![\"\"](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/mjdunkcontestlead-1.jpg\")
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Without a doubt, the NBA Dunk Contest is one of the best parts of All-Star Weekend. The three point shooting contest is nice, and the game has had its moments, but both fail to entertain the way the theatrics of the dunkers do. The past few years have been the best in its storied history.<\/p>\n
With the contest only a day away, we took time to look back at past dunk-offs and the sneakers worn in them. From the oldest of old school dunks, up to recent high-flying antics by today’s best athletes, we’ve examined them all and assembled our list of the best sneaker moments in Dunk History.<\/p>\n
Shoe: Converse Pro Leather <\/strong><\/p>\n \n <\/strong> A concession had to be made to include Dr. J in this list, as he wore these particular Converses<\/strong> to capture an ABA<\/em> crown. Still, the contest was the first of its kind at the professional level. While the sneakers, and definitely the uniforms, were less flashy than the ones we see in the contests presently, this shoe starts our list for what it represents in history. Dr. J. would ultimately take home the crown with a dunk we still see today, as he would leap from the free throw line and throw it down. He’d compete again and take second 8 years later in the NBA’s first Dunk Contest.<\/p>\n <\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong>Shoe: Nike Zoom Flight 95 PE<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong> Like Dr. J., Brent Barry soared from the free throw line, though he did it in a Nike Zoom Flight 95<\/strong> in a special white and red colorway. Barry would go on to finish his career as a threat from downtown, but in his prime he had effortless leaping ability. Don’t believe it? He didn’t even need to take off his warm-up jacket to throw down his final dunk.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/strong>1997: Kobe Bryant<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/strong>Shoe: adidas EQT Elevation PE<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong> At only 18 years old, NBA rookie Kobe Bryant had a lot to prove. Wearing a pair of purple EQT Elevations<\/strong> from then-sponsor adidas<\/strong>, Kobe proved that he was bound for greatness. Before developing the mid-range game we know Kobe for nowadays, it was his dunks and ability to attack the rim that he used to catapult himself to All-Star status. This contest definitely helped market Kobe, as he would land his first signature shoe design shortly after.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1990 – Dominique Wilkins<\/strong><\/p>\n Shoe: Reebok The Pump<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n httpv:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7c2KUEm2GW8&<\/p>\n \n <\/strong><\/p>\n “The Human Highlight Film” combined grace and power effortlessly, mixing windmills, spins and pumps aplenty to capture his second dunk championship in 1990. ‘Nique had lost two head-to-head battles to Michael Jordan, as well as another to teammate Spud Webb, but donning a pair of Reebok The Pump<\/strong>s, he’d be the second player to win two titles.<\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n 1986 – Spud Webb<\/strong><\/p>\n Shoe: Pony City Wings Low<\/strong><\/p>\n Spud Webb not only conquered his own height with his 1986 title. The shortest contest winner ever also beat Atlanta Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins, whose dunking prowess is still revered today. Spud chose the low version of the Pony City Wings<\/strong> in a white, red and black colorway to help him capture the crown. (Commemorative retro release pictured above)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2009 – Nate Robinson<\/strong><\/p>\n Shoe: Nike Foamposite Lite PE “Kryptonate”<\/strong><\/p>\n \n While Nate got his first title for jumping over Spud Webb, many felt he stole what was rightfully Andre Iguodala’s. For 2009, he left little doubt. With Dwight Howard as his final opponent, little man Nate Robinson soared to new heights with not only his gravity-defying dunk, but also his footwear. Donning a green Knicks jersey, Nike<\/strong> Pro Combat sleeve and these special Foamposite Lite<\/strong>s dubbed the “Kryptonate,” Nate grabbed his second crown. Even at less than 6 feet tall, Nate proved to be Superman’s only weakness.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1991 – Dee Brown<\/strong><\/p>\n Shoe: Reebok Pump Omni Lite<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n ‘Nique wore the ultra high top Pump<\/strong>s the year before, but Dee Brown relied on the lower-cut Omni Lite<\/strong>s to carry him to victory. The classic Reeboks had all the fans looking, but that was the one thing Dee didn’t need to do, as his infamous “No-Look” dunk would ultimately get him the 1991 Championship.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1987 – Michael Jordan<\/strong><\/p>\n Shoe: Air Jordan II<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael’s first attempt resulted in a loss to Dominique Wilkins, but with his return to the contest in 1987, he brought revenge and the Air Jordan II<\/strong>. Jordan would win his first of two back-to-back championships in this shoe. The winning “Kiss The Rim” attempt is still one of the more recognizable dunks in the history of the game.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2000 – Vince Carter<\/strong><\/p>\n Shoe: And 1 Tai Chi White\/Red<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n Vince Carter almost single-handedly put And 1 <\/strong>on the map. Though the brand was previously notable for its basketball-centric apparel, the Tai Chi <\/strong>was “that sneaker,” when VC wore it in one of the most memorable dunk contests ever. He’d later switch to Nike, but Vince put on an amazing show in this pair of white and red shoes. Whether it was the effortless between-the-legs dunk, or the extremely impressive 360 windmill that you remember most, it will forever be near-impossible to live up to Vince’s performance in 2000.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1988 – Michael Jordan<\/strong><\/p>\n Shoe: Air Jordan III<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael successfully defended his Slam Dunk title in the Tinker Hatfield-designed Air Jordan III<\/strong>s in a White and Cement Grey colorway. This contest was one of the many events that cemented this shoe’s legendary status. Michael may not have been the first to take off from the free throw line when he used it to repeat, but the grace and style with which he did it is yet to be topped, even by today’s athletes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Without a doubt, the NBA Dunk Contest is one of the best parts of All-Star Weekend. The three point shooting…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":149,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1225537],"cultivate_rss":[],"class_list":{"2":"type-post"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n1976 – Julius “Dr. J” Erving<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"1976](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/page2_g_erving3_sw_400.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"1976-converse](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/58486.jpg\")
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\n<\/strong>1996 – Brent Barry<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"1996](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/brent-barry.jpg\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"kobe-bryant\"](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/kobe-bryant.jpg\")
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\n<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"adidas](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/wall_kobe_adidas_eqt_elevation.jpg\")
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"1986](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/spud-webb.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"pony-dunkcontest-webbretro\"](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/pony-dunkcontest-webbretro.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Nike](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/kryptonate.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"1991](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/dee-brown.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"mj-2s\"](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/mj-2s.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"aj2](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/130235-161_400.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Shoe:](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/mj-3.jpg\")
![\"Shoe:](\"\/files\/2010\/02\/400_jordan3.jpg\")
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