Dwight Howard Names His Top 5 Dunkers Of All Time

It's not often that Jordan has to settle for second spot on any list, but he has to here. He won the Dunk Contest twice, in 1987 and 1988. Jordan was the first player to defend his title and to win the competition on multiple occasions. 

Howard went with himself at third, and he won the dunk contest in 2008. He famously wore a Superman costume and cape for his second dunk that night, and it remains one of the most iconic moments in the recent history of the contest.

Dominique Wilkins was the second player, after Jordan, to win the contest twice, in 1985 and 1990, and he is fourth on Howard's list. Wilkins was nicknamed "The Human Highlight Film" and for good reason. He was a spectacular dunker, and many believe he should have been the winner in 1988, not Jordan.

The last spot on Howard's list went to Darryl Dawkins, who actually never participated in the dunk contest. Dawkins was built for the contest, but he was past his physical peak by the time the NBA held its first one in 1984. He shattered the backboard with his dunks on two occasions, and it's a shame we never got to see him on that stage.

While Howard didn't make any outrageous selections here, there were some surprising omissions.

Julius Erving, who won the first dunk contest in 1976 in the ABA, is the biggest one. Erving had shared his list of the four greatest dunkers of all time, and it included himself, Carter, Jordan, and Wilkins. It's hard to argue with that.

Blake Griffin was another notable omission, and Howard stated he would be in the top 10. Griffin won the contest in 2011 after jumping over a car for his final dunk.

Dwight Howard Doesn't Believe Michael Jordan Had A 48-Inch Vertical 

While Howard showed respect to Jordan by putting him at second on his all-time list of dunkers, he made it clear in this episode that he doesn't believe he had a 48-inch vertical.  

"If Jordan really had a 48, that means he's touching the top of the backboard," Howard said. "I've touched the top of the backboard, and I've touched higher. I've dunked on a 12-foot, 7-foot goal. If Jordan had a 48-inch vert, he should be sitting on the rim. He should be able to turn around and sit on the rim."

"They are saying Michael Jordan has the highest vert ever," Howard stated. "It's got to be some Gatorade like Nike type we're gonna pay to make this seem this way... If Michael Jordan had a 48-inch vert, I feel like those are Wilt [Chamberlain] lies."

Well, the NBA only began recording players' maximum vertical leap at the 2000 Draft Combine. So, there is no official record of Jordan having a 48-inch vertical.