If you happen to’re underneath the impression that NBA dunk contest fields are getting worse over time, you’re most likely proper – at the very least when it comes to the on-court influence of the contributors. (We’ll go away the talk about their dunking prowess for an additional day.)
A contest that has traditionally seen its justifiable share of All-Star energy is now largely decreased to younger rank-and-file gamers (at greatest). For instance, the 2025 dunk contest this 12 months options up-and-coming Spurs guard Stephon Citadel together with defending champion Mac McClung (on a two-way contract with Orlando) and seldom-used rookies Matas Buzelis and Andre Jackson. Their common scoring output this season is 7.53 ppg, the fourth-worst mark for any dunk contest subject in NBA historical past.
The worst half is that this isn’t actually an aberration in comparison with different current dunk contests. Most of the lowest-scoring fields have come within the final 15 years, with the 2021 contest rating lifeless final in a 12 months when the league seemingly might solely persuade three gamers (none of them large names) to take part.
For the all-time rating, have a look beneath.
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Dunk contest contributors: Clyde Drexler, Darrell Griffith, Dominique Wilkins, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, Michael Jordan, Orlando Woolridge, Terence Stansbury
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Clyde Drexler, Dominique Wilkins, Greg Anderson, Jerome Kersey, Michael Jordan, Otis Smith, Spud Webb
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Clyde Drexler, Gerald Wilkins, Jerome Kersey, Johnny Dawkins, Michael Jordan, Ron Harper, Terence Stansbury, Tom Chambers
JOHN MABANGLO/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Jerry Stackhouse, Larry Hughes, Ricky Davis, Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter
Chris Pizzello/Pool Photograph by way of USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Dennis Smith, Donovan Mitchell, Larry Nance Jr, Victor Oladipo
Porter Binks-USA TODAY
Dunk contest contributors: Clyde Drexler, Darrell Griffith, Dominique Wilkins, Edgar Jones, Julius Erving, Larry Nance, Michael Cooper, Orlando Woolridge, Ralph Sampson
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Dwight Howard, JR Smith, Nate Robinson, Rudy Fernandez, Rudy Homosexual
Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Jacob Toppin, Jaime Jaquez, Jaylen Brown, Mac McClung
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Dwight Howard, Gerald Inexperienced, Jamario Moon, Rudy Homosexual
Ronald Martinez/Pool Photograph by way of USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Ben McLemore, Damian Lillard, Harrison Barnes, John Wall, Paul George, Terrence Ross
ROBYN BECK/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Blake Griffin, DeMar DeRozan, JaVale McGee, Serge Ibaka
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Amare Stoudemire, Desmond Mason, Jason Richardson, Richard Jefferson
Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Cedric Ceballos, Doug West, John Starks, Larry Johnson (1969), Nick Anderson, Shawn Kemp, Stacey Augmon
Ezra Shaw/Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Amare Stoudemire, Chris Andersen, Josh Smith, JR Smith
The Atlanta Journal-Structure
Dunk contest contributors: Dominique Wilkins, Gerald Wilkins, Jerome Kersey, Paul Pressey, Roy Hinson, Spud Webb, Terence Stansbury, Terry Tyler
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Aaron Gordon, Andre Drummond, Will Barton, Zach LaVine
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Desmond Mason, Gerald Wallace, Jason Richardson, Steve Francis
SI.com
Dunk contest contributors: Billy Thompson, Dominique Wilkins, Kenny Battle, Kenny Smith, Kenny Walker, Rex Chapman, Scottie Pippen, Shawn Kemp
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Cedric Ceballos, Clarence Weatherspoon, David Benoit, Harold Miner, Kenny Smith, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Tim Perry
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Chris Morris, Clyde Drexler, Jerome Kersey, Kenny Walker, Ron Harper, Shelton Jones, Spud Webb, Tim Perry
Elsa/Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mason Plumlee, Victor Oladipo, Zach LaVine
JEFF HAYNES/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Brent Barry, Darrell Armstrong, Doug Christie, Greg Minor, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley
Nathaniel S. Butler-NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Blue Edwards, Dee Brown (1968), Kendall Gill, Kenny Smith, Kenny Williams, Otis Smith, Rex Chapman, Shawn Kemp
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Cole Anthony, Jalen Inexperienced, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Obi Toppin
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: DeMar DeRozan, Gerald Wallace, Nate Robinson, Shannon Brown
ballislife.com
Dunk contest contributors: Allan Houston, Antonio Davis, Isaiah Rider, James Robinson, Robert Pack, Shawn Kemp
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Jericho Sims, KJ Martin, Mac McClung, Trey Murphy
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Dwight Howard, Gerald Inexperienced, Nate Robinson, Tyrus Thomas
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Dennis Smith, Hamidou Diallo, John Collins, Miles Bridges
HECTOR MATA/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Chris Andersen, Fred Jones, Jason Richardson, Ricky Davis
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Aaron Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Derrick Jones, Glenn Robinson III
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Bob Sura, Chris Carr, Darvin Ham, Kobe Bryant, Michael Finley, Ray Allen
Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Andre Iguodala, Hakim Warrick, Josh Smith, Nate Robinson
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Chase Budinger, Derrick Williams, Jeremy Evans, Paul George
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Aaron Gordon, Derrick Jones, Dwight Howard, Pat Connaughton
Vince Bucci/Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Antonio Harvey, Harold Miner, Isaiah Rider, Jamie Watson, Tim Perry, Tony Dumas
Dunk contest contributors: Matas Buzelis, Mac McClung, Stephon Citadel, Andre Jackson
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE by way of Getty Photos
Dunk contest contributors: Baron Davis, Corey Maggette, DeShawn Stevenson, Desmond Mason, Jonathan Bender, Stromile Swift
Jeff Haynes/Reuters by way of USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Eric Bledsoe, Gerald Inexperienced, Jeremy Evans, Terrence Ross
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports activities
Dunk contest contributors: Anfernee Simons, Cassius Stanley, Obi Toppin
