The NBA is slowly losing the art of dunking, and therefore, sometimes it becomes important to look back at the glorious past. Especially for the Chicago Bulls, they hold the history of some of the most charismatic dunkers in the league’s history. Take Michael Jordan or Derrick Rose. However, for Nate Robinson, someone else tops the table.
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The Bulls have had several great dunkers, including Michael Jordan, Zach LaVine, Derrick Rose, and Nate Robinson. Who does Robinson think was the best dunker among them?
“Zach LaVine. Easy. He, I mean, from what he can do at one foot, it just don’t make no sense. I mean, and then, like, behind that, you got Michael Jordan, of course,” Robinson shared on CHGO Sports. “You got Derrick Rose, one of the best in-game dunkers that you’ll ever see. But Zach LaVine, for sure. He’s floating. He’s defying gravity for sure.”
If you ask NBA fans for the best Slam Dunk Contest, there is a high possibility that people would mention 2016. Well, how could anyone forget Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon going all-out against each other?
Toronto hosted a thrilling showdown between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon, with Will Barton and Andre Drummond also competing. LaVine, representing the Minnesota Timberwolves, faced Gordon of the Orlando Magic at Air Canada Centre. Gordon raised the stakes with creative leaps over the Magic mascot and a dizzying under-the-legs move.
Meanwhile, Nate Robinson’s 31-year-old pick responded with soaring windmills and powerful attempts from the free-throw line. The finalists pushed each other through 2 overtime rounds. After matching 50 scores, LaVine finally sealed his title with a spectacular between-the-legs finish. That might have sealed his fate as one of the greatest dunkers in the league’s history.
But as mentioned before, the Chicago Bulls have been blessed with some of the best dunkers. Derrick Rose never participated in the Slam Dunk Contest. Yet his explosiveness and ability to cause havoc in the paint made him an elite talent fans loved watching.
Rose finished his NBA career with 119 regular-season dunks. His athleticism made many of them possible. However, his game leaned more on speed, control, and creative finishes. D-Rose recorded 86 dunks during his first four seasons with the Chicago Bulls.
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan built a reputation around gravity-defying finishes. His athleticism helped create the Air Jordan image. He captured the Slam Dunk Contest in 1987 and 1988. His 1988 performance became especially famous after a free throw line launch.
During the regular season between 1984 and 1996, Jordan recorded 2,186 dunks. He added 448 more in the playoffs. Those figures exclude preseason games, All-Star appearances, contests, and dunks before his NBA career.
His in-game highlights remain equally memorable. The 1988 Lakers matchup featured a remarkable hand switch while facing two defenders. Meanwhile, his 1997 “Kiss the Rim” finish showed extraordinary hang time. These moments helped define Jordan’s unforgettable legacy.
Despite the heroics of Michael Jordan and Derrick Rose, Nate Robinson chose Zach LaVine. It is probably the intensity of the 2016 Slam Dunk Contest. And how the 31-year-old retained his crown that made him the best dunker for Robinson.