The BEST NBA Dunk Contests Of All Time

Last week, Los Angeles Lakers big man Dwight Howard committed to participating in this year's Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago February 15th. Howard would be tied for the oldest dunk contest competitor ever at 34 years old - tied with the original ABA Dunk Contest champion Julius Erving- and just the sixth player over 30 years old to participate in the event.

Howard told ESPN's Rachel Nichols that he wants to source ideas for this year's dunk contest from past dunk contests he competed in, including the one he won wearing a Superman cape in 2008. Going back and watching the replays of his past dunk contests spurred the question, "which NBA Slam Dunk Contests since the first one in 1984 have been the best? "After way too much time spent on YouTube, I have come up with exactly what makes a slam dunk contest the best slam dunk contest.

A great dunk contest needs to have five things. First, it needs star power. No offense to Glenn Robinson III (2017 Slam Dunk Contest Champion), but the dunk contest needs names that people know and can cheer for. It needs names that will draw crowds. Second, a great dunk contest needs a well-rounded field. In most dunk contests the final rounds are entertaining (minus 2014 when the NBA decided to do that odd team thing). What separates a good dunk contest from a great one is a lineup of contestants that all perform well and entertain. Third, a dunk contest needs execution. This goes without saying; nobody wants to watch a bunch of missed dunks to see one good one. Next, it needs a story line. The fans need someone to cheer for and they need to know why. Lastly, and most importantly, it needs a "WOW" moment that will carry the legend of that dunker on throughout history.

With these factors in mind, I was able to compile a list and once-and-for-all determine which dunk contest was the best.

Honorable Mention: 1985 Slam Dunk Contest

The star power alone carried this dunk contest through the history books and will continue to do so. With 4 Hall of Fame players - including a rookie named Michael Jordan - and the previous year's dunk contest winner Larry Nance, this dunk contest was attention grabbing from the start. Unfortunately the rules made it so the competitors had to do too many dunks, so, in an effort to preserve energy for the All-Star Game, the players left their best efforts in the locker room. Fortunately for us, this was the first act in the famed Dominique Wilkins vs Michael Jordan rivalry, one in which Dominique got the first laugh.

Number 5: 1986 Slam Dunk Contest

The 1986 Slam Dunk Contest was less star-studded than the 1985 contest that was an honorable mention on this list, but the story lines and "WOW" factors made it a much more enjoyable watch - even without Michael Jordan (injured). The 1986 Slam Dunk Contest had a fairly deep 8 man field including Terence Stansbury, who outperformed his impressive 1985 outing. However, the real entertainment came from the final matchup of two Atlanta Hawks teammates, defending champion Dominique Wilkins and 5-foot-6 Spud Webb (the walking "WOW" factor). Anytime you get a strong lineup like this, two teammates facing off in the finals, and the shortest Slam Dunk Contest winner ever, viewers are going to swarm to the TV screen to watch. Dominique Wilkins defended his title with an even better effort than the year before, but Webb eventually won with a bouncing self alley-oop off the backboard, enshrining him as the shortest player to win the dunk contest - a record that will probably never be beaten.

Number 4: 2008 Slam Dunk Contest

Looking back on the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, it is obvious this was the best dunk contest of the mid-2000's. Then Orlando Magic Center Dwight Howard was an All-Star that year, would go on to win the Defensive Player of the Year, and was one of the new faces of the NBA at the time. A rising star in the league in a rematch with 2007's dunk contest winner, Gerald Green, Howard would go on and capture his only Slam Dunk Contest victory in a very entertaining fashion. Gerald Green dunked well and Dwight Howard blew fans away with original dunk after original dunk that left all those watching in awe. The other two contestants, Jamario Moon and Rudy Gay were high-flyers who made the first rounds exciting as well. With a star in Howard, Green attempting to defend his throne, and an exciting lineup of dunkers, the only thing missing from this contest was a "WOW" moment - which Howard kindly provided at the end. The big man finished off his amazing showing in a Superman cape, as he flew through the air in what is one of the most audacious and memorable dunks of my lifetime - breaking the record for tallest Slam Dunk Champion of all time.

Number 3: 2000 Dunk Contest

This dunk contest has been revered by some as the best dunk contest ever, so the fact that it comes in at third on this list shows just how great numbers two and one are. This dunk contest had a great storyline to draw viewers in; two rising stars in the league, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter (both future Hall-of Famers), who happened to be on the same Toronto Raptors team, and happened to be cousins. As for the rest of the lineup, I'm not sure if it underperformed, or if Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady did so well that they simply stole the show. Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis in particular did their best to stay competitive and pulled off some enamoring dunks, but Vince Carter was absolutely untouchable on the court that night. In fact, Carter did so well that picking one "WOW" factor is nearly impossible. Whether it was windmill dunks, through the legs alley-oops or 14 foot launches, Carter was in a league of his own that night - so much so that he was able to signal to the camera that the contest was "over" after one of his dunks. The most memorable dunk of the night from Carter came in the finals when he dunked his entire right forearm into the rim in what is still known as the "honey dip." The only downside from the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest is that neither Carter nor McGrady participated in another one.

Watch Vince Carter put on a show in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest

Number 2: 1988 Slam Dunk Contest

This classic dunk contest is another one that can be at least talked about as the best ever. The class was strong once again, as is typical in this era of the NBA, with three former winners (Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, Michael Jordan), three Hall of Fame players (Clyde Drexler, Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan), and three other high-flyers. That being said, this dunk contest is primarily remembered as being the final chapter in "Michael Jordan vs Dominique Wilkins," with each owning 1 title at the time. The storyline, star power throughout the lineup, and epic rivalry are there, all it needed was better execution than 1985. Most people were prepared for an entertaining dunk contest, but nobody was expecting what actually happened. Jordan and Wilkins left the other five participants in the dust, completing amazing dunk after amazing dunk. The styles contradicted each other perfectly with the finesse and gliding style of Jordan taking the power and force of Wilkins into extra rounds. Dunk after dunk after dunk, both stars blew everyone watching away that night, but Jordan ultimately won after providing the most iconic "WOW" moment in NBA history when he dunked from the free-throw line, tongue out and all. A truly impressive display of athleticism, you know a dunk contest is great when people debate who really deserved to win 30 years later.

Number 1: 2016 Slam Dunk Contest

The award of "Best Slam Dunk Contest Of All Time" belongs to the 2016 event. No real star power doesn't hold this contest back in the rankings one bit. The four man lineup of defending champion Zach Lavine, Aaron Gordon, Will Barton, and 7-foot Andre Drummond put on an amazing show. The final rounds came down to, as many predicted, Zach Lavine and Aaron Gordon, and are where the fun really began. The dunkers tied in the finals forcing the contest to enter into extra rounds, and the extra rounds produced a "WOW" moment seemingly every dunk. Aaron Gordon used his insanely powerful vertical jump and unique props like a mascot and a motorized "hoverboard" to lay assault to the rim, with Lavine calmly responding with gliding jams every time. Both dunkers provided a number of "WOW" moments including Gordon clearing an 8-foot tall mascot while dunking and Lavine dunking from the free-throw line while passing the ball between his legs. The best part of all these amazing dunks was that neither dunker needed a second attempt on any of them. It was a fast-paced showing of creativity and athleticism - just like any great dunk contest should be. Ask anyone today who they think should've won, and you will definitely still get split answers. Zach Lavine won that night almost 4 years ago, but I think the real winners will be the fans if these two decide to compete with Dwight Howard in the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest.

Watch The Best Dunk Contest Of All Time below.