- All-Star weekend has arrived, which means it’s time for the NBA’s annual slam dunk contest.
- In year’s past, the dunk contest has produced some unbelievable and memorable photos of NBA stars getting big air.
- Take a look back at the most extraordinary photos from past NBA slam dunk contests:
Donovan Mitchell won the dunk contest as a rookie in 2018.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Chris Pizzello
His acrobatic dunks — combined with his colorful jersey and shoes — made for some stunning photos.
Foto: sourceBob Donnan/Pool via AP
Derrick Jones Jr. went between-the-legs during the 2017 dunk contest.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Gerald Herbert
And the aerial view is absolutely stunning.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Gerald Herbert, Pool
He also leaped over several teammates during the event.
Foto: sourceRonald Martinez/Pool via AP
JaVale McGee upped the ante in 2011, dunking on two different hoops at the same time.
Foto: sourceJeff Gross/Getty Images
It’s hard to forget the time Blake Griffin leaped over a car for the slam that same year.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Here’s the shot from above.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Griffin also emulated legendary dunker Vince Carter by throwing his arm in the rim on a massive dunk.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Carter won the 2000 dunk contest with that same move.
Foto: sourceJOHN MABANGLO/AFP/Getty Images
He also made going between-the-legs look like second nature.
Foto: sourceJed Jacobsohn /Allsport
Gerald Green borrowed the move eight years later.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Eric Gay
But he stunned fans and pundits by recreating Dee Brown’s no-look dunk the year prior.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/ Kevork Djansezian
Dwight Howard went full Superman during the 2008 dunk contest. He even wore a cape.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Eric Gay
His Airness rocked the 1988 slam dunk contest with a number of legendary dunks, including this impressive reverse.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/John Swart
Jason Richardson looks like he could walk on air in 2002.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Chris Gardner
Nate Robinson — a 5-foot-9 point guard for the New York Knicks — stunned viewers with his high-flying dunks during the 2006 dunk contest.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Lucy Nicholson,Pool
He somehow managed to get even more bounce the next year.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Here’s a shot of him hanging from the rim and catching the rebound from a missed dunk.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, file
Aaron Gordon has made a splash in multiple NBA dunk contests.
Foto: sourceRonald Martinez/Getty Images
His ability to go under-the-legs before rocking the rim has mesmerized spectators for years.
Foto: sourceJonathan Bachman/Getty Images
So when he did it over Stuff the Magic Dragon — the Orlando Magic mascot — at the 2016 dunk contest, it sent the crowd into an absolute frenzy.
Foto: sourceElsa/Getty Images
Jeremy Evans skied over then-teammate Gordon Hayward to win the 2012 dunk contest.
Foto: sourceJeff Haynes-Pool/Getty Images
The following year, he took a handoff from Utah Jazz great Mark Eaton while he jumped over him for the slam.
Foto: sourceAP Photo/Pat Sullivan
Zach LaVine soared through the dark to win the 2015 NBA dunk contest.
Foto: sourceElsa/Getty Images
Then he came back and won it again the following year.
Foto: sourceVaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Now check out the future of the NBA dunk contest:
Foto: sourceGrant Halverson/Getty Images