by - All-Star weekend has arrived, which means it’s time for the NBA’s annual slam dunk contest.
- Over the past year, the dunk contest has seen some incredible and memorable photos of NBA stars getting big air.
- Take a look back at the most extraordinary photos from slam dunk contests in the NBA:
Donovan Mitchell won the dunk contest as a rookie in 2018.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Chris Pizzello
His acrobatic dunks – along with his colorful jersey and shoes – made for some great photos.
Photo: sourceBob Donnan/Pool via AP
Derrick Jones Jr. went. between the legs during the 2017 dunk contest.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Gerald Herbert
And the view from the air is amazing.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Gerald Herbert, Pool
He also jumped over several teammates during the event.
Photo: sourceRonald Martinez/Pool via AP
JaVale McGee upped the ante in 2011, dunking on two different hoops at the same time.
Photo: sourceJeff Gross/Getty Images
The time Blake Griffin jumped over a car for the slam that same year is hard to forget.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
This is the shot from above.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Griffin also imitated Vince Carter’s famous dunk by throwing his hand in the rim on a giant dune.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Carter won the 2000 dunk contest with that same move.
Photo: source JOHN MABANGLO/AFP/Getty Images
It also made a second appearance between the legs.
Photo: source Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
Gerald Green got the move on loan eight years later.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Eric Gay
But he stunned fans and fans by recreating Dee Brown’s one-look dunk the year before.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/ Kevork Djansezian
Dwight Howard went full Superman during the 2008 dunk contest. He even wore a cape.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Eric Gay
His Airness won the 1988 slam dunk contest with some legendary dunks, including the impressive reverse.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/John Swart
Jason Richardson looks like he could walk on air in 2002.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Chris Gardner
Nate Robinson – a 5-foot-9 point guard for the New York Knicks – stunned the crowd with his high-flying dunks during the 2006 dunk contest.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Lucy Nicholson, Swimming
He somehow managed to get more bounce the following year.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Here’s a shot of him hanging from the rim and catching the rebound from a missed dunk.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, file
Aaron Gordon has made a splash in multiple NBA dunk contests.
Photo: sourceRonald Martinez/Getty Images
His ability to get under the feet before rocking the edge has disturbed audiences for years.
Photo: 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.
Photo: sourceElsa/Getty Images
Jeremy Evans, his teammate at the time, skied Gordon Hayward to win the 2012 dunk contest.
Photo: sourceJeff Haynes-Pool/Getty Images
The following year, he took a handoff from Utah Jazz great Mark Eaton and jumped over him for the slam.
Photo: sourceAP Photo/Pat Sullivan
Zach LaVine soared in the dark to win the 2015 NBA dunk contest.
Photo: sourceElsa/Getty Images
Then he came back and won again the following year.
Photo: sourceVaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Now take a look at the future of the NBA dunk contest:
Photo: sourceGrant Halverson/Getty Images
