When looking at all the NBA dunk contests throughout history, many point to the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, won by Vince Carter, as one of the more memorable All-Star weekend moments.
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That is, Carter put up three perfect 50-point dunks (to go with a 49-point dunk and 48-point dunk) en route to being named Slam Dunk champion, which ultimately gave birth to what we know today as "Vinsanity."
Certainly, the nostalgia from 2000 lives throughout time, but many have since debated whether or not the dunkers in the last 25 years have topped Carter.
When looking at one of the candidates, Aaron Gordon, who infamously faced off with Zach Lavine during the unforgettable 2016 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in Toronto, he has since come out and said he believes his dunks are more impressive than what Carter demonstrated.
While appearing on the RunItBack FanDuel TV show, Gordon said, "I think there's a bit of nostalgia that plays into the 2000 dunk contest. Respectfully, Vince Carter is the GOAT, but If you put my four dunks up against Vince Carter's four dunks, objectively I think my four dunks were better."
"If you put my 4 dunks up against Vince Carter's 4 dunks, objectively I think my 4 dunks were better."
- Aaron Gordon
(🎥 @RunItBackFDTV )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 19, 2025
To note, despite putting on a legendary display of dunking, Gordon actually came runner-up in the 2016 contest, because Lavine put on an equally impressive showing.
To further show that Gordon is the undisputed best dunker to not win an NBA dunk contest, in 2020 he also lost to Derrick Jones Jr. in heartbreaking fashion.
This turned out to be a controversial dunk contest, as Gordon received a score of 47 on his last attempt during a dunk-off, despite jumping over 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall.
No matter what one's opinions are, when it comes to who did it best, Carter may have the last laugh as he actually dunked on Gordon during a game (at 40 years old).
All in all, in view of the most recent 2025 dunk contest, there's a new name that can be thrown into this conversation as G-League star Mac Mclung has now become the first player to three-peat in the NBA Slam Dunk contest (2023-2025).
MAC MCCLUNG WITH THE AARON GORDON TRIBUTE pic.twitter.com/wbjDC3RmBu
— Be Magic Or Be Gone! (@BeORLMagic) February 16, 2025
Related: Watch: Every Mac McClung Dunk From Historical NBA Slam Dunk Three-Peat Performance
