It may have been the worst Dunk contest in a long time but The Knicks Nate Robinson managed to make history.
The bar was set pretty low at the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk in Dallas. With LeBron James reneging on his promise to compete it was up to Gerald Wallace, Shannon Brown, DeMar DeRozan and Nate Robinson to bring the thunder.
But in a contest where the announcers were typing “this is boring” on their Blackberrys during the dunks, the Knicks guard reigned supreme and nabbed his third Slam Dunk title. He is the first player in NBA history to accomplish that feat.
The final dunk for the 5-foot-9 Robinson came when he threw the ball off the backboard, grabbed it and turned midair for a two-handed backward slam.
Robinson won his previous titles in 2006 and 2009.
Slam Champs
Year | Location | Slam Dunk Champion |
2010 | Dallas | Nate Robinson, New York |
2009 | Phoenix | Nate Robinson, New York |
2008 | New Orleans | Dwight Howard, Orlando |
2007 | Las Vegas | Gerald Green, Boston |
2006 | Houston | Nate Robinson, New York |
2005 | Denver | Josh Smith, Atlanta |
2004 | Los Angeles | Fred Jones, Indiana |
2003 | Atlanta | Jason Richardson, Golden State |
2002 | Philadelphia | Jason Richardson, Golden State |
2001 | Washington, D.C. | Desmond Mason, Seattle |
2000 | Oakland | Vince Carter, Toronto |
1997 | Cleveland | Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers |
1996 | San Antonio | Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers |
1995 | Phoenix | Harold Miner, Miami |
1994 | Minneapolis | Isaiah Rider, Minnesota |
1993 | Salt Lake City | Harold Miner, Cleveland |
1992 | Orlando | Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix |
1991 | Charlotte | Dee Brown, Boston |
1990 | Miami | Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta |
1989 | Houston | Kenny Walker, New York |
1988 | Chicago | Michael Jordan, Chicago |
1987 | Seattle | Michael Jordan, Chicago |
1986 | Dallas | Spud Webb, Atlanta |
1985 | Indianapolis | Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta |
1984 | Denver | Larry Nance, Phoenix |