Basketball

Top 7 NBA In-Game Dunks of All Time

min read
LeBron James scores an empathic dunk during the 2016 NBA Finals.
(Wikimedia Commons/Erik Drost)
Anatoly Pimentel @AnatolyPimentel Dec 11, 2023, 12:40 AM
  • Here are the top seven NBA in-game dunks.
  • Gerald Green leads the list.
  • Other players on the list are LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Baron Davis, Shawn Kemp, Scottie Pippen, and DeAndre Jordan.

Scoring in an NBA game is quite an achievement, especially a dunk, because it is one of the most exciting and thrilling ways to put the ball in the basket. An emphatic dunk could signal a momentum shift in the game or even punctuate a dominant win against the opposing teams.

But there were some memorable dunks that we’ve seen throughout the history of the NBA that rarely happen in basketball odds. They left us in awe, thus making us hit the replay button countless times. Here’s a list of the top seven NBA in-game dunks of all time.

Gerald Green’s Above the Rim Windmill

Despite only playing 31 games for the New Jersey Nets in the 2011-2012 season, Gerald Green delivered one of the most memorable in-game dunks in history. He caught a pass from teammate Marshon Brooks in transition and jumped as high as possible to put down a windmill dunk that almost made him kiss the rim. Even Houston’s bench was impressed by this dunk.

Look at their reaction here:

Lebron James Posterizes Jason Terry

LeBron James is arguably in his prime years athletically during his time with the Miami Heat between 2010 to 2014. Proof of this super athleticism from James is his monster dunk over Jason Terry in their game against the Boston Celtics in March 2013. Dwyane Wade stole the ball off Terry, passed it to Mario Chalmers, who passed it to Norris Cole for LeBron’s poster.

His Airness Dunks Over Patrick Ewing

In April 1991, Michael Jordan gifted his good friend Patrick Ewing a powerful dunk during game 3 between the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks. Jordan was almost trapped in the baseline by John Starks and Charles Oakley but managed to spin away from them before exploding over the Knicks center to close out the series in style.

The ‘’We Believe’’ Dunk of Davis

Although the Cinderella run of the Golden State Warriors in 2007 (part of the list of all NBA first round playoff upsets ) or known as the ‘’We Believe’’ Warriors, ended in the second round of the NBA Playoffs in the hands of the Utah Jazz (4-1), Baron Davis’ emphatic dunk over Andrei Kirilenko will always be remembered to be an all-time dunk. Davis punctuated Golden State’s game 3 blowout win against the higher-seeded Utah by driving past Deron Williams before elevating and catching Kirilenko in a poster dunk. Just listen to the crowd’s reaction after the powerful dunk:

Shawn Kemp’s Dunk and Taunt

Who can forget the iconic dunk and taunt of Shawn Kemp over Alton Lister in the 1992 postseason? Kemp will always be remembered for this disrespectful jam over Lister as he received the ball from outside the paint then after one dribble, he took off and directly went against Lister, who tried to commit a charge but was too late as the ‘’Reignman’’ managed to leap over him for a powerful dunk. Then, the recognizable taunt of Kemp pointing at Lister is forever etched in every NBA fans’ memory.

Scottie Pippen Stamps Patrick Ewing

Do you want more disrespectful dunks? Well, we have another one in this list when Scottie Pippen manhandled Patrick Ewing in the 1994 playoffs after putting him in another Kodak moment. It was a transition play from the Bulls and Pete Myers saw a cutting Pippen in the lane and made a perfect bounce pass to complete the play. But right after the play, the Chicago forward shoved and stepped over Ewing before telling New York Knicks fan Spike Lee to ‘’sit down’’. This sequence resulted in a technical foul for Pippen.

Deandre Jordan Slays the Knight

Wrapping our list is a dunk that almost took someone’s soul. In March 2013, DeAndre Jordan almost took Brandon Knight’s life after a forceful dunk at the Staples Center game. Chris Paul threw an alley-oop to Jordan, who slid inside the paint area. Knight tried to recover and contest the dunk but ended up hitting the floor hard before getting picked up by his teammates. There were tons of colorful reactions in the aftermath of this unforgettable play by Jordan.

Related Articles

Live NBA Betting at BetMGM

At the BetMGM sportsbook, you have access to updated NBA odds throughout the season, including live sports betting.

Whether you’re looking for NBA betting lines, over/under totals, or prop bets, there are endless opportunities to bet online.

If you don’t have a sportsbook account, sign up for the BetMGM welcome promo, one of many sportsbook offers at BetMGM.

BetMGM First Bet Offer $1,500
About the Author

Anatoly Pimentel

Read More @AnatolyPimentel

Anatoly Pimentel is an NBA and MMA writer previously featured in ASEAN Sports, Asian Persuasion MMA, and Overtime Heroics MMA. He graduated from Adamson University with a B.A in Communication and is a Web Content Writer for BetMGM.

Anatoly Pimentel is an NBA and MMA writer previously featured in ASEAN Sports, Asian Persuasion MMA, and Overtime Heroics MMA. He graduated from Adamson University with a B.A in Communication and is a Web Content Writer for BetMGM.