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Dunking is easily the most memorable and dominating way to score points in the NBA. The league has seen a range of stars producing poster-perfect dunks on a regular basis, although it might be hard to quantify and compare two peak dunkers with respect to this particular skill.
The NBA 2K22 game is set to be released on September 10th and has currently earmarked the New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson as the best dunker in the league. Other stars such as Anthony Edwards, Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon are also known to be skilled dunkers and are included in the list for the five best dunkers in the NBA:
2021-22 NBA season: Top five dunkers in the league
A lot of questions were raised over specific aspects of NBA 2K22’s overall ratings. However, the dunking ratings are straightforward enough, with some expected names forming the top five. Regardless, while age and longevity have also played a factor for overall NBA 2K22 ratings, in this article, we look at the five best dunkers in the NBA currently:
#5 Derrick Jones Jr.
The 2020 Slam Dunk champion and new acquisition of the Chicago Bulls, Derrick Jones Jr. has been given an overall dunking rating of 94, making him the joint 4th-best dunker in the game along with Ja Morant. Derrick Jones Jr. might have his struggles with respect to overall shooting and passing.
However, he is one of the most athletic dunkers in the game and regularly comes up with poster moments. Derrick Jones Jr. has a ferocious slam and reach and can attack the rim consistently. His jumper and three-point shooting has issues related to consistency, something the 23-year old can work on to take his game to the next level.
#4 Ja Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies star had an outstanding 2020-21 NBA season and has staked his credentials as one of the best dunkers in the league already. Morant is an athletic beast; He is a good shooter all-round shooter and has all it takes to become one of the best athletes in the NBA.
Morant produced 19.1 points and 7.4 assists last season and has a consistent ability to put up dunks when opposition defenders least suspect it. Morant has an overall dunk rating of 94 as well. He will be looking to improve and get his first all-star selection next season.
#3 Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon, widely recognized as one of the most athletic players in the league currently, has a dunk rating of 95 in NBA 2K22 which makes him the joint-fourth best dunker in the game. Gordon is an elite one-on-one defender with the strength and discipline to be a constant presence on both ends of the court.
He was traded to the Denver Nuggets as part of the March deadline earlier in the year and averaged 10.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in the 25 starts since then. Gordon has produced some memorable dunks through the years and deserves his place in the list.
#2 Zion Williamson
According to NBA 2K22, Zion Williamson is the best dunker in the game, something he took only two years to make happen. Williamson is a dunking machine with a vertical leap that almost seems unreal. He followed up a 22.5 rookie NBA season with a 27 ppg season the last time around and certainly has all it takes to become one of the best dunkers that the NBA ever saw.
Williamson’s vertical ability, strength and underrated awareness all make him one of the best dunkers of the NBA already. He loses out of the #1 spot to 2-time NBA dunk content champion Zach LaVine.
#1 Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine might not be the same dunker that he was a few years ago but won the slam dunk contest in 2015 and 16. LaVine had an injury-troubled season for the Chicago Bulls but still averaged more than 27 ppg. He is a decent passer and rebounder and has the second-highest dunk rating in NBA 2K22, after Zion’s 97.
Regardless, LaVine has since years been the best dunker in the league, with Williamson now entering his third year in the NBA. While Williamson is arguably the better dunker at this point of time, Zach LaVine has won two slam-dunk contests and has been producing some memorable moments since years.
