As I sit here watching the MPBL 2025 season unfold with record-breaking performances like Sarangani's 148-111 demolition of Bulacan, I can't help but reflect on how dunking has evolved across basketball leagues worldwide. Having followed basketball for over two decades, I've witnessed firsthand how the slam dunk contest has become the crown jewel of All-Star weekends, creating legends and breaking hearts in equal measure. The sheer athleticism displayed in these contests often mirrors the explosive energy we see in regular season games, though few regular season dunks ever achieve the iconic status of contest winners.
Let me take you through the complete roster of NBA Slam Dunk champions, starting from the early days when the contest was just finding its footing. The first official champion in 1984 was Larry Nance, whose two-handed rock the baby dunk set the standard for creativity. What many fans don't realize is that Nance stood 6'10" - unusually tall for a dunker even by today's standards. The following year brought us the legendary Dominique Wilkins, whose powerful windmill dunks became his signature move. I've always believed Wilkins never got the credit he deserved for revolutionizing power dunking - his 1985 performance where he scored perfect 50s on both final dunks remains one of my personal favorites.
The late 80s introduced us to Michael Jordan, whose free-throw line dunk in 1988 created what I consider the most iconic image in basketball history. Having watched the footage countless times, I'm still amazed by how he seemed to hang in the air for an impossible duration. The 90s brought us Dee Brown's no-look dunk in 1991 and Isaiah Rider's between-the-legs "East Bay Funk Dunk" in 1994 - moves that changed dunk contests forever. I remember trying to replicate Brown's no-look dunk in my driveway and failing spectacularly, which gave me even more appreciation for the skill involved.
The new millennium saw the contest lose some steam until Jason Richardson's back-to-back wins in 2002 and 2003 reinvigorated the competition. His off-the-backboard between-the-legs dunk remains technically brilliant, though in my opinion, doesn't get the recognition it deserves compared to flashier modern dunks. Then came the 2016 contest between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon - what I consider the greatest dunk contest in history. Gordon's under-both-legs dunk over the mascot was so revolutionary that it should have won any other year, but LaVine's free-throw line dunks from various angles were equally breathtaking.
Recent years have given us unforgettable moments like Derrick Jones Jr.'s 2020 win and Obi Toppin's 2022 victory. Watching Toppin's performance reminded me of why I fell in love with the contest - the raw excitement when a player attempts something never seen before. The evolution from simple power slams to the acrobatic, technically complex dunks of today shows how athletes continue pushing boundaries. Just last night, watching the MPBL game where Sarangani scored 148 points, I saw several dunks that would have been contest-worthy a decade ago.
What makes a dunk truly memorable isn't just the difficulty or creativity - it's the story behind it. When Nate Robinson won his third dunk contest in 2010, his victory was about overcoming his 5'9" height as much as his athleticism. When Blake Griffin jumped over a car in 2011, it was the spectacle that captured imaginations. These moments transcend basketball and become part of sports culture. The 37-point margin in that MPBL game I mentioned earlier demonstrates how dunking can shift momentum and demoralize opponents in ways that ordinary baskets simply can't.
Looking at the complete list of champions reveals interesting patterns. Only 7 players have won multiple times, with Jason Richardson and Nate Robinson being the only back-to-back winners in the modern era. The average height of winners has decreased from around 6'8" in the 80s to about 6'5" today, showing how technique has become more important than pure size. Teams like Sarangani that understand the psychological impact of spectacular dunks often use them strategically to break games open, much like we saw in their record-breaking performance.
As we look to the future, I'm excited to see how the next generation will innovate. The incorporation of props and storytelling has added new dimensions to the contest, though some purists argue it's become too gimmicky. Personally, I believe the balance between pure athleticism and entertainment is what keeps the contest relevant. The way Sarangani used explosive plays to build momentum in their 148-point game shows how the dunk remains basketball's ultimate weapon - both in contests and actual games. The evolution continues, and I for one can't wait to see what comes next.