NBA All-Star Weekend: 5 Greatest Slam Dunk Contests of all time

#2 2000 Slam Dunk Contest

Vince Carter won the 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Following a two-year interval, the Slam Dunk Contest returned in 2000 with Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Steve Francis, Ricky Davis, Jerry Stackhouse, and Larry Hughes taking part. All six men produced some notable jams in the first round, although Carter and McGrady quickly stole the show by producing some of the best dunks in the event's history.

McGrady's incredible athleticism and creativity were highlighted by his memorable self alley-oops - and in any other year, the Raptors man would have taken home the trophy. However, Carter's performance was so good that it helped to renew interest in a dunk contest that was facing an uncertain future.

Carter's opening 360 windmill flush was a sign of things to come, and some of his best dunks came courtesy of an assist by his competitor (and teammate) McGrady. However, the moment of the contest came when Carter famously left his arm in the rim on a dunk - providing one of the most iconic moments in All-Star history.

#1 2016 Slam Dunk Contest

Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon put on the greatest show in the history of the competition

While the Slam Dunk Contest has provided no shortage of thrills during the course of its existence, nothing comes close in quality to the 2016 contest. Following the elimination of Andre Drummond and Will Barton in the first round, Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon proceeded to duel it out in a contest that required two tie-breakers.

In the Finals, LaVine and Gordon were both awarded two perfect scores of 50 following increasingly impressive dunks, and the most memorable dunk of the contest came when Gordon took the ball from the Orlando mascot and completed a windmill before throwing it down.

LaVine responded with his own windmill dunk from the free-throw line to send the contest to a tie-breaker, and the then Minnesota Timberwolves star finally claimed the title thanks to a between-the-legs dunk after taking off near the free-throw line. In terms of both volume and quality, it was the best Slam Dunk Contest in NBA history, and hopefully, the duo will face off once again in the future.