What is the greatest dunk contest ever? Most fans will point to Vince Carter’s jaw-dropping performance in 2000. From the iconic “it’s over” reaction to the elbow dunk, Carter set the gold standard. But not everyone shares that opinion—just ask Dwight Howard. The former NBA superstar, now a Hall of Fame finalist alongside Carmelo Anthony, has a different pick.
Speaking on the DH12 Above the Rim podcast, Howard didn’t hesitate when asked about the best dunk contest. “Zach LaVine… Aaron Gordon, 2016,” he said in a clip shared by AlleyClips. One of the co-hosts agreed, hyping it up as the greatest dunk contest he’d ever seen. “I know a lot of people like that Vince contest, that, like, that Vince, Tracy McGrady,” he admitted, but to him, the LaVine-Gordon showdown topped it all.
However, Howard doubled down, saying, “That was cool, but this was on a different level. This was crazy, like, I think AG got robbed.” But not everyone was on board with that take. Another co-host pushed back, defending LaVine’s victory. “There’s no way, you can’t tell me you can go between the legs and windmill from the free throw line, bro,” he argued.
Now, if anyone knows dunk contests, it’s Dwight Howard. He had his own legendary moment in 2009, squaring off against Nate Robinson. While Robinson never won any All-Star Weekend events as Howard’s teammate, he was at the peak of his dunking prowess when they clashed.
Howard played the role of Superman that night, but Robinson had his own trick up his sleeve. Dressed as ‘KrypoNate,’ he turned the contest into a true David vs. Goliath battle. And in the end, the 5’9” guard soared over the 6’11” Howard, earning 52% of the fan vote to claim victory. So when it comes to dunk contests, Dwight Howard isn’t just a fan—he’s lived it.
Why Howard thinks 2016 is the best dunk contest ever?
Looking back, the 2016 All-Star Weekend gave fans one of the most unforgettable dunk contests in NBA history. Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon turned the event into an electrifying showdown, going back and forth in a high-flying duel that needed triple overtime to settle.
As both players kept delivering jaw-dropping dunks, they each racked up back-to-back perfect 50s. But eventually, someone had to win. On his fourth dunk of the second round, Gordon pulled off a ridiculous double-pump reverse slam, earning a 47. It was incredible, but it left the door open just enough for LaVine to take control.
Sensing his moment, the Timberwolves’ third-year guard went back to the spot that had already earned him two perfect scores—the free-throw line. But this time, he took things up a notch. Launching from 15 feet away, LaVine threw down a between-the-legs one-handed slam that sent the crowd into a frenzy and locked in another perfect 50. Just like that, he claimed his second straight dunk contest title.
The back-and-forth battle pushed both players to their creative limits, forcing them to keep raising the bar with each dunk. After his win, LaVine even admitted he had never practiced his final dunk before. So, does Dwight Howard have a point? Was this really the greatest dunk contest of all time? Let us know what you think!
The post “That Was Cool but…”: Dwight Howard Overlooks Vince Carter While Choosing Top Dunk Contest Amid HOF Nod appeared first on EssentiallySports.