Greatest Dunker of All-Time (power forwards)

[G.O.A.T]

1. Shawn Kemp
2. Blake Griffin
3. Amare Stoudemire
4. Charles Barkley
5. Gus Johnson
6. Larry Nance
7. Larry Kenon
8. Kevin Garnett
9. Otis Thorpe
10. Karl Malone

I know I'm missing some guys...who?

[fpliii]

Pretty cool thread idea. Are you gonna do one for every position?

[stax]

Larry Johnson
Clarence Weatherspoon
Josh Smith

[SamuraiSWISH]

Kemp, easily is number 1.

[G.O.A.T]

Pretty cool thread idea. Are you gonna do one for every position?

maybe. I have a list for each position and each decade, I mostly feel like I am missing guys at this position. If you feel like it, pm your top 5 or so at each position. In fact I am going to PM you tonight about another matter.


@stax, nice call on all three. Especially Spoonman. He feel off quick though.

[G.O.A.T]

Laphonso Ellis was nice too if we're throwing out names like Clarence Weatherspoon.

But how could OP forget this guy, who was on Kemp's level before injuries like Amare, so he needs to be top five:

http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/antonio-mcdyess-dunk.jpg

awesome post, will rep when not on mobile. That was a guy I was thinking about but forgot. dice was nice, and he was a great Piston long after the injuries.

What do you think Sam? Should he be #3? #4?, #5?

[Fudge]

No Kenyon Martin?

[G.O.A.T]

^young K-Mart is a good call too. I made him my modern Charles Barkley on NBA Live 03 franchise mode. Averaged 30 and 15 for me one year.

[jayfan]

Not a great player overall, but Orlando Woolridge threw it down fierce back in the day.



.

[SamuraiSWISH]

No Kenyon Martin?
How could I forget prime K-Mart? Damn.


awesome post, will rep when not on mobile. That was a guy I was thinking about but forgot. dice was nice, and he was a great Piston long after the injuries.

What do you think Sam? Should he be #3? #4?, #5?
Thanks, bro. Good thread. I don't know I think he should be like #5.

[G.O.A.T]

Not a great player, but Orlando Woolridge threw it down fierce back in the day.

Was gonna include him, but he played more as a SF so I added him to that list.

[fpliii]

maybe. I have a list for each position and each decade, I mostly feel like I am missing guys at this position. If you feel like it, pm your top 5 or so at each position. In fact I am going to PM you tonight about another matter.


@stax, nice call on all three. Especially Spoonman. He feel off quick though.
Sent a PM, nothing formal, just names that came to mind first.

BTW for PFs, what about Chambers?

[SamuraiSWISH]

BTW for PFs, what about Chambers?
He also played small forward a lot if I remember correctly, but McDyess, K-Mart, Woolridge, and Chambers would be nice adds to this list.

[stax]

Dice :bowdown: Apparently he had a 47" max vertical (42" standing).

[G.O.A.T]

Sent a PM, nothing formal, just names that came to mind first.

BTW for PFs, what about Chambers?

Chambers for sure my whole list is changing

[SamuraiSWISH]

Was Keyone Clarke a PF or C?

[G.O.A.T]

Played both but mostly center which aside from being drunk is how I remember Keon.

[Smoke117]

Sheed used to throw down some epic dunks. He has some of my favorite alley oops ever. A lot of people forget how athletic he was because he was already 29 when he was on the Pistons and the Blazers window of relevancy wasn't very big so not too many people saw him play regularly in his really athletic days. I had NBA Pass way back during the 2001, 2002, 2003 seasons and he was throwing down monster dunks in those days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrdxuXlNogM That alley oop at the end vs clippers is my favorite of all time by any player, period. I remember watching that game too and I was like god daaaamn.

[Fudge]

Holy shit, another one just came to mind. Stromile Swift needs to be in the Top 5.

[stax]

Chris Webber had some nice ones...

[Rake2204]

Dice :bowdown: Apparently he had a 47" max vertical (42" standing).Love Dice, but I could never ever see how he could have had a 47'' vertical, even primed out in Denver. He was springy but he wasn't almost 50'' max vert springy.

Assuming McDyess had around a 9 foot standing reach (8'10'' - 9'0''+ being standard for a barefooted 6'8'' feller), a 47'' max vert would have had him just about touching the top of the entire backboard, James White style. It goes without saying, but I don't think McDyess was on White's freakish level.

Either way, here's what a young rookie McDyess looked like in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZrBSBesJA0

[moe94]

SWISH is right about Dyess. Dude was as athletic as anyone and his dunks were fercious.

Also, don't sleep on Stromile Swift. Arguably has the GOAT dunk by any power forward.

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/1186973/stromile-swift-o.gif

[KobesFinger]

Amar'e is my favourite. Catching a bounce pass from Steve Nash then throwing that shit down

[stax]

Love Dice, but I could never ever see how he could have had a 47'' vertical, even primed out in Denver. He was springy but he wasn't almost 50'' max vert springy.

Assuming McDyess had around a 9 foot standing reach (8'10'' - 9'0''+ being standard for a barefooted 6'8'' feller), a 47'' max vert would have had him just about touching the top of the entire backboard, James White style. It goes without saying, but I don't think McDyess was on White's freakish level.

Either way, here's what a young rookie McDyess looked like in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZrBSBesJA0

Yeah to be honest I've always been sceptical. I first read about it in a magazine in 1995 or 96, so that would've been his rookie year. Interestingly he's claimed a 47 inch vert himself, I found this earlier:

[Rake2204]

[QUOTE=stax]Yeah to be honest I've always been sceptical. I first read about it in a magazine in 1995 or 96, so that would've been his rookie year. Interestingly he's claimed a 47 inch vert himself, I found this earlier:

[SHAQisGOAT]

Tom Chambers needs to be there, and not at the very bottom either.

I'd have Nance higher.

Do you consider Bobby Jones a PF? If so, I'd probably have him there.

[L.Kizzle]

Connie Hawkins
Jonathan Bender
Tom Chambers

[miles berg]

Shawn Kemp
Antonio McDyess
Tom Chambers
Blake Griffin
Stromile Swift

[miles berg]

Amare was a C to me. Otherwise he would be up there too.

[Stringer Bell]

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/000/502/657/kempdunksonrodman1_display_image.jpg?1289750466

http://dancingwithnoah.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/shawn-kemp-lister-blister.png

http://wannadunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/shawn-kemp-dunk.jpg

[Stringer Bell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16ANmzppLOI

[L.Kizzle]

Jumpin Johnny Green
Spencer Haywood
George McGinnis
Ralph Sampson
Xavier McDaniel
Derrick Coleman (dunking over Shaq warns you a spot)
Larry Johnson
Clarence Weatherspoon

[G.O.A.T]

UPDATED TOP TEN
1. Shawn Kemp
2. Blake Griffin
3. Antonio McDyess
4. Amar`e Stoudemire
5. Charles Barkley
6. Gus Johnson
7. Tom Chambers
8. Kenyon Martin
9. Larry Nance
10. Stromile Swift

HM: Larry Kenon, Kevin Garnett, Otis Thorpe, Karl Malone, Larry Johnson, Connie Hawkins, Josh Smith, Larry Johnson, David Lee, Derrick Coleman

Thoughts before I finalize this and move on to the next position...?

[Rake2204]

UPDATED TOP TEN
1. Shawn Kemp
2. Blake Griffin
3. Antonio McDyess
4. Amar`e Stoudemire
5. Charles Barkley
6. Gus Johnson
7. Tom Chambers
8. Kenyon Martin
9. Larry Nance
10. Stromile Swift

HM: Larry Kenon, Kevin Garnett, Otis Thorpe, Karl Malone, Larry Johnson, Connie Hawkins, Josh Smith, Larry Johnson, David Lee, Derrick Coleman

Thoughts before I finalize this and move on to the next position...?Just for the sake of curiosity, do you have any clips of Larry Kenon? I am quite unfamiliar with his dunking style and ability.

Regarding the actual top ten, I am wondering if Charles Barkley should be placed above Antonio McDyess. Barkley seemed to be just as powerful and perhaps a more versatile dunker, though I do not believe he could reach as high as McDyess (due to a lower vert than Antonio). I also feel Barkley likely has a much deeper NBA dunking resume.

I am also an all-time fan of Kenyon Martin as a dunker, but I am unsure of whom I would move him above. And while Swift is an all-timer, I wonder if he played long enough to truly jump up the list. For the time he was around, he was certainly one of the most creative and athletic (though sometimes I view him as a center).

I suppose Gus Johnson would be the other question mark. I've seen the clips of his that exist but they do not jump out at me, per se. And I think that's the difficult thing about ranking dunkers. He came from an era that basically had very little dunk history and those who came after him built off what he was able to do, but most of his finishes seem to pale in comparison to others mentioned.

[L.Kizzle]

Just for the sake of curiosity, do you have any clips of Larry Kenon? I am quite unfamiliar with his dunking style and ability.

Regarding the actual top ten, I am wondering if Charles Barkley should be placed above Antonio McDyess. Barkley seemed to be just as powerful and perhaps a more versatile dunker, though I do not believe he could reach as high as McDyess (due to a lower vert than Antonio). I also feel Barkley likely has a much deeper NBA dunking resume.

I am also an all-time fan of Kenyon Martin as a dunker, but I am unsure of whom I would move him above. And while Swift is an all-timer, I wonder if he played long enough to truly jump up the list. For the time he was around, he was certainly one of the most creative and athletic (though sometimes I view him as a center).

I suppose Gus Johnson would be the other question mark. I've seen the clips of his that exist but they do not jump out at me, per se. And I think that's the difficult thing about ranking dunkers. He came from an era that basically had very little dunk history and those who came after him built off what he was able to do, but most of his finishes seem to pale in comparison to others mentioned.
Gus Johnson broke 3 backboards in the 60s. Think of a more athletic Barkley. I'd put LJ over Stromile.

[Rake2204]

Gus Johnson broke 3 backboards in the 60s. Think of a more athletic Barkley. I'd put LJ over Stromile.I apologize for being difficult in this regard, but I am unsure if breaking 1960's backboards automatically warrants a slot as the #6 best dunking power forward of all-time. It's just a tough get, as the footage that does exist of Johnson (likely after knee injuries wore him down) is highly unimpressive from a dunking standpoint. As such, it's tough to turn around and say simply, "Welp, not impressed, but I'll just assume he was a better dunker than Kenyon Martin, Larry Nance, and Kevin Garnett in his prime." You know?

[G.O.A.T]

I apologize for being difficult in this regard, but I am unsure if breaking 1960's backboards automatically warrants a slot as the #6 best dunking power forward of all-time. It's just a tough get, as the footage that does exist of Johnson (likely after knee injuries wore him down) is highly unimpressive from a dunking standpoint. As such, it's tough to turn around and say simply, "Welp, not impressed, but I'll just assume he was a better dunker than Kenyon Martin, Larry Nance, and Kevin Garnett in his prime." You know?

Just youtube Kenon and you'll get a good sense for his ups. He was in the 1976 Dunk Contest, I believe that is available in its entirity online.

As for Gus, stories exist where he dunked people hanging on his back, Russell said he dunked over Wilt, Kareem Thurmond and himself, never heard him boast of any other non-center doing this. I get what you're saying but let's not hold him to a modern "pics or it didn't happen" standard

[Cold soul]

1. Shawn Kemp
2. Blake Griffin
3. Amare Stoudemire
4. Charles Barkley
5. Gus Johnson
6. Larry Nance
7. Larry Kenon
8. Kevin Garnett
9. Otis Thorpe
10. Karl Malone

I know I'm missing some guys...who?

Your top 4 are the same order as mine. Kamp is easily #1.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Loaded position for dunkers at the top end.

For me, prime Amare would be #1. The full list is like so, in no order:

Amare
Kemp
Nance
Griffin
Barkley

[SHAQisGOAT]

5. Charles Barkley
9. Larry Nance



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdBDOyzh8T8&t=1m40s

On the real, just thought Nance should be a bit higher... Oh and Bobby Jones deserves at least to be in the HM (if you think of him as more of a PF).

Kemp's #1 without much doubt, yea.

[Rake2204]

Just youtube Kenon and you'll get a good sense for his ups. He was in the 1976 Dunk Contest, I believe that is available in its entirity online.

As for Gus, stories exist where he dunked people hanging on his back, Russell said he dunked over Wilt, Kareem Thurmond and himself, never heard him boast of any other non-center doing this. I get what you're saying but let's not hold him to a modern "pics or it didn't happen" standardRespectfully, we may just have to agree to disagree with Johnson. I am not saying he did not elevate in his prime. But it's just tough to gauge, let alone arbitrarily placing him as the sixth best dunking power forward of all-time, without having any real way of comparing or witnessing his exploits. Moreover, the dunk clips that do exist (likely post knee injury) don't exactly do a lot for his legend.

That said, I see the issue, since not including him could be seen as punishing him for not playing when all games were filmed. But in this particular case, having an idea of what being a great dunker in the 60's usually meant, while understanding how an absence of film often opens the door for myths to take off a little, with the video evidence that does exist doing no favors, it's tough to place him above a number of those other great dunkers listed.

Sidenote, simply as an honorable mention, I think Chris Webber deserves a shout out. He came to mind while trying to reason through Gus Johnson. I wondered how we'd view Webber as a dunker if we only had some of his highlights from age 30 on forward. I think we'd still be able to tell that Webber may have had a heck of a dunking prime. I'm not sure I can see that for sure from Gus.

[L.Kizzle]

Gus was considered the most athletic player of the 60s (not counting Russell and Wilt.) Maybe even more so than young Baylor. There are a few clips from his early Baltimore days where you can see how quick he was and how fast of a jumper he was.

[Rake2204]

Gus was considered the most athletic player of the 60s (not counting Russell and Wilt.) Maybe even more so than young Baylor. There are a few clips from his early Baltimore days where you can see how quick he was and how fast of a jumper he was.I believe it. And I certainly do not mean to come across as though I am criticizing Gus Johnson. But similar to how I'm unsure if Elgin Baylor would make my dunking small forward top ten list, I'm unsure if Gus would make my dunking power forward top 10 (though I enjoy that one handed tip dunk he had).

It's just tough for me is all. At least when comparing overall skill, there's statistics that can help tell a story (if used within proper perspective). Dunking is quite arbitrary and interpretive. And without visual evidence, there's often not a lot left to interpret, for better or worse. That's why the #6 placement feels a little funny. Even just using anecdotes, what about Johnson's suggest he was undoubtedly a greater dunker than, say, Kevin Garnett?

[bizil]

UPDATED TOP TEN
1. Shawn Kemp
2. Blake Griffin
3. Antonio McDyess
4. Amar`e Stoudemire
5. Charles Barkley
6. Gus Johnson
7. Tom Chambers
8. Kenyon Martin
9. Larry Nance
10. Stromile Swift

HM: Larry Kenon, Kevin Garnett, Otis Thorpe, Karl Malone, Larry Johnson, Connie Hawkins, Josh Smith, Larry Johnson, David Lee, Derrick Coleman

Thoughts before I finalize this and move on to the next position...?

U got all the greats for sure! And the top four u have to me are sort of like the family tree for the big physical, freakish athlete kind of PF. Kemp, Dyess, and Amare ALL had great midrange shots as well to complement their dunks. Blake's jumper is improving and I think will end up as the best player of the bunch. The other three guys had injuries that stopped them from their true greatness! McDyess in particular had a very short run as one of the top PF's in the world due to injury.

[Round Mound]

Larry Nance and Shawn Kemp Come To Mind In Terms of Quality Dunks. Now Quantity? Probably an 80s Sixer Barkley.

[Locked_Up_Tonight]

Dirk easily has this.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBOiz0t-tpo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8GcTrAhaok

[bizil]

Larry Nance and Shawn Kemp Come To Mind In Terms of Quality Dunks. Now Quantity? Probably an 80s Sixer Barkley.

I agree with that! Barkley had the best handles of all time at PF. Chuck was THE KING of the coast to coast dunking! He was arguably the best rebounder in the world so he could get it off the glass and take it all the way! And Barkley's SPEED in the open court with the ball was amazing! That separates him from all the other PF's in my book.