Slamming Through History: NBA’s Greatest Dunks

In the world of NBA, dunking is a language of its own with various terms like slam, throw-down, and boom-shaka-laka. From the Tomahawk to the Windmill, players have invented an array of dunks. When it comes to the most dunks in NBA regular season history, Dwight Howard claims the throne with a remarkable 2950 total dunks. This stat has been tracked since the 1996-97 season.

Continue reading to discover the remaining members of the top five, catch a glimpse of their incredible dunks, and find brief profiles of each player. For the full list of the top 100 dunkers in NBA history, provided by Stathead, use the convenient table of contents below or head to the end of this article.

Dwight Howard – 2950 Total Career Dunks

Dwight Howard, often compared to the legendary Shaquille O’Neal, stands tall as the undisputed leader in career dunks. Throughout his illustrious career, Howard’s combination of extraordinary athleticism and imposing physical presence, particularly during his time with the Orlando Magic, set him apart as a force to be reckoned with in the paint. His gravity-defying slams and rim-rattling dunks have left a lasting impression on fans and opponents alike, making him an icon in the world of basketball.

While Dwight may not possess the same level of finesse and skill as Shaquille O’Neal, he compensated with an unparalleled blend of freakish size and athleticism. Standing at 6 feet 10 inches and weighing 380 pounds when he first entered the league, Howard’s 39.5-inch vertical leap allowed him to soar above his competition with remarkable ease. His ability to overpower smaller opponents, including centers with a typically lighter build, made him a relentless force in the post, consistently finishing plays with thunderous dunks. It is this combination of sheer power and agility that propelled him to secure the coveted top spot on the list of the most career dunks in NBA history.

Shaquille O’Neal – 2626 Total Career Dunks

Even if you disagree with who holds the title of the real Superman of the NBA, keep this list away from Shaquille O’Neal. Dwight Howard outperformed Shaq, surpassing him by more than 300 dunks. However, Shaquille O’Neal actually averaged more “dunks per game” (3 DPG) compared to Dwight Howard (2.7 DPG). So why does Dwight have a significantly higher number of slams?

• The key lies in the fact that the “dunk” stat was officially counted only from the 1996-97 season onwards;
• This means Shaq’s impressive seasons from 1992-1996, where he averaged 27-12, were not included in his total dunk count.

DeAndre Jordan – 2945 Career Dunks

DeAndre Jordan secures the third spot, but his position might be at risk if the #4 player continues playing until the age of 45. Throughout his career, DeAndre played a valuable role and found himself in some extraordinary company among all-time greats.

What adds humor to DeAndre’s ranking is his field goal percentage, which falls below everyone else’s. How does one shoot 88% on dunks? Other top 10 players finished above 90%! However, this esteemed position in NBA history deserves an asterisk next to DeAndre’s name that reads Courtesy of Chris Paul.

LeBron James – 2088 Career Dunks (and counting…)

While much attention surrounds LeBron breaking Kareem’s all-time career points record, let’s not forget about the all-time career dunks! It’s safe to assume that even with his advanced age, LeBron will soon surpass DeAndre Jordan, given his incredible ability to perform jaw-dropping dunks, as witnessed in his game against the Grizzlies in 2022.

Tyson Chandler – 1735 Career Dunks

Tyson Chandler, an extraordinary role player, defied expectations by earning a spot in the All-Star game during the 2012-13 season. Known for his defensive prowess and consistent threat in finishing lob passes, he played pivotal roles in Dallas alongside Dirk Nowitzki, contributing to an NBA championship, and in New York, though they didn’t clinch an NBA title.

The 100 Best Career Dunks in NBA

The following table, sourced from Stathead, presents the top 100 career dunkers in NBA history. Expect regular updates after each season due to the inclusion of active players featured on the list.

Rk	Player	G	FG	FGA	FG%
1	Dwight Howard	1078	2950	3163	.933
2	Shaquille O’Neal	849	2626	2772	.947
3	DeAndre Jordan	904	2349	2645	.888
4	LeBron James	1092	2088	2165	.964
5	Tyson Chandler	856	1735	1878	.924
6	Rudy Gobert	579	1732	1872	.925
7	Giannis Antetokounmpo	580	1598	1706	.937
8	Amar’e Stoudemire	686	1593	1745	.913
9	Andre Iguodala	825	1504	1576	.954
10	Shawn Marion	805	1482	1594	.930
11	Anthony Davis	564	1475	1607	.918
12	Kevin Durant	751	1392	1450	.960
13	JaVale McGee	637	1375	1470	.935
14	Pau Gasol	777	1374	1466	.937
15	Kevin Garnett	844	1344	1423	.944
16	Andre Drummond	624	1299	1475	.881
17	Kenyon Martin	602	1278	1389	.920
18	Clint Capela	451	1248	1350	.924
19	Nenê	667	1224	1330	.920
20	Tim Duncan	737	1145	1240	.923
21	Dwyane Wade	639	1098	1190	.923
22	Blake Griffin	500	1094	1208	.906
23	Josh Smith	603	1069	1123	.952
24	Rasheed Wallace	611	1050	1190	.882
25	Rudy Gay	665	1045	1207	.866
26	Mason Plumlee	530	1030	1121	.919
27	Carmelo Anthony	585	1024	1103	.928
28	Ben Wallace	641	1012	1177	.860
29	Chris Webber	515	1012	1095	.924
30	Kobe Bryant	661	1001	1072	.934
31	Samuel Dalembert	575	998	1091	.915
32	Jermaine O’Neal	598	944	1021	.925
33	Vince Carter	652	941	1020	.923
34	Derrick Favors	543	939	1016	.924
35	Shareef Abdur-Rahim	554	929	994	.935
36	Chris Bosh	593	906	1000	.906
37	Alonzo Mourning	426	900	940	.957
38	LaMarcus Aldridge	586	896	976	.918
39	Hassan Whiteside	401	884	934	.946
40	Montrezl Harrell	394	880	961	.916
41	Richard Jefferson	600	878	997	.881
42	Antonio McDyess	473	877	972	.902
43	Jarrett Allen	341	859	983	.874
44	Marcus Camby	527	844	935	.903
45	Brook Lopez	531	844	910	.927
46	Andrei Kirilenko	498	841	880	.956
47	Tristan Thompson	485	838	942	.890
48	Erick Dampier	559	826	902	.916
49	Serge Ibaka	531	815	890	.916
50	Steven Adams	475	810	927	.874
51	Brendan Haywood	487	799	826	.967
52	Al Horford	534	797	843	.945
53	Aaron Gordon	413	772	841	.918
54	David Lee	496	751	789	.952
55	Eddy Curry	389	748	809	.925
56	Taj Gibson	529	748	811	.922
57	Chris Wilcox	399	741	821	.903
58	Tracy McGrady	496	732	795	.921
59	Emeka Okafor	427	729	797	.915
60	Dale Davis	425	720	746	.965
61	Bam Adebayo	328	712	781	.912
62	Jeff Green	515	680	755	.901
63	Jason Richardson	466	669	751	.891
64	Kenneth Faried	361	667	735	.907
65	Mitchell Robinson	244	659	749	.880
66	Andrew Bogut	416	655	710	.923
67	Thaddeus Young	496	649	707	.918
68	Jonas Valančiūnas	431	640	694	.922
69	Nerlens Noel	332	640	705	.908
70	Dikembe Mutombo	387	632	677	.934
71	Brandon Bass	431	629	684	.920
72	Jerry Stackhouse	428	628	661	.950
73	Alex Len	359	626	705	.888
74	John Collins	271	625	716	.873
75	Bismack Biyombo	425	621	677	.917
76	Willie Cauley-Stein	311	621	706	.880
77	Theo Ratliff	410	616	648	.951
78	Trevor Ariza	458	613	651	.942
79	J.J. Hickson	347	611	668	.915
80	Andrew Bynum	285	611	635	.962
81	Kelvin Cato	361	608	706	.861
82	Russell Westbrook	503	605	739	.819
83	DeMarcus Cousins	413	605	674	.898
84	Antonio Davis	393	604	652	.926
85	Karl-Anthony Towns	360	600	660	.909
86	Stromile Swift	348	596	699	.853
87	David Robinson	324	585	628	.932
88	Al Jefferson	413	582	622	.936
89	Yao Ming	355	582	641	.908
90	Elton Brand	436	581	609	.954
91	Ruben Patterson	361	572	597	.958
92	Gerald Wallace	373	567	639	.887
93	Donyell Marshall	384	567	612	.926
94	Carlos Boozer	418	562	624	.901
95	Tony Battie	375	557	589	.946
96	Dwight Powell	333	554	616	.899
97	Chris Andersen	365	552	610	.905
98	Joakim Noah	370	550	606	.908
99	Tayshaun Prince	406	545	586	.930
100	Paul Millsap	449	545	633	.861

Conclusion

In conclusion, the history of dunks in the NBA is a testament to the incredible athleticism and skill displayed by some of the game’s greatest players. From the powerful slams of dominant centers to the graceful aerial displays of high-flying forwards, each era has produced remarkable dunkers who have left an indelible mark on the sport.

At the pinnacle of this dunking pantheon stands Dwight Howard, with an astounding 2950 career dunks, solidifying his position as the NBA’s all-time leader in this electrifying category. While other legends like Shaquille O’Neal and DeAndre Jordan follow closely behind, it is Howard’s remarkable achievement that captures the attention of fans and enthusiasts alike. As the NBA continues to evolve, and new generations of players take to the court, the quest for dunking supremacy remains alive. With players like LeBron James showcasing their enduring skills and elevating the art of the dunk to new heights, the record books are destined for future revisions.

The story of the most dunks in NBA history serves as a vivid reminder of the sport’s capacity for awe-inspiring moments and its ability to inspire generations of fans worldwide. As long as basketball continues to thrill and captivate audiences, the allure of the slam dunk will remain a timeless symbol of the game’s unrivaled excitement and passion.