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While the game is now being played outside-in due to the three-point revolution that Golden State Warriors megastar Stephen Curry ushered in a little over a decade ago during his unbelievable rise to prominence, it cannot be denied that the slam dunk remains the game's most captivating move.
No singular play brings fans out of their seats more than a ferocious slam dunk executed by today's generation of high flyers like Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Shaedon Sharpe, and Zion Williamson. But before these players came along and enthralled everyone with their aerial artistry, there was the Human Highlight Film, Dominique Wilkins.
Nique picks Blake Griffin on his Mount Rushmore of best dunkers
A high-leaping, high-scoring 6'8" forward who won the Slam Dunk Contest twice and inspired generations of athletes to take to the skies and jam with authority, no conversation about the NBA's best dunkers will be complete without mentioning Nique.
Asked by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green to name his "Mt. Rushmore of Dunkers," Wilkins obliged and surprisingly named only one modern player to his premier list: Blake Griffin.
"If I had to go with one of the guys from this era, it would be Blake Griffin," the Hall of Famer proclaimed. "Blake Griffin. He was a power dunker. He could really fly."
Griffin had a perfect blend of power and grace
A 6'9" big man whom the Los Angeles Clippers selected first in the 2009 NBA Draft, BG reshaped the position and the franchise with his jaw-dropping rim-rockers. Ferocious as he was athletic, BG spared nobody and dunked on anyone who dared to stand between him and the rim.
From an All-Star like Pau Gasol to an enforcer like Kendrick Perkins, Griffin humiliated them all with one posterization after another.
Griffin's dunking display was more than enough to impress Wilkins.
Lots of standout dunkers from his era
While the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest is clearly no longer as prestigious as it used to be, Wilkins recalled how the superstars of his era were always more than ready to compete for the title. He continued adding outstanding players to his list, led, of course, by the godfather of slam dunks, Dr. J, Julius Erving.
"I always start with Dr. J because he's the granddaddy of us all. That's who I grew up wanting to be like, was Dr. J. So, definitely he's on that list," Nique stated. "I would say Vince Carter. Definitely Vince Carter. I'd like to have myself on there, too."
"I got to go with Mike, too. Michael's up there. Michael Jordan is definitely in there," he continued. "But if I had to throw a couple honorable mentions in there, it would be Clyde Drexler or Shawn Kemp. There were some high flyers, man. Some special talent there. So, it's hard for me to pick five because there's so many guys that's worthy of that title."
Players today may be enamored by the longball, but there's no denying that the slam dunk will always have a special place in the hearts of players and fans alike.
