The Orlando Magic have sent five players to the NBA dunk contest and forward Aaron Gordon is joining this year’s contest.
The Orlando Magic have produced one dunk contest winner. But there have been four other entries, and newer Magic fans may not be familiar with the first three entrants in Magic history.
Orlando has been home to some exciting players. Even in the early days, there were a couple of leapers who were capable of putting on a show.
The Magic lingered near the bottom of the standings early in franchise history, but a former general manager was an entrant who impressed on All Star weekend. Then there was the inaugural draft pick — one of the few players to compete in both the 3-point shootout and dunk contest in his career. And the sparkplug. And the Superman. And the crooner.
We celebrate Orlando’s jammers of the past as we rank the all-time Magic dunkers as we gear up for Gordon’s performance Saturday night.
Next: The Energizer Bunny
5. Darrell Armstrong
Really, all that needs to be said here is “layup.” Bless Darrell Armstrong’s heart.
Darrell Armstrong was an electric personality and high-energy player. His play sometimes gave rise to the occasional dunk.
He could get off the floor. But Armstrong was all of 6-feet and his best dunk was simply just to dunk the ball.
Armstrong was in way over his head in a competitive event of the game’s best dunkers. But how could he turn the nod down?
Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway had lobbied for Armstrong to get the chance, and he had just enough confidence and leaping ability to take them up on that bad idea.
Armstrong became the first player to lay it in during a slam dunk contest. He sort of lives infamy for that choice, but in Armstrong’s defense he did have to make a shot, and he needed all of his lift just to dunk it.
Armstrong had exhausted himself and in the moment the layup was a means to an end. He wanted to sit down and catch his breath.
Most perplexingly, the layup came after a great first dunk that showed what an athlete he really was. He was just outclassed in the contest and was entirely gassed.
Next: Outstanding Otis!
4. Otis Smith
Otis Smith had already participated in the 1988 dunk contest as a member of the Golden State Warriors, and his first performance held enough highlights he felt he could win it in 1991 while playing for the Orlando Magic.
Those new to the Magic may remember Smith’s biggest contribution may have come later in constructing Orlando’s second team to make it to the Finals.
But Smith could get off the floor in his playing days.
Smith was perfect for the dunk contest since he found ways to make his dunks look so impressive.
He was after all just a 6-foot-5 shooting guard with a lot of explosion when he went to the basket. Smith had an exceptional windmill dunk and a lot of power. He did not try any dunks that would qualify as difficult, but he did throw it down hard and he got off the floor.
Smith was a worthy candidate. We have included his 1988 performance (Michael Jordan won that year), both because footage of the 1991 contest was sparser and because it was Smith’s best performance in a dunk contest that was sure to go to Dominique Wilkins or Michael Jordan.
Next: Nick the Quick
3.v Nick Anderson
Nick Anderson was a lot like Otis Smith, good but not great dunks.
He had the rise to do a lot and threw it down hard, but he did not get too creative. His best dunk was a 360, with no real annotations to the dunk.
Since the early days of the contest the dunks have become more difficult, more innovative and more progressive.
One would think if Anderson were to time-warp into today’s contest he could get a little more creative. His lack of creative ability was his downfall considering the contest went to Cedric Ceballos’ dubious use of a blindfold to do a regular dunk.
Innovation and showmanship can prove more important than athleticism, but Anderson and many others took the approach of doing better dunks that had already been done by every dunk contest candidate ever.
Next: Just last year...
2. Victor Oladipo
Credit Victor Oladipo for being the first to bring his non-basketball talents to the dunk contest.
Victor Oladipo sang “New York, New York,” before performing a 540 dunk he dubbed his “New York, New York,” dunk.
For his first dunk, Victor missed his first two attempts, but he threw it down on the third attempt after reeling the crowd into getting on its feet. He then held a sign that said “Mister 540.”
It had to have been a career highlight for him thus far, a chance to cater to a national audience and show who he is.
The NBA is still largely Oladipo’s oyster.
Oladipo may not have had the springs of eventual winner Zach LaVine, but he brought the gusto and bravado by singing with a voice that has received plenty of praise.
Oladipo put on a performance with the mic and the ball, and is second only to the lone Magic winner in the dunk contest.
Next: Superman!
1. Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard became iconic in the dunk contest.
His first year he was largely robbed. The judges did not see the difficulty in pinning his sticker 12 feet, six inches high on the backboard while dunking with the other hand.
He would take no chances the next year in putting on one of the more theatrical performances in dunk contest history. Many remember it well, Howard donning a Superman cape and flying horizontally toward the basket.
Howard threw the ball down through the rim without touching it, because he jumped two footed from far back and was up high enough that it made it doable.
Howard received nothing but 50s in the contest in 2008 and Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith both raved about Howard’s leaping ability.
We have to remember fondly as Magic fans the years of Dwight Howard that really were entertaining.
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He has become a shadow of the athlete he once was, but during his 20 point, 20 rebounds heyday, he was one of the most entertaining talents to come through.