Top 30 Dunkers of All-Time (All Players of NBA Level and their Ability and Resume)

JOEL AND JAY STRAIGHT UP CORRECT LIST OF DUNKERS

1. Vince Carter

2. Michael Jordan

3. Dominique Wilkins

4. Julius Erving

5. Jason Richardson

6. James White

7. Spud Webb

8. Gerald Green

9. Josh Smith

10. Larry Nance

11. LeBron James

12. David Thompson

13. Blake Griffin

14. Nate Robinson

15. Dwight Howard

16. Shawn Kemp

17. Tracy McGrady

18. Desmond Mason

19. Darrell Griffith

20. Clyde Drexler

21. Terrance Stansbury

22. Kobe Bryant

23. Ricky Davis

24. Andre Iguodala

25. Harold Miner

26. Kenny Walker

27. Darryl Dawkins

28. J.R. Smith

29. Steve Francis

30. Dwyane Wade

The Top 25 Basketball Players of All Time

The criteria is:  Individual Ability and Expertise as a Player, Career Accomplishments, Longevity

1. Michael Jordan
2. Bill Russell
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
4. Wilt Chamberlain
5. Magic Johnson
6. Larry Bird
7. Shaquille O'Neal
8. Kobe Bryant
9. Hakeem Olajuwon
10. Oscar Robertson
11. Tim Duncan
12. Karl Malone
13. Jerry West
14. Julius Erving
15. Moses Malone
16. Elgin Baylor
17. LeBron James
18. Kevin Garnett
19. Charles Barkley
20. John Havlicek
21. David Robinson
22. Scottie Pippen
23. Bob Pettit
24. Dirk Nowitzki
25. Bob Cousy

Hakeem or Moses

After the absolute top-tier (Wilt, Russell, Kareem, Shaq), we're faced with the difficult task of choosing either Hakeem Olajuwon or Moses Malone as the 5th best center of all-time. Obviously Hakeem was the greater athlete, but Moses put up some fierce numbers over a ridiculously long career. Who was better?

Willie Mays or Hank Aaron

How does one measure success as a baseball player? Championships are obviously a place to begin, but MVPs may count even more. Baseball, with its 9 players involved in each aspect of the game, is much less about the play of one man than is football or basketball. It's rare that we describe baseball players as "taking over games" or "catching fire". Baseball is a slower game, told in the day-to-day accumulation of stats and percentages. One at bat tells very little about a player, but career totals send a clear message.

If stats are to be especially valued in baseball arguments, then the debate between Hank Aaron and Willie Mays is a truly interesting one.

Hits: Aaron 3771, Mays 3283

HomeRuns: Aaron 755, Mays 660

RBIs: Aaron 2297, Mays 1903

Batting Avg: Aaron .305, Mays .302

MVPs: Mays 2, Aaron 1

Titles: Aaron 1, Mays 1

Steals: Mays 338, Aaron 240

Gold Gloves: Mays 12, Aaron 3

On Base Pct: Mays .384, Aaron .374

What's obvious to me is that Aaron was the better hitter, and Mays the better fielder. Mays was faster (as evidenced by more steals), but Aaron seemed more powerful and more durable. Aaron's 95 home run and 394 RBI edges are significant. And his slight advantage in batting average, .305 to .302, gives him a very strong case for superiority at the plate.

But Mays came before Aaron, and he was a smiling, endearing figure known as "the Say Hey Kid." He made highlight plays in the field and had 2 50-home-run seasons (52 and 51). He was perhaps the first superior athlete in major American sports. There's something about the fact that he never broke Babe Ruth's hallowed record (714 homeruns) that almost makes him easier to like.

Hank Aaron bested one of the greatest records in all of sports when he hit home run no. 715 in 1974. Many people cringed at seeing the immortal Babe Ruth replaced in the record books. Little did we know how much more we'd cringe when Aaron was passed by the steroid-using cheater, Barry Bonds. Much respect to Hank Aaron, the only steroid-free man to hit 715 home runs.

Advantage: AARON

Dan Marino or Brett Favre

Due to their postseason failures, most football fans refuse to seriously consider either Dan Marino or Brett Favre as the greatest quarterback of all-time. While Marino and Favre hold (or held) many of the statistical records for regular season Quarterback play, both faced severe scrutiny during their playing days, as well as now when judged by history. While they might not be candidates for no. 1, who was better: Dan Marino or Brett Favre?

The case for Marino: 17 seasons, 61.25% regular season winning pct, 429 Touchdowns, 1 MVP and 8 Pro-Bowl Selections. Marino set the single-season passing TD record with 48 in 1984, a mark that stood for 23 years. He was, without question, one of the greatest passers the game has ever seen, with a completion percentage of 59.4% and a TD-to-Int ratio of 1.70. In 242 games, Marino fumbled 110 times and averaged 253 passing yards per game. His all-time QB Rating is 86.4.

Brett Favre bested Marino with 19 seasons of play and a 62.4% regular season winning pct. Favre also topped Marino by throwing (and rushing) for 522 touchdowns, winning 3 MVPs and 1 Super Bowl. Favre's completion percentage was 62.0%, also better than Marino. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler and had a QB Rating of 86.0 (a fraction under Marino's).

In summary, Brett Favre and Dan Marino have very similar career accomplishments. However, Brett Favre did win the big one (capturing the 1997 Super Bowl) and was named the League's MVP 3 times, compared to Marino's 0 Titles and 1 MVP. He topped Marino's Career Yardage and Touchdown records and completed his passes at a higher percentage. His 166 Fumbles and 336 Interceptions hurt his case, but in the end he did more positive things than Marino did, and over a longer career.

Advantage: FAVRE

Dr. J or Kobe

In their time, Julius Erving and Kobe Bryant were perhaps the baddest men in the sport of basketball. From 1971 until 1983, no NBA Athlete was as popular as Julius "Dr. J" Erving. Erving began his career in the ABA, dominating the league to the tune of : 28.7 pts, 12.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists with 2 Championships and 3 MVPs in 5 seasons. After switching to the NBA in 1976, Erving continued to excel at the top of the game playing in 4 NBA Finals (77, 80, 82 and 83) and adding another Championship and another MVP. Dr. J retired with career averages of 24.2 pts, 8.2 rebs and 4.2 asts. He was an all-star in every year he played and he set the standard for athletic, high-flying basketball. Julius Erving is truly one of the game's greatest players. The question is: has Kobe Bryant surpassed him?

Kobe Bryant leads active NBA Players with 5 Championships. Add to that his one MVP and 2 Finals MVPs and you have a case for greatness already. Kobe's career averages are: 25.0 pts, 5.2 rebs and 4.6 asts, nearly even with the Doctor. From 2005 until 2010, Kobe was widely considered to be the best player in the game. He has even been called the game's best by legends such as Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. His scoring ability, clutch shooting and overwhelming determination to win have elevated him to superstar status, earning him the right to be considered one of the best of all-time.

Dr. J was clearly the better rebounder. His 3.0 rebound per game advantage makes this point clearly, given the fact that he often played small forward and possessed freakishly long arms on his 6'7" frame. Their passing abilities are perhaps equal, but Kobe has the edge in ballhandling. Shooting from the outside is a huge advantage for Kobe, while the edge in attacking the basket has to go to Erving. Free throws go to Kobe, Athleticism goes to Erving. The match-up is close, but to me there is a winner.

Kobe Bryant is far from finished in his NBA Career. Given his current age (33) and passion for the game, Kobe has a strong chance to finish as one of the top 3 scorers in NBA History. Should he win another championship, he would tie Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at 6. Truly that company is a step above Dr. J's level.

In the end, it comes down to their chief motivations as basketball players. For Dr. J it seemed that he was best suited to be an entertainer, an effective showman on the court, capable of impossible moves and dunks but unable to routinely lead his team to victory when it counted most. In the end, Dr. J must be judged for winning just once out of 4 trips to the NBA Finals. In 1983 when his Sixers captured the crown, it was Moses Malone who was voted Finals MVP. Julius Erving was exactly what he tried to be as a player: A successful, classy, elegant superstar who entertained the fans and set certain standards for highlight-film moves. Kobe Bryant for his part has been equally successful in achieving his goals as a player: To imitate Jordan better than anyone ever has, to be known as a winner and to be respected as one of the fiercest competitors the game has ever known.

Advantage: KOBE

Kareem or Shaq

Shaquille O'Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are, without question, two of the greatest centers of all-time. Shaq holds 4 championships (with 3 Finals MVPs) and one regular season MVP. He was at, or near, the top of the game from 1993 until 2006. He led his team to the finals 6 times and operated as the most fearsome presence in the low post since Wilt Chamberlain. Standing 7'1" and 325 lbs, Shaq was the best center in the game for over a decade. His career averages are: 23.7 pts, 10.9 rebs and 2.5 assists. His 58.2% Field Goal Percentage ranks 2nd all-time. He has scored the 5th most points in NBA History. He is a living legend who extended his career an impressive 19 seasons.........But is he better than Kareem?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds 6 NBA Championships (with 2 Finals MVPs). He was named Most Valuable Player 6 times (an NBA Record). Standing 7'2" and 225 lbs, Kareem was a finesse center who averaged 24.6 pts per game over a 20 year career. Add to that 11.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists and you have a comprehensive statistical advantage for Kareem over Shaq. Kareem was the best center in the league, without question, from 1970 until 1982. Kareem was even selected to the All-NBA First Team in 1985-86 at age 39. Kareem is the all-time leading scorer in NBA History. He once averaged 34.8 pts in a season and ended his career with 2.6 blocks per game. While Shaq could bully his way into scoring, Kareem was equally unstoppable with a skillful shot he invented: the skyhook.

The answer is clear. Kareem was better than Shaq. He even added 5 First Team All-Defenses to his resume, while Shaq never received that honor. Kareem did more over a longer period and ended his career as arguably the most successful player in the history of the game.

Advantage: KAREEM