The Art of the Windmill Dunk

[ripthekik]

I don't know why there isn't more windmill dunks being done in games. To me it is one of the most graceful in-game dunks ever, a perfect combination of finesse, power, and timing. It is dunking in poetry.

Some people manage to ruin it, as their arms do a half circle, or don't extend fully. But if done perfectly, it is simply a thing of beauty.

Watch this, this isn't basketball. It's art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbbYtaolm2A

He pulls it off perfectly almost every time. If I was him, I'd windmill the hell out of everything and make it my personal signature dunk.

[Faptastrophe]

Expected this thread to be about Vince Carter. Wasn't disappointed.

These were pretty good from last season. Still not even close to Vinsanity!


http://i.minus.com/iXFScnzNhYnOL.gif

http://i.minus.com/ib06HylOmvItin.gif

[rknine15]

Vince Carter is the goat dunker, goat windmiller too

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

The most graceful dunk? Look no further than James Worthy.
It was just smooth...clean.

[Faptastrophe]

Vince Carter is the goat in-game dunker, goat windmiller too
fixed :cheers:

[ripthekik]

Gerald Green's was one of the top dunks of last season too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOzo4pHTZ-M
See, if you pull it off well, it's going to into the top rankings.

Westbrook does it VERY well here too, full extension of the arms in circular motion:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypGDOkW5l0s

[Kobr]

Why doesn't Blake Griffin ever try a windmill instead of his usual power dunk?

[ProfessorMurder]

Gerald Green's was one of the top dunks of last season too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOzo4pHTZ-M
See, if you pull it off well, it's going to into the top rankings.

Green's dunk is just stupid. He got so f*cking high... The only downside of it being a windmill is that he didn't extend fully.

[IGotACoolStory]

The most graceful dunk? Look no further than James Worthy.
It was just smooth...clean.

Worthy was the epitome of gliding. He looked like he was gently floating in the air every time he dunked.

VC got the sexiest windmill, though.

[QuebecBaller]

Gerald Green

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOzo4pHTZ-M

[Heavincent]

Vince Carter is also one of the few players that can do a FULL 360 dunk. A lot of players start their gather facing kinda sideways. But VC takes off facing forward and then lands facing forward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShcDhZ75zro

See what I mean? And he just makes the 360 look so effortless and graceful.

[pauk]

Vince Carter is the goat dunker, goat windmiller too

Nah, Dominique Wilkins was the windmill GOAT... dude innovated that dunk aswell, they should retire that text "windmill" next to his jersey :D

[StroShow4]

http://youtu.be/AFMICxHW5CM

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

Nah, Dominique Wilkins was the windmill GOAT... dude innovated that dunk aswell, they should retire that text "windmill" next to his jersey :D
it pains me to agree 100% with pauk

[IGotACoolStory]

What I like about Vince's 360s is that they are different a lot of the time.

Most of the dunkers get comfortable dunking the same way, but Vince will go 1 handed, 2 hands, a pump in the middle, he'll add more flair to one, etc..

Makes it look too easy,

[It's A VC3!!!]

Gerald Green

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOzo4pHTZ-M
The best part of the video is the Houston rockets Bench. One player jumps out of his seat and the other ones all go crazy.

Vince is the only person not to **** his elbow back when doing a windmill. He performs a full circular motion. He even said that his goal was to do every windmill the same and not EVER **** his elbow and bend it because that's a easy cheap windmill. GOAT dunker and he will be one of the few players in NBA history talked about and having his videos watched centuries from now.

[Smoke117]

I don't care for Dominique Wilkins or Vince Carter but DW's Windmills KILL VC's. That was as a ridiculous remark that someone made that VC's windmills were the best.

[WindmiLL]

Watch this, this isn't basketball. It's art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbbYtaolm2A




It isn't art.

It's Vince Carter.

[rknine15]

I don't care for Dominique Wilkins or Vince Carter but DW's Windmills KILL VC's. That was as a ridiculous remark that someone made that VC's windmills were the best.
Your making it seem like it's not even close... please stfu

[Smoke117]

Your making it seem like it's not even close... please stfu

It's not. Vince Carter's power doesn't come close to Wilkins.

[NBA4EVER]

Why doesn't Blake Griffin ever try a windmill instead of his usual power dunk?

he has.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd_Onje1qNs
http://www.webeengone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Blake-Griffin-Windmill-Dunk-vs-Bucks.jpg

[Clove21]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE216Fg1uVk&feature=related

I don't agree with the full list, but there are some nice dunks from some you may not expect.

And the top 3 are pretty good.

[Boomerang]

http://i.minus.com/ib06HylOmvItin.gif
:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:
GOAT WINDMILL DUNKER

[mshahidz]

The SDC windmill + #5 on that list are perfect...J.Rich's dunks are godamn nasty looking, too much going on with this feet or something, don't know why they look so unpolished to me.
VC is def GOAT dunker IMO

[Rake2204]

It's not. Vince Carter's power doesn't come close to Wilkins.
I do not agree that Carter's windmill power was not close to Dominique's. To be truthful, I think the big difference between Vince Carter's windmills and Dominique's is not so much the power upon which each dunker attempted to execute their dunks, rather, it's the cleanliness. Wilkins' style included grabbing and pulling the rim as he was dunking the ball, perhaps giving off the impression his dunks were stronger than they were (which isn't to say his dunks were otherwise soft).

Carter on the other hand, preferred to perform strong windmills with clean finishes (i.e. no rim grab). As such, the windmill rotation power is still apparent, but the dirty follow through of rim pulling and grabbing was not present.

To be truthful, I have a hard time being able to tell which dunker is finishing with more ferocity:

Nique': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cDTPmwrHqA

Carter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ZMiCJVYz0

However, since dunking is more art form than anything else, everything is virtually open to interpretation. With that in mind, I've always preferred Carter's windmills to any other player's in NBA history. As I mentioned above, I do believe he windmills with great power (even if precise science did end up favoring Wilkins in this regard). In conjunction with that power, I've found Carter's style to be the cleanest, most graceful, and most aesthetically appealing. I love Wilkins as a dunker too, and his windmills are also excellent, but I do not like them as much as Carter's.


The best part of the video is the Houston rockets Bench. One player jumps out of his seat and the other ones all go crazy.This will be the second time I post the link in this thread, but I always loved the Clippers' bench reaction on this one too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ZMiCJVYz0

[DStebb716]

Anybody that thinks there is a better dunker than Vince Carter is a fool. Generally, these types of things are opinion. But there's no right answer that doesn't rhyme with Wince Farter. The dude is a monster.. He had EVERYTHING. Power dunks, clean dunks, flashy dunks. Anything you could ask for, he had it. Nobody tops him. The end.

[DKLaker]

Windmill Dunk was first used by Dr.J in the 70's Still the best IMO :bowdown:

[FatComputerNerd]

Sprewell, while known more for his 2-handed dunks, had some pretty nice windmill dunks too, and was a hell of a dunker overall. He attacked the rim with a ferocity not seen from very many other players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5QsRENi4Mk

-first part is general play, the dunks start at around 1:20 if you want to skip ahead

[Sarcastic]

he has.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd_Onje1qNs



Weak

[FatComputerNerd]

Technically, the best dunker ever was: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngK4WFkKAgE

[EoJ]

veence cartar pls

fak u dolan

[alwaysunny]

Show J-Rich some love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hUsNaO2868

[andgar923]

Not sure if he's the greatest windmiller of all time, but this is certainly the greatest windmill dunk of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRnHkEaxFyY

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lvCOtPWy_o4/TV54l9b8iAI/AAAAAAAAAnY/3y3eTkayj4E/s1600/Michael+Jordan+kiss+rim+JAM.jpg

:biggums:


And this pic *not sure where it's from* is ridiculous.

http://i27.tinypic.com/28urd08.jpg

[livingby3's]

yes after VC, it's Jrich. their creativity is atop the rest. Griffin don't come close to those 2.

[eliteballer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFMICxHW5CM

[Cali Syndicate]

Nah, Dominique Wilkins was the windmill GOAT... dude innovated that dunk aswell, they should retire that text "windmill" next to his jersey :D

His windmill was dope. His two handed windmill sick. Yes.

[Cali Syndicate]

Show J-Rich some love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hUsNaO2868

That retro slam dunk contest where he had to replicate Nique's windmill was spot on.

[SourPatchKids]

Show J-Rich some love


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYz-_AsTASY

[ripthekik]

After watching these videos, I think one important part that is overlooked is the precise moment that you dunk the ball in. If you are already on the way down and you dunk it while your arm is straight up, it doesn't look at good because it seems like you haven't done the whole motion. It's more like a semi-circle because you have to throw it down once you bring your arms above your head.

However, if you can get up really high, you can do a really full circular if you dunk it basically while the rim is head-level. You get to complete it by swinging your arms down in front of you. I think that is why VC's look so impressive.

[Rake2204]

A specific Vince Carter windmill I wanted to point out. I always liked this one because it almost seemed as if he finishes while still on his way upward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbbYtaolm2A#t=0m45s


Not sure if he's the greatest windmiller of all time, but this is certainly the greatest windmill dunk of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRnHkEaxFyY
I respectfully disagree. What I personally look for in my windmills is extension and rotation. Jordan is lacking on both in this instance. With that said, it's a great dunk, I'm just not sure if "windmill" should be the umbrella it falls under through and through. His takeoff and the manner with which he leans sideways seems to make it a hybrid tomahawk. I mean, windmill elements are there, but those elements don't seem to be the appeal of that dunk.

On the flip side, Vince Carter also produced a hybrid during the 2000 dunk contests, but it seems clear the full windmill extension and rotation were still primary features to the dunk itself (i.e. no breaking at the elbow, no sideways lean and arm twirl in the upper torso): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QtljAdtwgQ

[ripthekik]

A specific Vince Carter windmill I wanted to point out. I always liked this one because it almost seemed as if he finishes while still on his way upward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbbYtaolm2A#t=0m45s
Exactly what I mean, by getting up higher, you have the chance to swing your arms in front of you and complete and full circular :bowdown: :bowdown:

[It's A VC3!!!]

So the general consensus in this thread is that Vince is the beat dunker to ever live and it will remain like that forever. It's sad that during VC's time we would see a 360 and windmill once a week. Now I think we had only four windmills combined last year in the NBA.

Can't forget that we will never see another " dunk over 7 footer" replicated in our lifetime.

[swi7ch]

all you need to know aboutwindmills is vince carter

[Rake2204]

So the general consensus in this thread is that Vince is the beat dunker to ever live and it will remain like that forever. It's sad that during VC's time we would see a 360 and windmill once a week. Now I think we had only four windmills combined last year in the NBA.

Can't forget that we will never see another " dunk over 7 footer" replicated in our lifetime.I don't think Vince Carter will be the best dunker forever. There's always someone else. The rarity with which these true dunking revolutionaries come about is what makes them so special in the first place.

Vince Carter was as great a dunker as he was in large part due to the dunkers who came before him. Carter was then able to take what others had pioneered before and add his own twists (not to mention his own refinement). Similarly, I believe someone at some point will come into the NBA who will have had the benefit of feeding off not only the Ervings, Jordans, and Wilkins, but also the Carters and Griffins.

Essentially, I think the best of the best tend to utilize the sort of dunking styles that come before them while also adding on a little bit of their own style. In Carter's case, he absorbed and refined the windmills and 360s of years past while adding on the clockwise 360 windmill, the alley oop windmill, and the elbow dunk. As such, I think future generations are going to feature more and more players who will be able to execute all of those dunks, just perhaps not at the same level as Carter (similar to how plenty of players began windmilling in the 90's and dunking from the free throw line, just not at the level of the Jordans and Wilkins). In my opinion, the next greatest dunker of all time will be the guy who will be able to equal the grace of such finishes while also adding to the next level of dunking. This will be no small task, but I do believe it's inevitable.

[swi7ch]

Sprewell, while known more for his 2-handed dunks, had some pretty nice windmill dunks too, and was a hell of a dunker overall. He attacked the rim with a ferocity not seen from very many other players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5QsRENi4Mk


Bolded part I agree very much. Today's dunker's are all about g4yness and finesse but Spree wanted to kill that rim! Only guy I ever saw attack the rim like that was Rasheed in his POR days.

[FatComputerNerd]

Bolded part I agree very much. Today's dunker's are all about g4yness and finesse but Spree wanted to kill that rim! Only guy I ever saw attack the rim like that was Rasheed in his POR days.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/images/reputation/reputation_pos.gif "You have given out too much Reputation in the last 24 hours, try again later".

I'll try to remember to hit you later! :cheers:

[hon]

http://www.faniq.com/images/blog/b0c30dd0b96a49c0453551a5d06ca380.jpg


Gotta have extension...

[miller-time]

i want to see more rock the cradle dunks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sot3HPZ9GtY

[Rake2204]

i want to see more rock the cradle dunks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sot3HPZ9GtYMe too. The last proper cradle I've seen in the NBA came from JaVale McGee in summer league: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To70JhspeG8

Before that, was the last Desmond Mason in the '03 contest? I cannot recall any between those two. It's too bad, because it's one of my favorite types of dunks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ49ac5Gc84#t=0m17s

Jerome Williams had a nice one in VC's charity game in 2000 too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skoUXBvW5mg#t=0m45s

[miller-time]

Me too. The last proper cradle I've seen in the NBA came from JaVale McGee in summer league: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To70JhspeG8

Before that, was the last Desmond Mason in the '03 contest? I cannot recall any between those two. It's too bad, because it's one of my favorite types of dunks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ49ac5Gc84#t=0m17s

Jerome Williams had a nice one in VC's charity game in 2000 too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skoUXBvW5mg#t=0m45s

those are some nice dunks. esp the mcgee one, never seen that before.