{"id":17546,"date":"2024-02-16T11:25:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T01:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=17546"},"modified":"2024-02-20T14:17:22","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T04:17:22","slug":"the-nbas-worst-slam-dunk-contestants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2024\/02\/the-nbas-worst-slam-dunk-contestants\/","title":{"rendered":"The NBA&#8217;s Worst Slam Dunk Contestants"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>There are three key components to a successful slam dunk: creativity, difficulty, and execution.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Dominique Wilkins and Vince Carter? Pioneers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Baron Davis and Chris Andersen? Pretenders.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The NBA\u2019s Slam Dunk Contest often brings out the best (and worst) on All-Star weekend. It\u2019s a place for tricks and gimmicks, but get it wrong, and you\u2019ll earn a spot on this long list of forgettable performances.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>With the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/sports\/basketball\/usa\/nba#round\">2024 Dunk Contest<\/a> ahead on Sunday, here\u2019s a look at the worst of the worst.<\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Everything About 2022<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"2022 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Full Highlights\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yBSn5ppNIpY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<p>Let&#8217;s just get the worst out of the way nice and early.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>The 2022 Dunk Contest was horrible for several different reasons, the main being a lack of creativity, some awful misses, some terrible scoring from Dominique Wilkins, and Obi Toppin winning on a layup.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>At least it can&#8217;t get any worse&#8230; right?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Larry Hughes (Philadelphia 76ers, 2000)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><\/figure>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Larry Hughes - 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NNocOVJTT0o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><span style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\">First, you laugh, then you cry.<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\r\n\r\n<\/h2>\r\n<p>Watching a 6-foot-5 Larry Hughes botch a simple double-clutch dunk in the first round? Funny stuff.<\/p>\r\n<h2>\r\n\r\n<\/h2>\r\n<p>Watching Allen Iverson laugh at a grown man who can\u2019t hit the backboard? Tough to watch.<\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Darrell Armstrong (Orlando Magic, 1996)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Darrell Armstrong - 1996 NBA Slam Dunk Contest\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sCqwoZmO7Eo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><span style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\">At least the first 30 seconds were fun (that\u2019s what she said).<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cedric Ceballos (Phoenix Suns, 1992)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><\/figure>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Cedric Ceballos Blindfold Dunk in 1992 Slam Dunk Contest!\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/y364qphfGFw?start=24&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Ceballos actually won the Dunk Contest in 1992, but he decided to go out with a bang by going full Bird Box with his blindfold in the final round.<\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tony Dumas (Dallas Mavericks, 1995)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tony Dumas - 1995 NBA Slam Dunk Contest\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3FC3o2FXnZs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>\u201cNah, Titans would\u2019ve signed me if I didn\u2019t hurt my knee at gym.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Tony Dumas, who made three unsuccessful attempts in the first round due to a mysterious knee injury, was basically every 24-year-old ever.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>(Side note: notice all these clips feature Shaq laughing uncontrollably?)<\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Chris Andersen, (New Orleans Hornets, 2005)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Chris Andersen - 2005 NBA Slam Dunk Contest\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5Hjg8IXSzWk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>White men can\u2019t jump (or throw). But they do get 1,000 more attempts than any other player.<\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Antonio Harvey (Los Angeles Lakers, 1995)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Antonio Harvey - 1995 NBA Slam Dunk Contest\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mo-ANhW_Dyo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Opening with a windmill dunk and failing is one thing. Missing the rim altogether on your third attempt is another.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>This wasn\u2019t the worst but it\u2019s far from the best.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Also, god bless Shaq.<\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Baron Davis (Charlotte Hornets, 2005)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Baron Davis: The Blind Man&#039;s Bluff\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bg3DS_w9vBs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Baron Davis undoing his shorts and saying \u201cthis is my secret weapon\u201d should be reason enough to stop reading. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Michael Finley (Dallas Mavericks, 1997)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Michael Finley - 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Contest\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s9whTz94UFE?start=127&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>There\u2019s a nice shot here of Finley alongside the Mamba in Kobe\u2019s only Slam Dunk appearance.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>There\u2019s also a hilarious cartwheel attempt from Finley at the 2:00 minute mark that deserves extra points for creativity.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Oh, and peep Kobe\u2019s fist-pump when Finley misses the double-handed slam. Even as a rookie, dude was crazy competitive.<\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Tim Perry (Philadelphia 76ers, 1993)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Tim Perry - 1993 NBA Slam Dunk Contest\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/G0ZkfFBdG-I?start=85&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Perry could dunk when it counted \u2013 like in actual games \u2013 just not when it meant absolutely nothing.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>He opened with a fairly simple double-clutch dunk in round one before backing himself from the free-throw line in round two.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>How a 6-foot-9 freak came inches short of even touching the rim remains a mystery. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Allan Houston (1994, Detroit Pistons)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Allan Houston - 1994 NBA Slam Dunk Contest\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ah1dAEgceZU?start=76&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Allan Houston was a shooter, not a dunker.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>He\u2019s a two-time All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>And this might be what he\u2019s remembered for most.<\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Mason Plumlee (2015, Brooklyn Nets)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Mason Plumlee Jumps Over Brother Miles for his 2nd Dunk: 2015 Sprite Slam-Dunk Contest\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5dz0xsMhGLE?start=15&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Jumping over Chumlee would have been more exciting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"812\" height=\"413\" class=\"wp-image-17562\" src=\"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Chumlee.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Chumlee.png 812w, https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Chumlee-300x153.png 300w, https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Chumlee-768x391.png 768w, https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Chumlee-730x371.png 730w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 812px) 100vw, 812px\" \/><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Nick Anderson (1992, Orlando Magic)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Nick Anderson Blindfold Dunk 1992\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PwurX7dEmsM?start=19&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Did not rub tummy: minus five stars.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":17586,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,344],"tags":[4245,4240,4241,4237,4239,4236,4235,4246,4242,46,2572,4234,4232,2575,4247,4244,4238],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-17546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-sports","tag-allan-houston","tag-antonio-harvey","tag-baron-davis","tag-cedric-ceballos","tag-chris-andersen","tag-darrell-armstrong","tag-larry-hughes","tag-mason-plumlee","tag-michael-finley","tag-nba","tag-nba-all-star-betting","tag-nba-all-star-odds","tag-nba-all-star-weekend","tag-nba-slam-dunk-contest","tag-nick-anderson","tag-tim-perry","tag-tony-dumas"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":null,"md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"16\/02\/2024","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17546"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17546\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17546"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=17546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}