NBA: Top 5 posterizing dunks of all time

Less than a month remains before the 2017-18 NBA regular season tips-off and if last season was any benchmark, this upcoming season is bound to be another record-breaking year offensively.

Last year, Russell Westbrook broke the record for most triple-doubles in a single season. The Houston Rockets broke the all-time record for three-pointers made in a single season. The offensive rating of the Golden State Warriors from the regular season was among the top 3 all-time.

Stingy, grimy hard-nosed defense is lost. The current style of play is an era of flashy assists, long three-pointers, and flashy dunks. Sticking to just what the title suggests, the dunks ranked here are graded based on just one factor - degree of difficulty. The degree of difficulty includes factors such as the defender in question and his defensive prowess.

#5 LeBron James on Jason Terry

In early 2013, the Miami Heat were playing near-flawless basketball.The team had gone on a franchise record 27-game win streak, second-longest in NBA history. Against the Boston Celtics on March 18th at the TD Garden, they recorded win no. 23 of that streak.

This play came off of a steal and while the dunk was something to behold, the passing leading up to the alley-oop finish was no less.

Now, LeBron James has a history of performing some unbelievable dunks but this one makes the list because of its ferocity and thunderous nature. Even the crowd in Boston was left in awe. However, it checks in at No. 5 as Jason Terry (then 35 years old) was never known for possessing any shot blocking abilities.

#4 Shawn Kemp on Alton Lister

Of course, you could enjoy all of the top 10 dunks from Shawn Kemp's career but fast-forward to the 2:16 mark for the dunk in question.

Kemp is among the most explosive dunkers in NBA history. When in the open court, trust him to put on a show but he could provide equally thrilling dunks in traffic as well. The dunk here was in a game of a first-round matchup between the Seattle Supersonics and the Golden State Warriors in the 1992 Playoffs.

Once again, despite the explosiveness of the dunk, the player on the other side of this poster Alton Lister was no prolific shot-blocker. In fairness, nobody could stop Kemp when he was in his best physical shape.

#3 DeAndre Jordan on Brandon Knight

Brandon Knight has been the subject of many bloopers in his seven seasons in the league but surely nothing tops this. While facing the LA Clippers at the Staples Center on March 10th 2013, Knight, a member of the Detroit Pistons, was baptized.

And mind you, since Chris Paul was traded to the Clippers in 2011, the franchise had become famous for alley-oops. On the back of Blake Griffin and Jordan, the Clippers got their nickname of "Lob City".

Yet for some reason, the 6-foot 3-inch point guard Knight believed he could block the alley-oop dunk attempt of a 6-foot 11-inch athletic center DeAndre Jordan. Instead, he was on the other side of one of greatest posters EVER.

#2 Michael Jordan on Patrick Ewing

Dunking was one of Michael Jordan's many many talents. Just like Kemp, watching Jordan's top 10 career dunks wouldn't hurt but for the dunk in question is No. 1 at the 2:35 mark.

The Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer has many "dunks to remember" but this one is probably his best. The dunk here against one of Jordan's fiercest rivals - Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks - ranks so high up on the list for multiple reasons.

Under ideal circumstances, the range of moves leading up to the dunk shouldn't be in question but here Jordan drives past two well-known defenders in John Starks and Charles Oakley. Getting past the duo was one thing but then #23 posterized Patrick Ewing, the Knicks' cornerstone, and physical 7-foot center.

#1 Blake Griffin (x2)

Blake Griffin might have lost the insane jumping capabilities he possessed early in his career. Nonetheless, the dunking start (literally) to his career brought some much-needed crowds to the Clippers games. Overnight, he became a sensation.

Very early in his rookie season, he amazed and entertained with some eye-opening dunks against the New York Knicks which was highlighted by a huge poster jam over Timofey Mozgov. But he wasn't done, he followed it up, a couple of years later he threw up another eye-popper over Kendrick Perkins.

Let's break this down. Neither Mozgov nor Perkins are pushovers. What Mozgov might lack in physicality, he had in length. On the other hand, Perkins was known across the league as one of the most physical post defenders.