NBA · Reference Guide
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest is held during All-Star Saturday Night and has been the premier showcase for the league's most creative finishers since 1984. The list below tracks the modern era (2000 onward); each entry links to the winner's player page when one exists on the site.
Year-by-Year Winners
2026 — Keshad Johnson
Outpointed Carter Bryant in the Los Angeles final.
2025 — Mac McClung
Won in San Francisco to become the first player with three straight NBA Slam Dunk Contest titles.
2024 — Mac McClung
Defended his 2023 crown to become the third back-to-back winner in event history.
2023 — Mac McClung
Won as a two-way contract player after a viral G League dunk reel earned him the All-Star Saturday invitation.
2022 — Obi Toppin
Beat Cole Anthony, Jalen Green, and Juan Toscano-Anderson in the Cleveland field.
2021 — Anfernee Simons
Edged Cassius Stanley in a fan-less All-Star Saturday held in Atlanta.
2020 — Derrick Jones Jr.
Won a memorable Chicago final over Aaron Gordon on tiebreakers after both posted matching scores.
2019 — Hamidou Diallo
Cleared Shaquille O'Neal for a one-handed jam that became the night's signature highlight.
2018 — Donovan Mitchell
Wore Vince Carter's Raptors jersey on a tribute dunk during the Los Angeles final.
2017 — Glenn Robinson III
Leapt over three teammates plus the Pacers' mascot for the winning dunk in New Orleans.
2016 — Zach LaVine
Won a near-perfect Toronto duel with Aaron Gordon often cited among the greatest finals in event history.
2015 — Zach LaVine
Rookie debut: opened with three straight 50-point dunks in New York.
2014 — John Wall
The contest used a one-off East-vs-West team format; Wall was named freestyle MVP for the East.
2013 — Terrence Ross
Recreated a Vince Carter between-the-legs dunk wearing Carter's Raptors jersey.
2012 — Jeremy Evans
Two-balls-at-once windmill closed out the Orlando final.
2011 — Blake Griffin
Capped his rookie season by leaping over a Kia sedan in the Staples Center final.
2010 — Nate Robinson
Became the first three-time Slam Dunk champion in event history.
2009 — Nate Robinson
Wore a 'Krypto-Nate' Superman parody jersey to dethrone Dwight Howard in Phoenix.
2008 — Dwight Howard
Made the Superman cape moment that became one of the contest's most-replayed images.
2007 — Gerald Green
Used a lit birthday-cake dunk in the Las Vegas final to edge Nate Robinson.
2006 — Nate Robinson
5-foot-9 rookie leapt over Spud Webb to win in Houston.
2005 — Josh Smith
Honored Dominique Wilkins with a tribute jersey during the Denver final.
2004 — Fred Jones
Won a low-key Los Angeles final over Jason Richardson and Chris Andersen.
2003 — Jason Richardson
Repeated as champion behind a between-the-legs reverse in Atlanta.
2002 — Jason Richardson
Won the Philadelphia final over Desmond Mason.
2001 — Desmond Mason
Beat Baron Davis in the Washington, D.C. final.
2000 — Vince Carter
Often called the most influential single dunk performance in event history; revived the contest after a two-year hiatus.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). see source.
NBA · Last updated 2026-05-31