Does the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest field truly dunk on a consistent basis? How does their frequency compare to past participants?
On Tuesday the NBA announced the field for 2021 Slam Dunk Contest, which will take place during halftime of the All-Star Game Sunday, March 7 in Atlanta. New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin, Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons, and Indiana Pacers guard Cassius Stanley are the contestants, giving this edition the fewest amount of competitors in Slam Dunk Contest history. It’s hard to tell rather it’s because the event takes place during halftime and they want to abbreviate the contest or if it’s because a bunch of potential candidates declined to participate . Or both.
But with the field set, I wondered how often this trio actually dunk in real games. Does their frequency on the court portend their creativity? I also wondered how that frequency would compare to past participants. So in this article, I will be comparing the Dunks per 36 Minutes of every Dunk Contest competitor since 1997. I start from the ’97 Contest because 1996-97 is the first season with available play-by-play data that tracks dunks.
Do you have any thoughts on the results posted below? Hit me up on Twitter and let me know!
2021
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Obi Toppin Knicks 330 18 1.96 Anfernee Simons Trail Blazers 522 2 0.14 Cassius Stanley Pacers 23 0 0.00 TOTAL NBA 875 20 0.82
2020
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Dwight Howard Lakers 1306 116 3.20 Derrick Jones Jr. (Winner) Heat 1375 84 2.20 Aaron Gordon Magic 2017 88 1.57 Pat Connaughton Bucks 1243 29 0.84 TOTAL NBA 5941 317 1.92
2019
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes John Collins Hawks 1829 157 3.09 Miles Bridges Hornets 1696 71 1.51 Hamidou Diallo (Winner) Thunder 526 22 1.51 Dennis Smith Jr. Knicks 1508 31 0.74 TOTAL NBA 5559 281 1.82
2018
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Larry Nance Jr. Cavaliers 1421 94 2.38 Victor Oladipo Pacers 2552 61 0.86 Dennis Smith Jr. Mavericks 2049 40 0.70 Donovan Mitchell (Winner) Jazz 2638 42 0.57 TOTAL NBA 8660 237 0.99
2017
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes DeAndre Jordan Clippers 2570 253 3.54 Derrick Jones Jr. Suns 545 33 2.18 Aaron Gordon Magic 2298 99 1.55 Glenn Robinson III (Winner) Pacers 1426 21 0.53 TOTAL NBA 6839 405 2.14
2016
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Andre Drummond Pistons 2666 115 1.55 Aaron Gordon Magic 1863 72 1.39 Zach LaVine (Winner) Timberwolves 2294 52 0.82 Will Barton Nuggets 2353 46 0.70 TOTAL NBA 9176 285 1.12
2015
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Giannis Antetokounmpo Bucks 2541 95 1.35 Mason Plumlee Nets 1194 43 1.30 Zach LaVine (Winner) Timberwolves 1902 39 0.74 Victor Oladipo Magic 2573 45 0.63 TOTAL NBA 8210 222 0.97
2014
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Paul George Pacers 2898 69 0.86 Harrison Barnes Warriors 2204 37 0.60 Ben McLemore Kings 2187 34 0.56 John Wall (Dunker of the Night) Wizards 2980 43 0.52 Terrence Ross Raptors 2159 25 0.42 Damian Lillard Trail Blazers 2937 22 0.27 TOTAL NBA 15365 230 0.54
2013
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Jeremy Evans Jazz 215 13 2.18 Kenneth Faried Nuggets 2248 127 2.03 Terrence Ross (Winner) Raptors 1239 38 1.10 Gerald Green Pacers 1080 25 0.83 James White Knicks 435 6 0.50 Eric Bledsoe Clippers 1553 21 0.49 TOTAL NBA 6770 230 1.22
2012
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Jeremy Evans (Winner) Jazz 217 25 4.15 Derrick Williams Timberwolves 1418 36 0.91 Paul George Pacers 1958 49 0.90 Chase Budinger Rockets 1298 19 0.53 TOTAL NBA 4891 129 0.95
2011
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes JaVale McGee Wizards 2193 155 2.54 Blake Griffin (Winner) Clippers 3112 214 2.48 Serge Ibaka Thunder 2216 102 1.66 DeMar DeRozan Raptors 2851 60 0.76 TOTAL NBA 10372 531 1.84
2010
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes DeMar DeRozan Raptors 1664 49 1.06 Shannon Brown Lakers 1700 41 0.87 Gerald Wallace Bobcats 3119 57 0.66 Nate Robinson (Winner) Knicks 1115 4 0.13 TOTAL NBA 7598 151 0.72
2009
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Dwight Howard Magic 2821 202 2.58 Rudy Fernandez Trail Blazers 1993 26 0.47 J.R. Smith Nuggets 2245 28 0.45 Nate Robinson (Winner) Knicks 2209 5 0.08 TOTAL NBA 9268 261 1.01
2008
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Dwight Howard (Winner) Magic 3088 269 3.14 Rudy Gay Grizzlies 3000 115 1.38 Jamario Moon Raptors 2166 75 1.25 Gerald Green Timberwolves 362 7 0.70 TOTAL NBA 8616 466 1.95
2007
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Dwight Howard Magic 3023 254 3.02 Tyrus Thomas Bulls 966 76 2.83 Gerald Green (Winner) Celtics 1780 34 0.69 Nate Robinson Knicks 1356 1 0.03 TOTAL NBA 7125 365 1.84
2006
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Hakim Warrick Grizzlies 724 38 1.89 Andre Iguodala 76ers 3086 129 1.50 Josh Smith Hawks 2559 75 1.06 Nate Robinson (Winner) Knicks 1544 5 0.12 TOTAL NBA 7913 247 1.12
2005
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Amar’e Stoudemire Suns 2889 237 2.95 Josh Smith (Winner) Hawks 2050 114 2.00 Chris Andersen Hornets 1430 69 1.74 J.R. Smith Hornets 1859 49 0.95 TOTAL NBA 8228 469 2.05
2004
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Chris Andersen Nuggets 1029 38 1.33 Jason Richardson Warriors 2936 86 1.05 Ricky Davis Celtics 2474 67 0.97 Fred Jones (Winner) Pacers 1508 16 0.38 TOTAL NBA 7947 207 0.94
2003
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Amar’e Stoudemire Suns 2570 140 1.96 Richard Jefferson Nets 2879 111 1.39 Jason Richardson (Winner) Warriors 2698 64 0.85 Desmond Mason Sonics 2763 52 0.68 TOTAL NBA 10910 367 1.21
2002
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Gerald Wallace Kings 430 27 2.26 Jason Richardson (Winner) Warriors 2629 81 1.11 Desmond Mason Sonics 2420 45 0.67 Steve Francis Rockets 2343 22 0.34 TOTAL NBA 7822 175 0.81
2001
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Stromile Swift Grizzlies 1312 57 1.56 Corey Maggette Clippers 1359 31 0.82 DeShawn Stevenson Jazz 293 6 0.74 Desmond Mason (Winner) Sonics 1522 18 0.43 Baron Davis Hornets 3192 31 0.35 Jonathan Bender Pacers 574 5 0.31 TOTAL NBA 8252 148 0.65
2000
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Ricky Davis Hornets 570 25 1.58 Jerry Stackhouse Pistons 3148 132 1.51 Vince Carter (Winner) Raptors 3126 131 1.51 Tracy McGrady Raptors 2462 97 1.42 Steve Francis Rockets 2776 96 1.24 Larry Hughes 76ers 2324 50 0.77 TOTAL NBA 14406 531 1.33
1997
Player Team Minutes Dunks Dunks/36 Minutes Darvin Ham Nuggets 318 21 2.38 Michael Finley Mavericks 2790 79 1.02 Chris Carr Timberwolves 830 19 0.82 Kobe Bryant (Winner) Lakers 1103 17 0.55 Ray Allen Bucks 2532 21 0.30 Bob Sura Cavaliers 2269 15 0.24 TOTAL NBA 9842 172 0.63
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