For those who’re beneath the impression that NBA dunk contest fields are getting worse over time, you’re in all probability proper – no less than when it comes to the on-court impression of the individuals. (We’ll depart the controversy about their dunking prowess for one more day.)
A contest that has traditionally seen its fair proportion of All-Star energy is now largely decreased to younger rank-and-file gamers (at finest). For instance, the 2025 dunk contest this 12 months options up-and-coming Spurs guard Stephon Fortress together with defending champion Mac McClung (on a two-way contract with Orlando) and seldom-used rookies Matas Buzelis and Andre Jackson. Their common scoring output this season is 7.53 ppg, the fourth-worst mark for any dunk contest discipline in NBA historical past.
The worst half is that this isn’t actually an aberration in comparison with different latest dunk contests. Most of the lowest-scoring fields have come within the final 15 years, with the 2021 contest rating lifeless final in a 12 months when the league seemingly might solely persuade three gamers (none of them huge names) to take part.
For the all-time rating, have a look beneath.
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Dunk contest individuals: Clyde Drexler, Darrell Griffith, Dominique Wilkins, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, Michael Jordan, Orlando Woolridge, Terence Stansbury
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Dunk contest individuals: Clyde Drexler, Dominique Wilkins, Greg Anderson, Jerome Kersey, Michael Jordan, Otis Smith, Spud Webb
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Dunk contest individuals: Clyde Drexler, Gerald Wilkins, Jerome Kersey, Johnny Dawkins, Michael Jordan, Ron Harper, Terence Stansbury, Tom Chambers
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Dunk contest individuals: Jerry Stackhouse, Larry Hughes, Ricky Davis, Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter
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Dunk contest individuals: Dennis Smith, Donovan Mitchell, Larry Nance Jr, Victor Oladipo
Porter Binks-USA TODAY
Dunk contest individuals: Clyde Drexler, Darrell Griffith, Dominique Wilkins, Edgar Jones, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, Michael Cooper, Orlando Woolridge, Ralph Sampson
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Dunk contest individuals: Dwight Howard, JR Smith, Nate Robinson, Rudy Fernandez, Rudy Homosexual
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Jacob Toppin, Jaime Jaquez, Jaylen Brown, Mac McClung
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Dunk contest individuals: Dwight Howard, Gerald Inexperienced, Jamario Moon, Rudy Homosexual
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Dunk contest individuals: Ben McLemore, Damian Lillard, Harrison Barnes, John Wall, Paul George, Terrence Ross
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Dunk contest individuals: Blake Griffin, DeMar DeRozan, JaVale McGee, Serge Ibaka
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Dunk contest individuals: Amare Stoudemire, Desmond Mason, Jason Richardson, Richard Jefferson
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Dunk contest individuals: Cedric Ceballos, Doug West, John Starks, Larry Johnson (1969), Nick Anderson, Shawn Kemp, Stacey Augmon
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Dunk contest individuals: Amare Stoudemire, Chris Andersen, Josh Smith, JR Smith
The Atlanta Journal-Structure
Dunk contest individuals: Dominique Wilkins, Gerald Wilkins, Jerome Kersey, Paul Pressey, Roy Hinson, Spud Webb, Terence Stansbury, Terry Tyler
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Aaron Gordon, Andre Drummond, Will Barton, Zach LaVine
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Dunk contest individuals: Desmond Mason, Gerald Wallace, Jason Richardson, Steve Francis
SI.com
Dunk contest individuals: Billy Thompson, Dominique Wilkins, Kenny Battle, Kenny Smith, Kenny Walker, Rex Chapman, Scottie Pippen, Shawn Kemp
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Dunk contest individuals: Cedric Ceballos, Clarence Weatherspoon, David Benoit, Harold Miner, Kenny Smith, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Tim Perry
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Dunk contest individuals: Chris Morris, Clyde Drexler, Jerome Kersey, Kenny Walker, Ron Harper, Shelton Jones, Spud Webb, Tim Perry
Elsa/Getty Pictures
Dunk contest individuals: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mason Plumlee, Victor Oladipo, Zach LaVine
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Dunk contest individuals: Brent Barry, Darrell Armstrong, Doug Christie, Greg Minor, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley
Nathaniel S. Butler-NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Dunk contest individuals: Blue Edwards, Dee Brown (1968), Kendall Gill, Kenny Smith, Kenny Williams, Otis Smith, Rex Chapman, Shawn Kemp
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Cole Anthony, Jalen Inexperienced, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Obi Toppin
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Pictures
Dunk contest individuals: DeMar DeRozan, Gerald Wallace, Nate Robinson, Shannon Brown
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Dunk contest individuals: Allan Houston, Antonio Davis, Isaiah Rider, James Robinson, Robert Pack, Shawn Kemp
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Jericho Sims, KJ Martin, Mac McClung, Trey Murphy
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Pictures
Dunk contest individuals: Dwight Howard, Gerald Inexperienced, Nate Robinson, Tyrus Thomas
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Dennis Smith, Hamidou Diallo, John Collins, Miles Bridges
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Dunk contest individuals: Chris Andersen, Fred Jones, Jason Richardson, Ricky Davis
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Aaron Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Derrick Jones, Glenn Robinson III
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Dunk contest individuals: Bob Sura, Chris Carr, Darvin Ham, Kobe Bryant, Michael Finley, Ray Allen
Ronald Martinez/Getty Pictures
Dunk contest individuals: Andre Iguodala, Hakim Warrick, Josh Smith, Nate Robinson
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Chase Budinger, Derrick Williams, Jeremy Evans, Paul George
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Aaron Gordon, Derrick Jones, Dwight Howard, Pat Connaughton
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Dunk contest individuals: Antonio Harvey, Harold Miner, Isaiah Rider, Jamie Watson, Tim Perry, Tony Dumas
Dunk contest individuals: Matas Buzelis, Mac McClung, Stephon Fortress, Andre Jackson
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Dunk contest individuals: Baron Davis, Corey Maggette, DeShawn Stevenson, Desmond Mason, Jonathan Bender, Stromile Swift
Jeff Haynes/Reuters by way of USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Eric Bledsoe, Gerald Inexperienced, Jeremy Evans, Terrence Ross
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest individuals: Anfernee Simons, Cassius Stanley, Obi Toppin
