10 GREAT MARCH MADNESS MONSTER DUNKS
“I like the dunk. It’s a high percentage play.” -Guy Lewis, Head Coach, Phi Slamma Jamma
10. Vince Carter, North Carolina- 1996
In honor of Championship Week we include this one-handed monster in-bounder from Vince Carter in the 1996 ACC Tournament. Carter was one of the greatest- if not the greatest- dunker of the modern era and this clip shows why: incredible rise, timing, mid-air dexterity and the strength to go get it and finish with authority in traffic.
9. Stanley Robinson, UCONN- 2009
Perhaps you remember this instant classic follow-up slam from Robinson in the midst of UCONN’s late bid to close the gap against Michigan State in the national semis. Big bonus here for the element of surprise. You never saw this one coming- it was sudden and it was EPIC. Most of all, though, it’s the perfectly timed guttural sound effect that sets this one apart.
8. Durrell Summers, Michigan State- 2009
This time it’s Stanley Robinson on the wrong end of a Durrell Summers power thrust in the very same game. The Dunk giveth and the Dunk taketh away.
7. Hakim Warrick, Syracuse- 2003
Two words: WING SPAN.
6. Blake Griffin, Oklahoma- 2009
Griffin had several monsters in the 2009 Tourney. This one shows him at his Vince Carter-esque best. He might not be as athletic as Carter, but Griffin’s strength makes him one of the great power dunkers of the modern era.
5. Darrell Griffith, Louisville- 1980
Gotta give a nod Dr. Dunkenstein. This isn’t necessarily one of his best, but the clip is nevertheless highly entertaining. Take note of the alarmingly unsexy outfits of the Louisville cheerleaders and stick around for the replay to hear Al McGuire’s timely reference to Griffith’s mid-dunk “disco move.”
4. Earl Watson, UCLA- 2000
Time out for a brief tribute to the alley-oop, one of the pivotal developments in slam dunk history. In this case it’s the passer making the spectacular play as much if not more than the finisher. Nobody had better touch than Earl Watson, particularly in this 2000 tourney dismantling of Maryland.
3. Darvin Ham, Texas Tech- 1996
The ultimate power dunking bona fides.
2. Benny Anders, Houston- 1983
While Darrell Griffith’s “Around the World” dunk doesn’t quite stand the test of time, the offerings of the early 80’s travelling dunkfest known as Phi Slamma Jamma have aged remarkably well. Watching the crowd and announcers wet their pants with excitement over Griffith’s dunk in 1980 while a modern audience views it with a barely stifled yawn, one would think that the bar has just risen over time. Old clips are fun for their short shorts and high socks but surely the players of the 80’s had athletic limitations that have been far exceeded today. Maybe that’s a valid assumption, but it doesn’t apply in the case of the Houston Cougars circa 1983. Obviously there was some sort of internal culture with this set of players that embraced and nurtured the art of the dunk. Not only did the team produce world class dunkers among NBA talents like Drexler, Olajuwon, Michael Young and Larry Micheaux, but the Cougars had a sixth man named Benny Anders who, according to Drexler, was the best athlete of them all. The interesting thing about Anders is that he so loved the dunk that he neglected other areas of his game, never developing as a complete player, never becoming a starter, and eventually quitting the team in 1984 in response to a lack of playing time. But for anyone of a certain age who saw him play, Benny Anders goes down as one of the great dunkers of all time and is every bit as memorable a member of the Phi Slamma Jamma fraternity as Olajuwon or Drexler. Watch here as Anders takes a perefect angle for maximum dunkability, extends himself completely and then snaps back down on the rim like a coiled spring. Favorite part: Anders lies on the ground for a few seconds to milk the moment then gets up and about 00:12 on the clip watch as he pats Louisville’s Charles Jones on the ass after just dunking in his face on national television. A few seconds later, around 00:17, Anders is still milking, pointing to the crowd. Can you imagine a Duke guy acting like that? Probably not, because you can’t imagine a Duke guy dunking like that. I’m half-surprised Anders didn’t walk out to center court and take a bow. As far as I’m concerned he fucking should have. God bless you, Bennie Anders, wherever you are today.
1. Clyde Drexler, Houston- 1983
Clyde Drexler was a circus freak dunker and my nominee for the title of best ever- college, pro, tourney, regular season, whatever. The nickname Clyde “The Glide” isn’t just a convenient play on words. It pretty much sums up the visual effect of Drexler’s game. Whereas Jordan famously had the ability to hang in mid air, Drexler could literally glide, taking off impossibly early and rising upward as if moving along an invisible conveyer belt on an upward plane. Upon arrival at the rim, Drexler finished the job as swiftly and powerfully as anyone, always earning a perfect 10 style points in the process. Arms and legs flailing, a great Drexler dunk was like a shark attack- sudden, violent, decisive.
