The NBA Slam Dunk Contest in the All-Star Weekend features the best leapers and the most creative dunkers in the league. Usually, they are rising stars who are expected to leave a mark in the league in the following years.
Many who won the dunk contest became rim destroyers in their respective careers.
Others, however, had forgettable stints. One part was because they lost, and the second was because they veered away from a dunking game. Being able to dunk creatively was just a tiny part of their game.
There are players whom fans are surprised to know took part in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Best players who surprisingly joined the competition:
1. Ray Allen
The 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Contest featured two future Hall of Fame inductees-Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen, who was still with the Milwaukee Bucks then.
For younger generations, it is hard to imagine Allen as a dunking god because he is more of a designated three-point shooter.
He is currently the second all-time in 3-point shots made with 2973. Only Stephen Curry has more. He won the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2001.
The 1996-1997 Slam Dunk contest also featured Darvin Ham, Chris Carr, Bob Sura, and Michael Finnley.
Allen's first dunk was a boring double pump, double-handed at the center, while the second was a 180-degree thunderous slam. He only received 35/50 for his attempts.
The edition is regarded as one of the worst competitions in NBA history.
2. Damian Lillard
Another forgettable stint is that of Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard, who participated in 2014 as a Blazer under one of the worst formats of the Slam Dunk Contest.
Just like Allen, Dame established a career beyond the arc. He is currently the fifth all-time in three points made with 2525. He is the defending Three-Point Shootout Champion.
The 2014 Dunk Contest had good dunkers like Terrence Ross, Paul Geoge, and John Wall. They went up against Dame, Harrison Barnes, and Ben McLemore.
While the edition had the star power, the format dragged it down. The league adopted a West vs East format wherein participants competed in two rounds-freestyle and battle rounds.
Dame had good dunks for himself, including a between-the-legs many thought he could not convert.
The East won, and Dame's stint was eventually forgotten.
3. Michael Finley
Finley, playing for the Dallas Mavericks, competed in the same edition as Allen, and he had a better stint as he scored 39 points in the first round over Jesus Shuttleworth's 35.
Finnley may have failed in the Dunk Contest, but he was able to carve out a good career as part of the Mavericks.
He can pull off thunderous dunks, but 3-points kept him in the game for years. He posted a 37.5 percent career average and made 1,454 three-pointers.
He even reached number 15 of Bleacher Report's Top 50 3-Point Shooters in League history.
Finley made two All-Star Games in his career and won the 2007 NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs.
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