He can take the jumper, beat defenders off the dribble (whether it's baseline or back in the middle), post up, hit the fadeaway...there's seemingly no end to his arsenal. Anytime he finds himself alone on the fastbreak, you can bank that's what he's going to do. But despite all of that success, he had another move that was near unstoppable. But every now and then, a player like Kobe Bryant comes along. It just didn't happen.". Sadly, as a Cavs fan, I only got to see the '09 version of this move...and it wasn't nearly as impressive as it was in his heyday. An excerpt from The Book of Basketball... "MJ was better at controlling his body in the air and creating impossible shots, but 'Nique was the best in-game dunker of his generation. The slam dunk contest will be held at halftime and will be judged by five former winners: Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, Josh Smith, Dee Brown and Jason Richardson. But No. Birdbrain I'm a birdbrain 7, No. He's a fringe player on this list because he needs someone to get him the ball. Already one of the best athletes in the NBA, Josh Smith displays incredible timing when going up for offensive rebounds. Vince Carter: The Windmill. With Tenor, maker of GIF Keyboard, add popular Dominique Wilkins Dunk Contest animated GIFs to your conversations. If Dwight Howard is the king of alley-oop, Shaq was definitely his predecessor. He earned the nickname "Skywalker" because of the way he seemingly walked through the air. $90.00. Make sure you look up his dunk against Alton Lister...or any of the countless other posterizations he slammed down throughout his career. Wilkins won the first competition in 1985 but because of various injuries in the season from both players, 1988 was their first time meeting since that 1985 event. Basically, no matter what you pick, it's gonna be great. A.J. Posterization – Would you hang a poster of this dunk on your bedroom wall? There’s so many different things to focus on that you really need a second, third, fourth look to catch it all. Given the circumstances, he probably shouldn't have tried the move...but still, it was a foul nonetheless. When he bought a working begin and gussied up the double pump with the reverse. You didn’t see a lot of dudes in the hood rocking these….Until the 1991 dunk contest. Sadly, his most memorable dunk is probably a miss—when a former Cav basically took his arm off from behind. Best moment came in the '84 Dunk Contest. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, worse in terms of a dunk FAIL then getting stuffed by the front of the rim. It’s a know it when you see it jam and pretty much every star has one. Every NBA Superstar has their own unique signature dunk. They say he takes off about 12 feet from the hoop, but it seems like 20. Giving him only one highlight dunk isn't enough justice either. Think about it. 5, No. We’ll be looking at SuperStars past and present. Others receiving votes: Spud Webb 4.2% 8 of 31. The best examples from this reel are No. "Rock the Cradle" was selected because it was still original (only Dr. J performed one that was as memorable), hasn't come close to being matched since, and had the iconic moment of MJ sticking out his tongue while probably millions of kids across the world (myself included) did the same thing on their 6'0" Nerf hoops. His book, Boys Among Men: How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution , is due out in March. Get the best deals on Dominique Wilkins Basketball Trading Cards when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. It was a novelty at the time, being extremely expensive because of the new technology. Hands down, the best dunker I've ever had the privilege of seeing. Dominique Wilkins Talks Michael Jordan, Windmill Dunks and Cars By Nathan Rush , 2/22/18, 12:34 PM EST Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins is the Human Highlight Film In turn, he's often the frequent target of alley-oop passes, which he gathers and finishes with ease. This is about beauty, about what looks cool and what doesn’t. The truly elite dunkers developed their own move—a signature dunk, if you will. Style – How smooth is this dunk? Photos: 30 years of NBA slam dunk champs. The true spectacle? It gives him a signature dunk and proper due as one of the '90s ODs (original dunkers). His finishes around the hoop varied—maybe he'd go straight up (like he did against Yao Ming), pull a reverse windmill (something similar to a dunk he had against New Orleans this year), or go for the reverse tomahawk...like he did to Kevin Garnett and Rasho Nesterovic. But in his prime, there were few like him. He had style and grace and looked damn good but his truest asset was his unrivaled strength. And if you Google... 3. He just cocked it back with one hand and threw it down. Now ‘Nique had several variations of this dunk, both two-handed or one-handed and varying degrees of windmill arc, but two things were always consistent – ‘Nique always jumped with two feet for his windmills and they were all full of POWER. 1 for examples of how high he got off the floor (no pun intended). ( Log Out / Whatâs crazier than an NCAA Freshman Hitting Two Grand Slams IN HIS FIRST TWO COLLEGE AT BATS? The hang-time he got on his jump was unlike anything that had been seen in the previous 20-plus years of NBA basketball. That being said, let's get right into the countdown of the best signature dunks in NBA history. 2, and No. Done and done. Or maybe Potatoes Gruyère Gratin with Steak au Poivre. Oct 29, 2018 - Dominique Wilkins, the two-time Dunk Contest winner and five-time participant, on this year's field and his "spontaneous creativity." Ditto. Hands down, the best dunker I've ever had the privilege of seeing. Wilkins, nicknamed “The Human Highlight Film,” was particularly known for his dunking skills, especially his signature two-handed windmill dunk. Dominique Wilkins, the two-time Dunk Contest winner and five-time participant, on this year's field and his "spontaneous creativity." It was basically his signature shoe. But after you see him rattle the rim a few times, his place shouldn't be questioned. Take this little gem against the Thunder, for example. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. In Dallas in 1986, a Jordan-Wilkins rematch was put on hold, since Michael Jordan was injured. The "Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Teeth-Shaking, Glass-Breaking, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Wham-Bam, Glass-Breaker-I-Am-Jam.". In 2006, Wilkins was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.. Wilkins participated in five slam dunk contests, winning two. The one that stands out the most is the sweeping double-clutch, rock the baby dunk in the Finals against the Lakers. Granted, I can only remember watching the NBA for the last 12-13 years (and let's just say my memory as an 11 or 12 year old wasn't photographic). He might not spring to thought in the minds of casual fans, but he uses the perfect mix of athleticism, power, and showmanship. Dominique Wilkins: I tell people all the time, it’s hard to get 26,000 points on dunks. Free shipping on many items ... 1984 STAR SLAM DUNK CHAMPIONSHIP 11 - CARD SET - DR J; WILKINS; DREXLER; NANCE. moves in the Dunk Contest or ones only a player only tried once don't qualify). But maybe more than anything, he was a legendary dunker, earning the nickname “The Human Highlight Film.” We caught up with ‘Nique, 58, to talk dunks, cars and his rival, Michael Jordan. He did this over and over and over. Atlanta Hawks: Dominique Wilkins 95.8%. Oh, and the one from the '76 Dunk Contest is pretty good too. Difficulty – How hard is it to pull off this jam in game? The best dunker of all time with a move that couldn't be stopped. Let’s get to it: The Human Highlight Film’s signature slam was the Power Windmill. This Atlanta Hawks 8x10 Photo has been hand signed by Dominique Wilkins. And the chances of a front rim stuff increase dramatically with the Windmill. One of my biggest pet peeves in basketball is when a defender gets beat baseline. There's no real reason for it—the team defense is all in the middle, so all you have to do is put your foot on the end line and force your opponent back towards the help. 9, No. You can picture it now: Dominique Wilkins soaring through the air, but not to dunk a basketball — rather, to land an elbow drop on a supine opponent. Wilkins… 3. Find the perfect Dominique Wilkins Dunk Contest stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Difficulty – 11 – The Windmill is underrated in terms of difficulty. View all posts by Lil' Dogg. Spud Webb didn't quite make the cut when it comes to the best signature dunks. It wasn't even his first one of the year—he also had a game winning throwdown against Houston in November. (Check out No. Here are a few players that didn't quite make the list, mostly because they either didn't have one signature dunk or their best moments came in the Dunk Contest. In 1985, in Indianapolis, he beat Michael Jordan in the finals. Hide Caption. His official name for this? Select from premium Dominique Wilkins Dunk Contest of the highest quality. While he first made his name with some awesome moves in the Dunk Contest (including a semi-reverse windmill and off the glass, in-between the legs number), it's the 360 that has become his patented move. Jordan vs. Wilkins: 1988 NBA slam dunk showdown. During a 15-year Hall of Fame NBA career, Dominique Wilkins @DWilkins21 was a nine-time All-Star, two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion and scoring champion. 5, and No. The highly anticipated rematch of Wilkins vs Jordan was in the 1988 Chicago All-Star Weekend. The cigar has been a slam dunk with fans, retailers and aficionados alike, and has received wonderful reviews. Signature Series cigar in 2019. While at the Atlanta Hawks he also arguably one of best Scorers in the NBA. In this clip, he collects a Joe Johnson miss with one hand and slams it down as time expires to lift Atlanta to an 86-84 win over Orlando. Maybe the most underrated dunker of this generation. 119 So what if his one-on-one post moves are probably as effective as mine...in today's league, he's still nearly impossible to consistently defend. It was simple yet elegant, showy but not overstated. The first one was in 1984, in Denver. So many to choose from. The NBA's All-Time Greatest Signature Dunks 1. ( Log Out / Dominique Wilkins was the 1st player to rock the Pumps. 2 is definitely my favorite. 10, No. GreenTeamers Report – The Celtics Got Lukaâd, Pasta for Breakfast, Pasta for Lunch, Pasta for Dinner – Big Bad Bruins Roll in Tahoe. Wilkins' double-handed windmill in the finals of the 1988 dunk contest he lost (controversially? Darryl Dawkins was the originator (and master) of this. Old school legend, but there simply wasn't enough footage of him to get a realistic depiction of his dunking style. Style – 10 – The rewatchability of a ‘Nique Windmill is very high. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Dominique Wilkins: The Double-Pump Finish in Traffic. "Nobody blocked a 'Nique dunk. Dominique Wilkins Jacques Dominique Wilkins. Filed Under: NBA, Atlanta Hawks, Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan, NBA All-Star Game, NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Grantland Q&A Jonathan Abrams is a staff writer for Grantland. Spud Webb: I’ve never seen a guy get that short-sticked on everything as far as being a superstar. ‘Nique was a Power dunker no doubt about it. But the sheer power he used to generate with the spin was unlike anything I've ever witnessed. Because there are so few defenders capable of keeping a body on him at all times, it makes him one of the best pick-and-roll players in the league (just ask anyone on the '09 Cavs). Where did he takeoff from? So what better way than unleashing one of your patented "In-Your-Face-Disgrace" jams to fire up the crowd and get Skip Bayless and Colin Cowherd talking about you nonstop? Share the best GIFs now >>> Change ), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), talking sports in a bar on a stool at a hi-top table. But for this list, if your defining moment came in the Dunk Contest, it simply wasn't enough. nba-80s-90sgifs: “ Dominique Wilkins, 1984 Slam Dunk Contest ” Saved by Jeff Laws. He was actually the toughest player to include on this list...not because he wasn't a phenomenal dunker, but because he had such a wide variety of slams that he didn't really have one go-to move. "His single most identifiable dunk was the one where he jumped in traffic off two feet, brought the ball up like he was going to dunk it right away, brought it back down again to buy himself an extra split second as the defender fell back to earth, then ripped it through the hoop. Dominique Wilkins's full details including attributes, animations, tendencies, coach boosts, shoe boosts, upgradable badges, evolutions (stats and badge upgrades), dynamic duos Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. In this particular video, watch what happens to poor David Robinson. Michael Jordan reclaimed his throne in Chicago, edging Dominique Wilkins in a showdown for the ages at the 1988 NBA slam dunk contest. Born: January 12, 1960 in Paris, Île-de-France, France College: Georgia Total Cards: 3,636 (2006) Tweet 1988-89 FLEER BASKETBALL DOMINIQUE WILKINS Sticker #11 PSA Potential ~~Crisp~~ Dominique Wilkins (1985): ... His signature dunk was his last one, as he covered his eyes for a no-look finish. … He gets the ball on the block, uses those massive shoulders to gain balance and inside position, then spins to the hoop and emphatically slams it home. Sports World guarantees this autograph with a Certificate of Authenticity and tamper resistant hologram from A.J. Dunking. 5, No. He had to earn the top spot on this list. There's even urban legends that he could grab change off the top of the backboard. It's for what he'll be remembered most. Do you immediately want to watch a replay? Wilkins was a nine-time NBA All-Star, and one of the best dunkers in NBA history, earning the nickname The Human Highlight Film. But at the same time, a beautiful 15-pass possession that leads to a wide open three won't get crowds electrified as much as one explosive move and finish at the rim. ( Log Out / 1 in particular for the best examples.). Dominique Wilkins is a former professional basketball player who was best known for his time playing with the Atlanta Hawks.After playing college ball at the University of Georgia, Wilkings joined the NBA when he was selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 1982 Draft. What’s he doing with his legs? For purposes of this slideshow, we'll define it as the following: a dunk each player used multiple times throughout his career and were arguably the all time best using that particular move (i.e. Jacques Dominique Wilkins (born 12 January 1960) is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Dominique Wilkins (1985): "The Human Highlight Film" was impressive in 1984, finishing in third place. … You need height AND hang time to ensure you have enough time and space to get full arm rotation. Wilkins was a nine-time NBA All-Star and is widely viewed as one of the best dunkers in NBA history, earning the nickname "The Human Highlight Reel". His only solace is that he's not the only one to get worked like this. Here's one trend that I'm a bit surprised didn't catch on: naming your dunks. And if you Google "Vince Carter" and "windmill", hours will pass before you probably realize what happened. 7, No. Hi-Topper HQ spent hours analyzing the film, breaking down the physics and the angles, the body posture, the grace or lack thereof. Dominique reached the finals where he was defeated by his 5'6" teammate, Anthony "Spud" Webb. Now ‘Nique had several variations of this dunk, both two-handed or one-handed and varying degrees of windmill arc, but two things were always consistent – ‘Nique always jumped with two feet for his windmills and they were all full of POWER. Determining what exactly a "signature dunk" is can be quite tricky. You could go with Lobster Bisque and Steak Cabernet. He gets isolated the ball on the baseline and something like 99 percent of defenders start to wet their pants. How much did the rim bend? He hangs through the air and has one of his best posterizing dunks of all time. I mean this in the most complimentary way...Dwight Howard is a freak of nature. If there were more in-game dunks, he could have qualified. Dominique Wilkins is one of the best in-traffic dunkers the league has ever seen. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. ( Log Out / Hawks fans have their suspicions) to Michael Jordan might be Nique's most noteworthy dunk, but his most potent weaponry was discharged in … An excerpt from The Book of Basketball ... Nobody dunked on... 2. He's tall, massive, strong, agile, athletic...how many more unnecessary adjectives do I need to use? Two times in 40 days, he threw the ball down with such ferocity that he completely shattered the backboard. He won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest twice, in 1985 and 1990, and placed second two other times. dubiously? Basketball legend and a cigar connoisseur, Dominique Wilkins released his special M.X.S. Posterization – 12 – If you didn’t have a Human Highlight Film poster on your bedroom wall in the late 80’s then you just weren’t doing it right. Still, Smith is the best I can ever remember seeing at turning misses into dunks with one felt swoop down the lane. He's been called the ACC's greatest player ever, the original prototype for Michael Jordan, and the most tragic victim of the cocaine and alcohol-laced era of basketball. It might not sound overly impressive, but remember that he was only 6'4". But instead, let's call any two-dribble, swooping left-to-right drives capped off by a vigorous slam that leaves announcers speechless or babbling incoherently as a "Shawn Kemp." The NBA just announced Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, Jason Richardson, Dee Brown and Josh Smith as Sunday's Dunk Contest judges — Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 3, 2021 $7.00 shipping. Jacques Dominique Wilkins (born January 12, 1960) is an American former professional basketball player. — Kevin Arnovitz. Today's NBA players (superstars especially) usually do whatever they can to draw attention to themselves on the court. Nobody dunked on people as consistently and violently; he made it an art form and sought out victims. Now, nothing gets a crowd more fired up then a ferocious throwdown. Dominique Wilkins – Windmill Jam The Human Highlight Film’s signature slam was the Power Windmill. Still one of the best dunkers of the last 15-20 years, though. Jul 28, 2017 - Dominique Wilkins Is he the most influential Dunker of all time? Oh so close but he didn't have that one defining move...other than seemingly gliding through the air, of course. It's a move they not only used repeatedly, but perfected better than any forerunner or predecessor. In this highlight reel, check out plays No. Trying to find a signature dunk for Michael Jordan is like being able to order anything you want at Hyde Park. 4, and No. That's not to say it's the most important play in the game. Dominique finished third behind Larry Nance and Julius Erving. Few may unleash an electrical dunk in site visitors fairly like Wilkins, and his signature double pump whereas leaping off two toes among the many bushes was a marvel of physique management. We’re talking in-game dunks only here and we’re using our patented Hi-Topper 13 point scale and judging on 3 Categories –. 8, No. It's an art form that's slowly been crafted, mastered, and celebrated throughout basketball in the last several decades. His flushes came down like Thor’s Hammer. Or go all out with calamari, Asparagus Béarnaise, and Steak a la Lobster. Once upon a time, it was banned in games (in college, at least). How low did he bring the ball? But to me, Dr. J's most defining dunk was the one-handed tomahawk. However, when he got the opportunity (especially in his prime), he'd explode baseline in the blink of an eye. It’s the slam they go to on an open fast break or an undefended flush in the lane.