Denver, ABA Slam Dunk Contest — Drunk From Free-Throw Line
Erving was another father of the slam dunk by creating some of the most iconic put-downs in history — of course being the first to leap from the free-throw line being the most iconic.
Cut to the 5:15 mark.
Los Angeles, Slam Dunk Contest – Off Glass, East Bay Funk Dunk
Between the legs is hard enough, but you have to have serious hops to be able to bounce the ball off the backboard before catching the ball in mid-air, finishing the slam before you start to land. What’s crazy — although this is Richardson’s best dunk, he would lose the competition to Fred Jones, failing to three-peat after winning the contest in ’02 and ’03.
Oakland, Slam Dunk Contest – Reverse 360 Windmill
Carter — arguably the best dunker in the history of the game — gets two spots at No. 2 on our list. First, just one of the many ridiculous and novel displays he performed for the world in 2000 — the reverse 360 windmill, which you see first in this video.
Sydney Olympics – Carter Dunks Over 7-Footer
The only dunk on our countdown from an actual game is arguably the most famous worldwide. On Sept. 25, 2000, Carter took his fame to new heights — literally — by dunking over 7-foot-2-inch Frechman Frédéric Weis. It’s considered the most jaw-dropping moment in Olympic basketball history.