While Stephen Curry has almost single-handedly made three-point shooting the new art to aspire to, nothing really quite matches the excitement even to this day of throwing down a monster dunk. Whether it’s a mean poster over a 7-foot tall center, or a flashy acrobatic dunk on the fast break, the NBA today is still home to some of the best dunking the game has ever seen.
While the All-Star weekend’s Slam Dunk contest has somewhat lost its magic in recent years – although Mac McLung is doing his best to revive it on his own – there are still some incredible dunkers in the NBA right now. The likes of Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant are just some of the young stars who take it to the rim with real force, but do they really match up with the best in league history?
Well, we asked ChatGPT to rank the top 10 dunkers in NBA history, and it came up with a pretty intriguing list.
Ranking Factors
- Aesthetics – how good they make the dunk look
- In-game dominance – whether they were able to pull off their dunks during a match
- Athleticism
- Creativity
- Cultural impact
10
Jason Richardson
The fifth pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2001 NBA Draft, Jason Richardson became only the second person after Michael Jordan to win the Slam Dunk contest in back-to-back years. Standing at 6 foot 6 at the shooting guard position, Richardson’s blend of athleticism and speed made him a ferocious dunker, while it was a testament to his ability that he later became an elite three point-shooter too, leading the league in the category for total makes from 2008 to 2012.

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What ChatGPT said: A two-time dunk contest champion (2002, 2003), J-Rich brought technical mastery and creativity to both contests and games. His reverse windmills, off-glass alley-oops, and between-the-legs jams made him must-watch TV.
9
Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon’s performances at the Slam Dunk contest already make him worthy of making this list of the best dunkers in NBA history. The now Denver Nuggets star’s creativity – who can ever forget his dunk after picking the ball up from a mascot standing on a spinning segway – made him must-watch at All-Star weekend, and while his dunking in recent seasons in-game hasn’t quite been the same, he still remains an all-time great at the art form.
What ChatGPT said: Gordon might be the best dunk contest performer to never win, having delivered arguably the greatest single contest showing in 2016. His creativity — like leaping over the mascot while grabbing the ball off its head and under-leg slamming — redefined what was possible.
8
Blake Griffin
The no.1 pick in the 2009 draft, Blake Griffin was a huge part of the Los Angeles Clippers’ Lob City era alongside Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers captured the hearts of the NBA public, throwing up crazy alley-oops and trying fancy dunks on a nightly basis, with Griffin often the finisher at the end of it.
What ChatGPT said: Early-career Blake was a walking poster. He terrorized defenders with aerial authority, often leaping over them (literally — see Mozgov and Perkins). Blake turned lobs and putbacks into thunderous statements and brought the Lob City era in L.A. to life.
7
Zach LaVine
One-half of why the Slam Dunk contest was arguably the biggest event of All-Star weekend in the 2010s, Zach LaVine’s battles with Aaron Gordon for the crown was generational. Then with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the shooting guard showed off all his athleticism and explosiveness to come up with perfect dunk after perfect dunk. Now more of a scorer, LaVine’s status as a dunking great is secure with his consecutive Slam Dunk championships.
What ChatGPT said: LaVine is the modern dunk contest king. His back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016 (especially his epic duel with Aaron Gordon) showcased insane creativity, fluidity, and bounce. Between-the-legs from the free-throw line? LaVine made it look easy.
6
LeBron James
Now onto one of the greatest NBA players of all-time, LeBron James’ early years in the association left defenders absolutely terrified of being on the end of a vicious poster – you only have to ask former Boston Celtics guard Jason Terry what that felt like. James’ power, speed and explosiveness at his height and size made him impossible to stop when in full flow driving to the paint, and his tomahawks were a regular highlight while he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

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What ChatGPT said: LeBron’s dunks might not be as flashy as others on this list, but they’re ferociously consistent and physically dominant. His breakaway tomahawks and one-handed power slams have been a fixture for over two decades. What sets him apart is the volume, variety, and the force he brings — dunking over defenders, through traffic, and in clutch moments.
5
Julius Erving
The man who arguably made the art of dunking ‘cool’ and brought it into the mainstream, Julius ‘Dr J’ Erving dominated both the ABA and the NBA. Again, much like the others on this list, Erving’s athleticism was unparalleled, but his creativity and dunking skills were so far better than anyone else in his era. There is a reason why many NBA players even to this day hearken back to Erving as one of their favourite dunkers of all-time.
What ChatGPT said: Dr. J was the original aerial innovator. Before Jordan, there was Erving, soaring from the baseline and gliding across defenders like a painter on canvas. His 1980 Finals baseline reverse dunk is still replayed as one of the most graceful moves ever.
4
Shawn Kemp
Nicknamed the ‘Reign Man’, Shawn Kemp was a six-time NBA All-Star, and made the All-NBA Second Team on three occasions. One of the leaders of the Seattle SuperSonics alongside point guard Gary Payton, the 6 foot 10 Kemp had all the physical tools that made him a frightening power forward to play against. A ferocious dunker whose speed saw him make some incredible dunks in transition, Kemp was a key reason behind the Sonics’ run to the 1996 NBA Finals.
What ChatGPT said: Kemp was a monster in transition and one of the most intimidating in-game dunkers ever. The Reign Man’s dunks were violent, expressive, and emphatic — often punctuated by a flex, a stare, or a point. His chemistry with Gary Payton led to countless lobs, but his solo drives ended in some of the most disrespectful posters in NBA history.
3
Dominique Wilkins
When you’ve got the nickname ‘The Human Highlight Film’, you know you must be pretty special at creating headline moments. Dominique Wilkins’ time with the Atlanta Hawks saw him bring home two Slam Dunk titles five years apart, and brought the kind of intensity that made him impossible to deal with. A 9-time NBA All-Star, Wilkins may never have won an NBA title, but he certainly gave Hawks fans some incredible memories with his dunking and is regarded as one of the best small forwards of all-time..
What ChatGPT said: “The Human Highlight Film” was raw power meets acrobatic grace. Wilkins’ windmills and tomahawk dunks were thunderous, aggressive, and rim-shattering. He was a two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion (1985, 1990) and brought unmatched intensity to every slam, especially in-game where he thrived on driving through defenses and finishing violently.
2
Michael Jordan
Ranked second on this list for the greatest dunkers in NBA history, Michael Jordan made the free-throw link dunk legendary, with his ability to glide through the air with his tongue sticking out now a signature memory for many basketball fans. While Jordan may not have had the raw power and ferociousness that some of the other guys in this top 10 had, he certainly had a unique style and panache when doing so. One of the most dominant players in NBA history, period.

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What ChatGPT said: Jordan’s dunks were as much about symbolism as style. He turned the dunk into a brand — literally. “Air Jordan” brought hang time to life, defying gravity with his floating, tongue-wagging jams. His free-throw line dunk became iconic through the Slam Dunk Contest, and his in-game dunks, including many posters in traffic, oozed grace and dominance. Jordan made dunking elegant, lethal, and unforgettable.
1
Vince Carter
The man ChatGPT has ranked as the greatest dunker of all-time, Vince Carter’s performance at the Slam Dunk contest in 2000 is still spoken about to this day as being the greatest in NBA history. His dunk that saw him fly high before putting his elbow in the rim goes down as one of the all-time greats, while he also did the business during games too. Whether it was flashy dunks coming off the base-line, or vicious posters on forwards and centers taller than him, Carter had absolutely everything in his locker.
What ChatGPT said: Known as “Half-Man, Half-Amazing,” Vince Carter is widely considered the greatest dunker ever. His 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest performance is the gold standard, featuring the iconic “elbow in the rim” dunk. But Carter wasn’t just a contest phenom — his in-game dunks were just as electric, often posterizing 7-footers with otherworldly elevation and creativity.
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