Ultimate List of NBA Dunk Contest Winners Through the Years

I still remember the first time I witnessed Vince Carter's legendary performance in the 2000 NBA Dunk Contest. As a lifelong basketball enthusiast and sports analyst, I've come to appreciate how these aerial exhibitions represent more than just athletic feats—they're cultural moments that define eras. The recent news about Ar-Ar Andales stunning former world champion Rene Mark Cuarto in a boxing match reminded me of how underdogs can create magic in competitive sports, much like some of the most unexpected dunk contest winners throughout NBA history.

Looking back at the evolution of the dunk contest, it's fascinating to see how it has transformed from a simple exhibition to a global spectacle. The first official NBA Slam Dunk Contest took place in 1984 during the All-Star Weekend in Denver, where Larry Nance soared above the competition with his elegant yet powerful slams. What many casual fans don't realize is that the contest almost didn't happen—the NBA had initially planned to feature a one-on-one tournament instead. Thank goodness they changed their minds, because we would have missed iconic moments like Dominique Wilkins' thunderous windmills and Michael Jordan's legendary free-throw line takeoff.

The 1980s represented what I consider the golden era of dunk contests, with the rivalry between Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan reaching its peak in 1988. That particular contest in Chicago remains etched in my memory as the standard against which all others should be measured. Wilkins, with his raw power, versus Jordan, with his incredible hang time—it was basketball poetry in motion. The scoring controversy that year, where Jordan received a perfect 50 on his final dunk while many thought Wilkins deserved higher scores earlier, still sparks debates among fans today. Personally, I've always felt Wilkins' ferocious style never got the appreciation it deserved from the judges.

When we fast-forward to the 2000 contest, Vince Carter essentially redefined what was physically possible above the rim. His "honey dip" dunk where he hung from the rim by his elbow remains the single most revolutionary move I've witnessed in person. The energy in Oakland Arena that night was electric—you could feel the collective gasp from the audience with each of Carter's innovations. That year's contest featured what I believe to be the most talented field ever assembled, with Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis delivering performances that would have won most other years. The scoring that night was particularly generous, with Carter receiving three perfect 50s out of his four dunks, but honestly, he deserved every point.

The contest experienced what many consider a dark period during the mid-2000s, with participation from star players dwindling and creativity hitting a plateau. I recall the 2007 contest in Las Vegas particularly disappointing, with Gerald Green's birthday cake dunk standing out more for its gimmickry than genuine innovation. The NBA tried various formats to revive interest, including the "wheel round" where players had to perform dunks randomly selected by a spinning wheel—a concept that sounded better in theory than practice. It wasn't until Blake Griffin's 2011 performance that the contest regained mainstream attention, though his jumping over a car dunk was more spectacle than technical mastery in my opinion.

Recent years have seen a resurgence of creativity, with Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon's 2016 duel arguably matching the excitement of the Jordan-Wilkins era. Gordon's under-the-legs dunk over the mascot remains one of the most difficult maneuvers I've ever seen attempted, let alone executed with such flair. The controversy surrounding his loss to LaVine that year reminds me of the recent upset where Ar-Ar Andales stunned former world champion Rene Mark Cuarto—sometimes the most deserving competitor doesn't get the victory their performance merits. Personally, I believe Gordon should have won that contest, and it's a shame he never received the title his creativity deserved.

The internationalization of the dunk contest has been particularly fascinating to observe. When Canadian-born Andrew Wiggins participated in 2015, it signaled how global the competition had become. This year's contest featured Mac McClung, a G-League player who brought back the kind of grassroots excitement we haven't seen in years. His between-the-legs reverse dunk in the final round earned a perfect 50 and demonstrated that sometimes the most exciting competitors come from unexpected places, much like Ar-Ar Andales' surprising victory over an established champion.

As I reflect on nearly four decades of dunk contests, what stands out isn't just the athleticism but the stories these competitions tell. From Spud Webb's incredible victory as a 5'7" underdog in 1986 to Dwight Howard's Superman dunk in 2008, these moments capture basketball's evolving culture. The contest has survived format changes, participant drop-offs, and criticism because at its core, it celebrates human creativity and physical artistry. While I have my personal favorites—the 1988 and 2016 contests top my list—each year offers the potential for new legends to emerge. The dunk contest remains one of sports' most unpredictable and thrilling exhibitions, where established champions can be dethroned by innovative newcomers, proving that in basketball as in boxing, as Ar-Ar Andales demonstrated, surprises always await.