Memorable dunk contests from NBA All-Star Weekend - ESPN

On Saturday, four high-flying dunkers will participate in the 2024 NBA AT&T Slam Dunk Contest.

This year's contest will feature Miami Heat rookie forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, New York Knicks rookie forward Jacob Toppin, and defending champion Mac McClung of the Osceola Magic, the G-League affiliate of the Orlando Magic.

Though the dunk contest can contain varying degrees of star power from year to year, that doesn't erase the history of the competition. Whether it's Dwight Howard dressing up as Superman for a soaring slam or Gerald Green blowing out a candle on a cupcake mid-dunk, there are moments from this contest that live in the minds of fans long after a champion is crowned.

Here are some of the most memorable dunk contests:

Aaron Gordon kicked things off with a reverse between-the-legs jam. Zach LaVine matched the energy by tossing himself an alley-oop for a reverse behind-the-back slam.

The stakes increased each round: Gordon introduced Stuff the Magic Dragon — the Magic's mascot — in a dunk that required him to jump over the mascot while performing a three-sixty Eastbay slam. LaVine followed up with an alley-oop from Andre Miller from the free-throw line.

With the aid of Stuff the Magic Dragon again, Gordon did something fans hadn't seen before in a dunk contest. Stuff spun in a circle on a hoverboard with the ball in his left hand like a statue. After timing his next move, Gordon cuffed the ball while doing a tomahawk 360 before slamming it through the hoop.

LaVine and Gordon both earned perfect scores in three of the four championship rounds. The contest ended when Gordon received a 47 on a fake tomahawk backward dunk, and LaVine scored a 50 on a between-the-legs dunk from the