Kobe Bryant - Showtime Dunks

Kobe Bryant - the best offensive player to ever take the floor in the NBA

I've seen no shortage of Top 10 Videos on Kobe's dunks, yet I decided to add another one. However, these aren't just dunks that are powerful or posterizing, these dunks were put into the countdown because of their meaning, which could have been situational or circumstantial: they might have changed the course of the game or they could have had more far-reaching consequences. I tried to explain the context of the dunk the best I could after each dunk, but here's a little more insight:

10) Opponent: New Orleans Hornets; Player: Tyson Chandler
For those who followed the 2007-2008 season, Paul & Bryant were the two MVP favorites and the two teams were extremely close in the standings nearing the end of the season. Therefore, this game was extremely important. Paul tried to push for a late run, but this dunk off the broken play restored order. Also, Bryant's impressive statline that night might have gotten the MVP trophy for him, along with the Lakers grabbing the 1st seed at the finish.

9) Opponent: Utah Jazz; Player: Andrei Kirilenko
This had absolutely no impact on the game itself, but it was an exclamation point on Kobe's scoring. Bryant hit nine threes and was seemingly unstoppable on the perimeter. After getting the rebound, he found a chance to attack, and delivered a powerful finish on a 270 turn.

8) Opponent: Houston Rockets; Player: Yao Ming
This was a real facial. Plus, there had to be a Marv Albert "Yes!" somewhere in the list. This wasn't on the infamous 50+ point streak, but it was earlier in his career when he rattled off several 40+ point games. And you simply can't leave out a dunk over a 7'6" guy.

7) Opponent: Phoenix Suns; Player: Steve Nash
Pretty much every Laker fan knows the context of this dunk: over the reigning MVP by the guy that should have been. The Suns boasted one of the best records in the league that year, while Kobe was the scoring champion while pushing the Lakers to a low seed.

6) Opponent: Philadelphia 76ers; Player: Allen Iverson
This was one of the more impressive alley-oops I've seen, and as Hearn predicted, I haven't seen anything of the kind since. Bryant darts away from the 2001 regular season MVP Allen Iverson (which is an accomplishment in and of itself, due to Iverson's speed), and makes a spinning one-handed catch from Shaw for the dunk. Kobe emphatically gestures to the roaring Lakers crows afterwards.

5) Opponent: Minnesota Timberwolves; Player: Kevin Garnett
I have no idea of how Kevin Harlan saw this coming. It really does seem like Kobe is able to defy gravity, taking off from one side of the key and finishing on the other side of the rim over a great defender in Garnett. This was part of the Lakers' 30 point romp in the closeout game against Minnesota in the playoffs.

4) Opponent: Orlando Magic; Player: Kobe Bryant
This dunk had absolutely no context at all back when it happened. Howard claims that Kobe was "the first guy to ever dunk on [him]", and it was all Howard could do to raise his hands to prevent further contact. It seems a lot sweeter now to say that Kobe dunked over Howard, who is the back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year.

3) Opponent: Washington Wizards; Player: Ben Wallace
This was before turned into a true defensive presence, but getting dunked on like this might have been an inspiration for Wallace to learn defense. Additionally, it looked at first like he was going to pull a Vince Carter-esque dunk, jumping over the opponent. Too bad Wallace is tall.

2) Opponent: Denver Nuggets; Player: Vincent Yarbrough
This requires no explanation as to why it is second on the list: being able to catch a long outlet pass without juggling it, using exceptional footwork and an improvised Euro step to get around Yarbrough without traveling, putting the ball behind the back without getting it swiped at or stolen, and still having the presence of mind to know where the basket was to finish, even over the extended contest of Yarbrough.

1) Opponent: New York Knicks; Player: Latrell Sprewell
This is like "Kobe over Garnett 2.0". Bryant jumps from the baseline (almost out of bounds), just about from the restricted circle extended. That is ridiculously difficult: to jump from where he did, to pump it, and still have the hangtime and the arm strength to pull the rim down on the other side? Even if you're not convinced, the Harlan call was too good to pass up

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-The hype track is entitled "Europa" by "Globus" from the album "Epicon

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[grenadanboy1]

Dat was naiceee lmlz

[kobeballin28]

the dunk on dwight should have been #2

[aznpowerdaniel]

#6 alley over tyrone hill

ai was guarding kobe but nowhere near the poster lol

[mrsseay09]

#2 is better tu me

[Adriix010]

Great Video!

And yuup that's the man! Dude is the #GREATEST!

Hand down... Man down baby! <3

[LakersRmyLife]

i love ur video.. sth different 2 other highlight videos. kinda calm, but intense:) love it

[noel6191]

yes kobe braynt the best

[fl2iedfish]

make one about vince carter too! hes got a lot of dunks!

[redojmainiac]

amazing video man!