Four NBA 75 members participated in the 1985 Slam Dunk Contest: Clyde Drexler, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins.
Throughout their storied NBA careers, the 75 greatest players in history have been known to put on a show. But of this elite group, just 13 walked off the floor as winners on All-Star Saturday night.
Many of their performances remain cemented in NBA lore like the Slam Dunk Contest duel in 1988 between Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins and Larry Bird, in his black Converse Weapons, winning the last of his three consecutive 3-point Contest crowns in 1988 without ever unsnapping his Boston Celtics shooting shirt.
(If you’d like to re-live some of these moments, don’t hesitate to click here for a fun trip down memory lane.)
It’s important to note the NBA 3-point Contest first started in 1986, while the Slam Dunk Contest was established in 1984. The NBA Skills Challenge didn’t hit the scene until 2003, and the HORSE Challenge has taken place just four times in league history.
While we’ve got you here, let’s take a closer look at the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team members that provided some of the most iconic moments in league history on NBA All-Star Saturday:
Dominique Wilkins, NBA Slam Dunk Contest (1985, ’90)
Even in the dunk contests he didn’t win, “The Human Highlight Film” blessed us with some of the most explosive, powerful jams we’ve ever seen, even to this day. Taking advice from Isiah Thomas on dunks to try, Wilkins outdueled a rookie in Michael Jordan in 1985 with a pair of perfect scores on two jams in the final round for a final tally of 147-136. Then, in 1990 Wilkins bested Kenny Smith, who wowed the crowd by bouncing the ball backward between his legs with his back to the basket, before catching it midair for a reverse dunk, by a score of 146.8 to 145.1 (So, don’t let Smith’s sprints to the videoboard on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” fool you).
Larry Bird, NBA 3-point Contest (1986, ’87, ’88)
In 1988, Larry Bird won his 3rd consecutive 3-point Contest while still wearing his warm-up jacket.
Watching from a monitor inside the arena, Michael Jordan shook his head in amazement after watching this red-hot, 23-point round from Bird, saying: “I’d hate to see when he takes off his top.” Bird didn’t need to. Edging Dale Ellis by just two points, Bird let his final money ball fly and immediately walked off the court with a finger pointed skyward in anticipation of his third-straight victory in the NBA All-Star 3-point Contest.
Michael Jordan, NBA Slam Dunk Contest (1987, ’88)
Plenty of folks remember exactly where they were and the ensuing arguments at home, school, or the barbershop about who really won the 1988 battle between Jordan and Wilkins. You can catch some of the highlights from that classic duel right here. No need to delve into the debate regarding that battle because it’s much more fun to just appreciate some of the most beautiful aerial artistry we’ve ever seen from both Jordan and Wilkins, as the former walked away with his second-straight dunk contest crown.
Kobe Bryant, NBA Slam Dunk Contest (1997)
On Feb. 8, 1997, Kobe Bryant wins the Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie.
In a field that included fellow NBA 75th Anniversary Team member Ray Allen, Bryant — then an 18-year-old rookie — beat out Michael Finley and Chris Carr in the final round in Cleveland. Bryant’s performance made him the youngest Slam Dunk champion, and you can watch the whole contest in its entirety right here.
Ray Allen, NBA 3-point Contest (2001)
Many remember Allen for his days with the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, but the sharpshooter spent his first seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, winning the 2001 3-point Contest wearing a sweet pair of Air Jordan XVIs against a field that included clutch shooters such as Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovic. You can check out a mini movie of Allen’s performance right here, courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jason Kidd, NBA Skills Challenge (2003)
It’s fitting that one of the best point guards to ever lace them up walked away victorious at the inaugural NBA Skills Challenge in Atlanta. Kidd defeated fellow Oakland, Calif. native Gary Payton in the finals of a competition that also featured point guards Tony Parker and Stephon Marbury.
Steve Nash, NBA Skills Challenge (2005, ‘10)
Steve Nash won 2 NBA Skills Challenge titles in his Hall of Fame career.
Nash battled Allen in the 3-point Contest in 2001, but the Skills Challenge is where the point guard could really shine, showcasing his ability to dribble, pass, and shoot from different spots on the court with speed and accuracy. Nash won his second Skills Challenge in 2010 at 36 years old against Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings and Deron Williams.
Dwyane Wade, NBA Skills Challenge (2006, ’07)
It’s great Wade won two Skills Challenge crowns, but why didn’t “Flash” ever enter the dunk contest? In 2007, Wade successfully defended his Skills Challenge title by beating Bryant in the finals, after they eliminated LeBron James and Chris Paul in the first round. That’s quite the gauntlet.
Dirk Nowitzki, NBA 3-point Contest (2006)
On top of the one-legged fadeaway, the big fellow from Germany can knock down the 3-ball, which he proved in 2006 after two other unsuccessful tries in the 3-point Contest. In a field that included teammate Jason Terry along with Ray Allen, Gilbert Arenas, Chauncey Billups and Quentin Richardson, Nowitzki became the only 7-footer to win the 3-Point Contest.
Kevin Durant, NBA HORSE Competition (2009, ’10)
Kevin Durant won both editions of the NBA HORSE Competition in 2009 and ’10.
The NBA first brought back the HORSE Competition in 2009, and Durant drew four letters early and got down to his last in the competition against O.J. Mayo and Joe Johnson, before catching fire to win it. Durant’s first HORSE victory came a night after Durant racked up 46 points to earn MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge.
Paul Pierce, NBA 3-point Contest (2010)
Call this one sweet redemption for Pierce, who scored just eight points in the 2002 3-point Shootout. Pierce scored 20 points in the final round, knocking down all five of the money balls to defeat Stephen Curry and Chauncey Billups, who finished with 17 and 14, respectively.
Damian Lillard, NBA Skills Challenge (2013, ’14)
“Dame Time” struck two years in a row for the superstar Trail Blazers guard. Lillard successfully defended his Skills Challenge title in 2014, but that year he also became the first player to compete in all three of the main Saturday night events at All-Star weekend. Lillard also competed in the 3-point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest that year.
Stephen Curry, NBA 3-point Contest (2015, ’21), NBA Skills Challenge (2011)
Stephen Curry put up 28 points, including the contest-clinching final money ball, to win the 2021 MTN DEW 3-Point Contest!
It’s actually somewhat of a surprise that Curry hasn’t won more titles in the 3-point Contest. The NBA’s All-time leader in made 3-pointers, Curry is also one of the league’s most skilled players, which is why he’s also a champion in the Skills Challenge. It would’ve been nice to see Curry and/or teammate Klay Thompson in the 2022 MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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