NBA ALL-STAR 2025: The most memorable dive contests
The NBA nailed contest is defined by its most exciting competitions throughout history. Next, we highlight some of the most memorable.
On Saturday, four high -flight players will participate in the AT&T NBA NBA contest of the All-Star 2025.
This year’s contest will feature the chicago bulls rookie, Matas Buzelisthe rookie base of the San Antonio Spurs, Stephon Castlethe base of the Milwaukee Bucks, Andre Jackson Jr. And the two -time defender champion, Mac McClungof the Osceola Magic, the subsidiary of the G-League of the Orlando Magic.
Although the divestock contest It may contain different degrees of stellar from one year to another, that does not erase the history of the competition. Whether it’s Dwight Howard disguised as Superman for a spectacular overturned or Gerald Green turning off a candle of a cake in the middle of a overtimethere are moments of this contest that live in the minds of fans long after a champion is crowned.
Here we highlight some of the Nailed contestss more memorable:
2023, Utah: McClung evolves competition
McClung It was a feeling of the overturters in high school, where it became viral constantly by its nailed in the games.
McClungwhich was not selected in the draft, made its debut in a divestock contest In the 2023 edition that showed the evolution of advanced overtions, and obtained multiple perfect scores as a result.
The 1.88 meter (6-2) escort achieved overtions that did not seem possible. In his first attempt, McClung He jumped on two people to make an inverse overturned with touch on the board, which established the standard for the competition.
Took advantage of a Windmill 360 degree inverse with both hands, a reverse dump of Double-Pump double while jumping on a person and a nailed of more than 360 degrees to pay tribute to his career in high school.
With only four experience games in the NBA at that time, McClung raised his first trophy of divestock contestwhich eventually became consecutive trophies.
2016, Toronto: Gordon vs. Lavine
Aaron Gordon He began the competition with a mate between the legs. Zach Lavine equalized energy by launching a Alley -oop For a mate behind the back.
The bet increased in each round: Gordon He presented Stuff The Magic Dragon (the Magic pet) in a dump that required him to jump on her while performing a 360 degrees Eastbay type. Lavine He continued with a Andre Miller Alley -oop from the free throw line.
With the help of Stuff The Magic Dragon again, Gordon He did something that fans had never seen before in a volley contest. Stuff turned in a circle on a flying skate with the ball in his left hand like a statue. After timing your next movement, Gordon took the ball while making a tomahawk 360 before nailing it into the hoop.
Lavine and Gordon They obtained perfect scores in three of the four rounds of the championship. The contest ended when Gordon He received a 47 in a turning back with a false tomahawk and Lavine He scored a 50 on a dump between the legs from the free throw line to keep the victory.
2000, Oakland: Vince Carter’s show
As the NBA did not have a weekend of stars in 1999 due to a employer closure, the league made a great effort for its return.
What could be bigger than Vince Carter and Tracy Mcgrary?
Both players caused the stadium to be encouraged with their first attempts, and each one got 50 points. The one of Mcgrary It consisted of an alley-oop with an inverted double mate. Carter matched his then partner of Toronto Raptors with 360 degree Windmill.
“I feel good, I have done it about two or three times in my life before that,” he said Sump After mate. “I didn’t practice, but I felt good.”
The famous phrase “is over” arose from the third mate of Sump of the competition. With the aid of Mcgrarywho bounced the ball on the ground, Sump He caught the ball in the air to place it between his legs. He also made a mate in which he put his elbow in the hoop.
Sump won with 98 points compared to 91 of Steve Francis and the 77 of Mcgrary.
1997, Cleveland: Kobe wins rookie
After entering the league from Lower Merion high school, Kobe Bryant He competed in the contest of dive with only 18 years.
Bryant He failed two dumps, which put a lot of pressure on the rookie. But a 49 in a nailed between his legs he kept him in the competition.
The 49 of Bryant He recorded his name in the history books as the youngest player to win a dive contest.
1988, Chicago: MJ vs. Dominique
Representing the local team, the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan faced a formidable alignment of competitors that included Dominique Wilkinsalso known as the “Human Highlight Reel”, Clyde Drexler, Spud Webb, Otis Smith and Greg Anderson. But all eyes were focused on The duel between Wilkins and Jordan.
Wilkins and Jordan They exchanged perfect scores in the final round. The judges gave him Jordan A 47 for its two -handed dump Rock The Cradle already Wilkins A 45 for your Windmill two hands.
Wilkins The competition ended with 145 points, already Jordan He still had one more attempt. I needed a 49 to win the contest.
Imitating Julius Erving with his famous dump from the free throw line, Jordan He customized the play by taking out his tongue and maintaining a pose while floating in the air, obtaining a perfect score and the title of the 1988 dive contest.
1986, Dallas: Spud flies more than others
Webbwhich measures 1.70 meters (5-7), had to face an alignment that had an average height of 1.90 meters (6-7).
In the final, Webb He faced Wilkinshis teammate and current champion of the Mate contest. Webb made two perfect mates to put pressure on Wilkins. In his last attempt, the 1.90 meter forward made a Windmill With the two hands that only received a 48, which made him end in second.
“He gave a great show … he made some mates that I did not think he had (in his arsenal) and it was quite hard (e) he made some mates in the hoop that, well, many types of 1.90 meters would not be able to do,” said Wilkins.
1976, Denver: Dr. J makes history
He 1976 dive contest was the first professional overturned contest Organized by the ABA before the NBA introduced its first in 1977. At that time, the Mates competitions had strict rules. Each participant had to perform five mates, two of which were mandatory and three that could be done in freestyle.
For your standing mate, Julius Erving He took two basketball balls and stuck them back and immediately began to measure his steps from the free throw line.
Erving He approached the free throw line and gave three strides before taking off in the air and turning the ball.
“Doc’s hair flew back,” said George Gervin, referring to the Afro of Erving.
