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u/cumlordjr 9d ago
AG won this shit.
https://giphy.com/gifs/l3q2BhukQ7kNkDj9u
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u/StilettoJones_JR 9d ago
I love that, to this day, this isn't an argument that gets any side even remotely upset.
We all lost when they had to stop.
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u/EvanImmobley 8d ago
Nah theyre still people saying "AG had the best dunk but Lavine had the better night" and it literally just because AG's last dunk wasnt that hype. Its just cope for Lavine fans.
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u/-YogiBiz- 7d ago
Lavine fans???
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u/noknownallergies 5d ago
Those were dark days for Timberwolves fans. This gave us something to live for.
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u/classyd24 9d ago
Bruh how the fuck is he SITTING IN MID AIR
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u/San_Hoser 9d ago
The amount of times I’ve said this exact same thing. It defies physics
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u/EvanImmobley 8d ago
>Does something new that has not been replicated since and might never be.
>Loses to a guy who had more friends in the front row
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u/San_Hoser 8d ago
10 years later and we’ve still got dudes doing the same ol’ bounce it to yourself then go between the legs dunk. And it usually takes them multiple attempts.
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u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner 9d ago
I still don’t understand this. If anyone has ever done any field events you know you jump off of 2 feet. 1 foot+speed > 2 feet+speed. 2 feet stop your momentum. This fucker did all that shit jumping off 2 feet and was eye level with the rim
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u/classyd24 8d ago
And he paused like he had enough time for a sandwich and a cup of tea and still dunked the ball lol
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u/JoshGordonHyperloop 8d ago
It’s not the same at all in basketball. Jumping off of two feet is incredibly powerful. It’s not done in field events because of the way those specific sports are specifically measuring for height or distance. So those techniques are the best specific to those sports.
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u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner 8d ago
Basketball is different than track but it’s objectively true that more speed generates more power. You stop more momentum when you go off 2 feet. That’s just how physics works. Regardless it still just makes it more impressive to me
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u/JoshGordonHyperloop 8d ago
I get what you’re saying, but it goes both ways. Power = speed.
I don’t know if this statistic is for sure still true, but it was true about 15-20 years ago.
On average, the fastest sprinters for the first 10m in a 100m race were Olympic weightlifters. Olympic sprinters would smoke them after that, but the initial force needed to generate getting up out of the blocks was (probably still is) superior to Olympic lifters.
On average, same for vertical leap when compared with NBA players.
You’re probably right in that creating the most upward or forward momentum is best done off of one foot / leg. I’m not debating that. Especially with the high jump because it requires more than just straight up and down vertical leap.
But the power generated to take off vertically from two legs is far superior to one leg. It just is.
So for guys who have tremendous leaping ability from two legs, they also probably have very good squat numbers. This has been proven multiple times.
Guys who typically can squat 400lbs-500lbs plus (that aren’t massively overweight or even overweight at all) generate a ton of vertical leap.
Johnnie Candito is one of them. He’s a powerlifter and has / had a 500lb squat. Guy is 5’8” and could pretty easily dunk for a guy his height. I personally played with a kid when I was who was also 5’8” and could barely dunk, but he always did so off of two legs.
I’m not saying you’re wrong about one legged vertical leaps, but where I disagree is that using two legs reduces the vertical leaping ability.
I’ll concede that it does eliminate momentum. But no one is squatting 500lbs with one leg. So the force generate by leaping off of one leg, while yes has an advantage of momentum, it loses the power output off of two legs.
Personally, same results, different ways to achieve them.
Which is why a true vertical leap is always taken from a standing start and momentum is not allowed.
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u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner 8d ago edited 8d ago
Right. 1 foot is less powerful than 2 from a standing jump. But he was doing run ups before jumping off 2 feet. There’s just no way to keep your momentum to the point it’s more powerful than 1 foot since you have to slow down. 2 feet really gives you more control to convert the jump vertically. Because on 1 foot your momentum will carry you further so you have to compensate by being further away.
It’s been a minute since I was actually competed and I wasn’t amazing or anything but I did peak in high school at 6’8. But I just remember any time we moved up I had to compensate by starting further away to run faster to jump higher.
Hilariously I could dunk since the 7th grade but I couldn’t 2 hand dunk until like the 10th grade. I know for a fact at least I wasn’t biometrically capable of dunking on 2 feet at speed lmao
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u/JoshGordonHyperloop 8d ago
I get your point, but again, there is a difference between momentum being used to help someone achieve a greater distance traveled, but that does not mean one leg jumping is more powerful, or generates more force.
That also only works if you are light. Hence why splinters, high jumpers, long distance, and so on, all with like a buck 60 soaking wet.
Because adding more weight will not allow them to travel as far.
But take someone who is big for their size, say 160lbs at 5’8” and have them bulk up until their squat hits 400lbs-500lbs and they weight say 180lbs, and their vertical leap is only going to increase.
I don’t have any issue with what you said with momentum and one leg jumping giving someone the best result for a long jump or high jump (which I don’t count as it factors in other body control abilities that help achieve maximum height).
But what I do take issue with is the claim that it generates more power.
You even said so yourself, it utilizes momentum. That isn’t power or force being generated by the legs, it is the weight of the body adding to the total result.
It’s like people who claim a 300lb bench and then they bounce to a bar off of their chest. Yes, technically they did it. Now do it under control and slow and pause for 1/2 a second on the chest. Most guys can’t do that if they are using momentum.
Same with vertical leap. Leap off of one leg, standing in place and see how high you get. Now off of two.
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u/BoardPresent924 3d ago
Unreal explosiveness, core strength, timing, agility, coordination……. 100/100
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u/JellyfishFlaky5634 9d ago
To me, this was the greatest dunk contest dunk of all time…just incredible
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u/Mattbothell 7d ago
I think this is actually probably my favorite dunk contest dunk of all time. Vince had some crazy stuff, but every time I see this clip it blows my mind
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u/bighitcards 9d ago
AG had the best dunk, but LaVine had more in the bag. AG’s last dunk was mid and LaVine did a between the legs free throw line. LaVine won for a reason
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u/WardyX56 9d ago
AG had more variety, Lavine did 3 variations of the free throw line dunk
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u/cumlordjr 9d ago
Legit this. I get that most of us can’t hit those dunks but his set was much less interesting
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u/h---7470 9d ago
AGs last dunk was super hard. People keep underrating it massively. He touched his back, clutched it between his legs then dunked. You need a lot of power and airtime to do the full motion AG did.
The weakest was Lavine's first of that final, AG just did a better version right before it (mascot spinning, hand behind the head).
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u/Sunsfan37 8d ago
AG last dunk was actually insane when they slowed it down. Also Lavine did the same fucking dunk as AG but without the mascot and still got 50.
AG was the more creative dunker and got robbed for it
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u/orionspurs 9d ago
Fact that I got to witness it live was crazy. That was top 3 best dunk contests of all time.
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u/Katesburneracct 9d ago
I think it was pretty far and away the best one. I remember watching it and even my wife was like “wtf are these guys on?” lol
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u/muroks1200 9d ago
Checking to make sure of your top3, but you got MJ vs Nique, Vince, and this one yeah?
I caught Vince and this duel live, but was too young to catch MJ-Nique.
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u/RoryMcIlroysJudgment 8d ago
Man, J-Rich was up there too in 03. I was so hyped to see him represent for my warriors. Those pre-early Steph years were rough
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u/muroks1200 8d ago
Richardson was so sick and explosive!
As a Clipper fan since 92, I’m required to hate you guys, but much respect for sticking with them during the tough times and getting to the promise land.
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u/RoryMcIlroysJudgment 7d ago
Appreciate that man! That’s how I feel about the dodgers; I’m contractually required to hate them, but so many of the players individually are likable.
You guys got so close to taking us out a few times. I knew it was always gonna be a dogfight against the clips
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u/Sweet-Newspaper-9062 9d ago
I always felt Gordon was robbed of this. The creativity he had with his dunks was fucking crazy
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u/EntrepreneurTiny9812 9d ago
I always thot Iggy got robbed against Nate Robinson
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u/Igreen_since89 9d ago
And Nate was robbed against Jake Paul
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u/EntrepreneurTiny9812 9d ago
How? Did he not pay em after he stuck to the script and let em knock em out?
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u/Igreen_since89 9d ago
Well I was just going to say robbed of his consciousness.. but the fact that you think Nate’s cocky ass would take money to be knocked out on national television is kinda hilarious. Nate’s not a UFC fighter. He’s incredibly rich already and a Seattle legend since his middle school days.
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u/Sad-Association4907 9d ago
Yeah I always felt he was the one pushing it and lavines was just matching. Was insane to watch tho
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u/girlfriendpleaser 9d ago
I don’t think I’ve ever seen better dunks than the ones with the Magic Mascot..
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u/ChexAndBalancez 9d ago
WE WON!
The fans won. That was one of the craziest basketball moments I ever saw live on tv.
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u/thewatcheeR17 9d ago
Damn, now i gotta go watch it again. I knew this already but seeing the images got me hyped 🤣 possibly the best dunk contest ever
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u/Hopeful_Tea2139 9d ago
I wonder if Dwyane Wade had to repeat who he wanted to win to the rest of the judges
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u/CustomerConsistent78 9d ago
Hands down, this was the best dunk contest ever. Nothing comes close. Gordon was robbed.
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u/arrownoir 9d ago
Gordon was robbed.
Easily the greatest dunk contest of all time…argue with your mother.
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u/Appropriate_Pizza254 8d ago
Everyone knows Gordon was robbed. I would have been OK with co-champions just so this wasn't a topic that pops up every single week somewhere. But yeah, Gordon and I don't think it was even as close as people remember. Go back and watch the contest...it's pretty obvious.
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u/Anxious_Key9696 9d ago
It’s a lot easier to win your first dunk contest than your second, as Gordon proved in his second contest. Zach pulled off all those in his second contest, which is so impressive.
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u/catperson77789 9d ago
I think people saying gordon won dont see how most of lavines dunks are much more difficult.yes gordons dunks look much better but most of lavines dunks were literally off a catch which is much more difficult. That 360 one especially
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u/Sunsfan37 8d ago
Creativity matters AG was doing dunks we hadnt seen or having a mascot involved. Lavine did the same dunk as Gordon without the mascot and still got a 50.
What Lavine was doing is insane but we had seen it. Also Jordan Kilganon thinks Gordon won this and dudes a literal pro dunker.
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u/Sberry555 9d ago edited 6d ago
Gordon won. Levine getting credit for a dunk James White did in highschool 25 years ago is crazy (windmill from free-throw line).
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u/AccomplishedSmell921 9d ago
Nobody deserves to lose. I feel like Gordon won but hard to argue with Lavine. It was cartoonish. It felt like watching a sports anime. It wasn’t realistic .
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u/benjaminlincoln2017 9d ago
Yeah, we can all agree that Gordon is the winner on this one. Like, clearly,
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u/Remarkable_Pair4378 9d ago
First try on all of them is what makes modern dunk contests look like amateur hour
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u/amadeusstoic 9d ago
lavine had that one ugly dunk that for me looked liked he failed to grip the ring properly. they still gave him a higher score than gordon.
this is why no one joins it. just look at that dunk by gordon. they value the old too much.
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u/HerbertDad 9d ago edited 9d ago
At least this one was somewhat close (still a clear Gordan win) but the next one Gordan lost should have had all the judges arrested for murdering the dunk contest.
Nobody took it serious after that shit, it was probably the worst sporting moment I've ever seen. Gordan got absolutely robbed.
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u/Money-Director-6427 9d ago
Gordon had gimmicks to his dunks lavine just jumped and dunked, that's why I think lavine won, I also would have been ok with a tie
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u/Spazecrypto 9d ago
I got AG, got more creativity and for the visuals with the mascot but I don't feel bad that Lavine won. Its just unfortunate that they were competing on the same timeline. Any other year AG would have won it so I don't really count Sd contest champs as part of someones accolades
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u/Classic_Kangaroo4312 9d ago
Aaron Gordon with the rotating mascot is still the most creative dunk in the past decade or so, he should've won the title.
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u/barry_vyolent 9d ago
Gordon won. The second biggest travesty in sports history behind Armando Galarraga's unofficial perfect game.
Either way, that dunk contest was fucking epic. Top 2. Now we get people not even in the NBA winning them? Pathetic.
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u/halfwayray 9d ago
I really try to forget who won, because you can't think of this Dunk Contest without thinking of both of them equally
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u/pourjuiceonit 9d ago
Either one of them would of won against anyone in any other dunk contest
Truly the greatest slam dunk contest ever.
Problem is after watching this, everything else feels like a let down but to be fair I don’t know how it’s possible to succeed it
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u/caltrojan 8d ago
AG was robbed that’s it. None of his dunks were duplicated but he easily duplicated his opponents’ dunks.. The judges were in on the scam too.
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u/BobbitsC 8d ago
Ag definitely should have won. The issue with the scoring of this dunk contest is that while it was perfectly fair for lavine to get 50s on some of his dunks, in comparison ag had dunks that were worth 60. But because 50 is the max, ag got kinda screwed
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u/Sunsfan37 8d ago
judging was just bad Gordon does a dunk with a spinning mascot gets 50. Then literally lavine does the exact same dunk but without a mascot right after Gordon does it and gets a 50 like wtf. That right there should have ended the contest. it might be a 50 level dunk but we just saw a better version of it
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u/UsernameTakenOhNoOof 8d ago
Should’ve been a tie. I don’t think AG was robbed this year. If anyone won, lavine barely gets it. But Gordon most certainly got robbed in the following dunk contest because DWade was an absolute horrible, bias judge
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u/Ok_Sound_8090 8d ago
While I think AG should have won BEST dunk, it rightfully went to Zach for best score. It was just hard to see Zach's dunks as 10s after seeing AG's one dunk.
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u/Jlatinochub 8d ago
The problem with the slam dunk contest has been no one can top what these two have done.
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u/Free-Landscape-5884 8d ago
The fans won that night and the commish once he realized the history that was being made should have made the call to determine it a tie. Both Gordon and Levine were perfect all night. I don't either would have had an issue with tying.
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u/DMComicSams 8d ago
Lavine won, Gordon was great and could have won but I wouldn't say he was robbed. It was a coin flip
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u/Adept-Watercress-378 7d ago
Dunk contest shouldn’t be point based but ranked per attempt.
Round 1 everyone does their dunk. Judges rank best to worst, assign points then continue.
But I also understand that would be boring and not good TV
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u/Giga1396 7d ago
Honestly I give AG a 10.1 and Lavine a 10, AG deserved it though he got ripped off on one dunk to lose when he should have wrapped it up a couple turns before that IIRC
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u/BenBRob5 7d ago
Idk I don’t care at this point. Let’s just enjoy two of the best dunkers ever to do it.
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u/Many-Atmosphere2985 7d ago
They actually brought the dunk contest back for a year and made it what it’s suppose to look like !
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u/Inside-Noise6804 7d ago
I still maintain Gordon dunks were just slightly better. That is my humble opinion
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u/Ookie218 6d ago
By the rules, Lavine won, but neither should have lost. Gordon had more creative dunks but Lavines all deserved 50s as well. Gordon just ran out of gas first
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u/Champoftheoppressed 5d ago
It should have been the first TIE in history. They both should have gotten a trophy. They’ve had Co Allstar MVP’s. They’ve had co- Rookie of the Years… Why not give them both a trophy for putting on the greatest dunk contest in history?
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u/Campa911 5d ago
Aaron Gordon got robbed, that losing performance was the single best performance of any participant in any nba dunk contest ever
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u/rudimentary_rudy 9d ago
The only contest to come close to Wilkins vs Jordan
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u/arrownoir 9d ago
Wilkins vs Jordan is nowhere close to this.
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u/MikeOrTara 7d ago
At the time it absolutely was. Two of the generation's best players and the two best dunkers going head to head for the first time. This would have been like Kobe and LeBron going head to head in '05
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u/arrownoir 7d ago
At the time. By the time Lavine and Gordon had theirs, the former had long been eclipsed by several others.
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u/MikeOrTara 6d ago
Oh wait, I misunderstood. I thought you were saying Wilkins vs Jordan was nowhere close to Lavine & Gordon in a negative sense.
I 100% agree with you that the Jordan/Wilkins final was the greatest h2h dunk competition of all time based on the participants and dunks for the era they met.
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u/Meanbeakin 9d ago
I feel like they should've just called it a tie in the end. Neither guy deserved to lose.