell, the 3PT contest today is much more exciting than the dunk contest and there is nothing Lebron or anybody can do about it, its just freakin outdone...

[Rake2204]

lol, if Lebron did his dunk repertoir during any 90s dunk contest he would be known as the most "creative" dunker in NBA history....

and sadly any of the dunk contest winners from 90s and earlier being in the dunk contest today would be nothing special at all, not MJ, not Nique, not Dr J, not Harold Minor, nobody, what they did back then by todays standards is absolutely nothing.... dunk contest is dead, creatively there is nothing we have seen before.... to get excited over a 360 or between the legs or FT line dunk today as it was exciting in the 90s or especially earlier someone would have to make a summersault alleyoop backflip between the legs from the FT line or something.... and that essentially is the expectations Lebron has to meet being in the dunk contest today, anything else is just a failure, it is just a lose lose situation... Hell, the 3PT contest today is much more exciting than the dunk contest and there is nothing Lebron or anybody can do about it, its just freakin outdone...

I do not entirely agree with a number of your points. I do believe LeBron James could have won an NBA Dunk Contest, either from performing good dunks or just from the benefit of the doubt (or both, like his McDonald's High School Dunk Contest victory). Even if he completed his dunks in the 90's, I don't know if he'd be seen as the most creative dunker ever, but pulling off his bounce between-the-legs, for instance, certainly would have overshadowed J.R. Rider in '94. Though, Rider had a ton more funk, which honestly counts for a lot when it's combined with excitable dunks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RiBk2hsPF8



However, I do think some of the dunks from years past would be well-received. Part of dunking is about what is technically being completed (360, one-foot windmill, etc.) But another huge part is how it's being completed. There's Jonathan Bender stretching for a free throw line dunk with a frown on his face. Then there's Michael Jordan gliding majestically, cocking the ball behind his head and letting his legs drag. There's Rex Chapman making a relatively nice reverse dunk off a creative self-toss. Then there's Harold Miner bringing the funk while rocking it between his legs. I think dunks like that (Jordan & Miner), with character and ferocity, would still bring about a great response. It's not as if Fred Jones did not receive a 50 for a routine one-hand bounce dunk.

I think the downfall of the contest today has a lot to do with format, but also a lot to do with a relative absence in competitors who truly excel in all aspects of dunking. Flair, authority, and precision are huge, but they've been largely absent of late. For instance, take Jason Richardson. Windmills had already been around for years when he came around. However, providing his own personal twist and execution, he still pulled off a wonderful (and very much appreciated) dunk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTM5u-Iu-x0#t=3m22s

[Straight_Ballin]

lebron flopped....right out of the dunk contest like a typical beta does

[Living Being]

[RRR3]

Hmmmmmm

[Lebron23]

Probably the only good thing that his beta/CLB posted in this forum.

[RRR3]

Leboring isn't even that great of a dunker.

Blasphemy. Ten points from hufflepuff

[RRR3]

Same girl

[sportjames23]

Thank you, my nigguh.

[Paul George 24]

lebron james's dunk is ugly