Ranking the NBA's Top 10 In-Game Dunkers (2025-26)

Joel Piton
4 days ago
7 min read

December has quietly turned into a highlight-reel month across the league. It feels like almost every night, the NBA has a game that delivers a posters that feels ripped straight from All-Star Weekend—LeBron James detonating on Luke Kornet, Devin Vassell soaring over OG Anunoby, and a steady stream of rim-rattling finishes that remind us why the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest feels so sour. The 2025-26 All-Star Weekend festivities may still be months away, but the truth is hard to ignore: the league’s most dangerous in-game dunkers rarely sign up for it. The real high-flying happens in the heat of the moment, when the lights are brightest. Don’t believe it? Let’s take a look at the best high-flyers in the NBA right now.

Honorable Mention - V.J. Edgecombe (PHI)

Edgecombe, we see you. From his time at Baylor Bears to the pros, he’s played with zero fear above the rim. The bounce is real and the intent is clear every time he takes off—this kid wants to put defenders on posters. If there’s a player who feels tailor-made for the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, it’s Edgecombe. He’s explosive, hyper-competitive, and unafraid of the moment. A top-three overall pick choosing to compete would be massive for the event—and honestly, for the culture. Whether he ever does it or not, his in-game dunks already scream high-flyer.

Anthony Edwards (MIN)

Dunks — 15

2025-26 Stats: 28.7 PPG · 4.9 REB · 3.8 APG · 50.0 FG%

With just 15 dunks on the season, Edwards lands at the bottom of this list by default—but don’t mistake placement for impact. Few players in the league generate more electricity when they take off. Edwards has made it clear the dunk contest isn’t his thing, and statistically, he doesn’t live above the rim the way others here do. Still, when he does elevate, the result is appointment viewing. The explosiveness, the power, the audacity—every Ant-Man dunk feels like it might end up on a poster. He may not flush often, but when he does, the building reacts.

Shaedon Sharpe (POR)

Dunks — 21

2025-26 Stats: 21.7 PPG · 4.6 REB · 2.4 APG · 45.4 FG%

Sharpe has taken one of the most surprising leaps in the league this season, emerging as a legitimate 20-plus point-per-game scorer who does most of his damage inside the arc. He won’t overwhelm defenses from deep—and he doesn’t need to. Sharpe’s game is built on elevation, timing, and fearless attacks at the rim. Many fans still point to his thunderous slam against the Washington Wizards as last season’s "Dunk of the Year", and he’s followed that up with no shortage of rim-rattlers this year, including a memorable punch over Derik Queen. With 21 made dunks, Sharpe sits 45th league-wide—solid volume, but more importantly, elite impact. When Sharpe takes off, it feels different.

Zach Lavine (SAC)

Dunks — 22

2025-26 Stats: 20.2 PPG · 3.0 REB · 2.3 APG · 48.7 FG%

Make no mistake—former back-to-back NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine remains one of the league’s most electric finishers at the rim, and he still does it with flair. As he’s entered his thirties, the saucy 360s have taken a slight back seat to a more perimeter-oriented approach, with LaVine leaning into his shooting range to fill the stat sheet. But the bounce hasn’t disappeared. When he chooses his spots, LaVine can still jump out of the gym—he’s simply more selective now, making each dunk feel intentional rather than routine.

John Collins (LAC)

Dunks — 24

2025-26 Stats: 12.0 PPG · 4.5 REB · 0.7 APG · 49.6 FG%

Few players in the modern era have been as efficient—or as reliable—above the rim as John Collins. He’s a dream pick-and-roll target, pairing elite finishing IQ with rare body control in the air. Collins doesn’t need a perfect lob to convert; if the ball is anywhere in his zip code, he’ll go get it. A forceful finisher by nature, he consistently plays through contact and finishes strong, even with reduced minutes compared to his last season in Utah. At 6’9”, 230 pounds, Collins brings a powerful blend of size, timing, and explosiveness—when he takes off, the result is usually decisive.

Jalen Johnson (ATL)

Dunks — 35

2025-26 Stats: 22.8 PPG · 10.5 REB · 8.2 APG · 51.6 FG%

A shoe-in for his first All-Star appearance, Jalen Johnson does just about everything well on a basketball court—and one of those things happens to be finishing at a level very few players can match. A legitimate triple-double threat, Johnson blends size, fluidity, and explosiveness in a way that consistently shows up around the rim. We watched him soar during his time at Duke, so it should come as no surprise that the athleticism translated seamlessly to the league. Sitting 17th in the NBA in made dunks, Johnson’s vertical often gets lost among his all-around contributions. It shouldn’t, because when he elevates, it’s special.

Trey Murphy III (NOP)

Dunks — 45

2025-26 Stats: 21.1 PPG · 6.5 REB · 3.5 APG · 48.9 FG%

There are only a handful of players in the league who look capable of winning both the dunk contest and the three-point contest—and Trey Murphy III is firmly in that group. Murphy made it all the way to the finals of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2023 before handing the trophy to Gate City’s finest, Mac McClung. Even so, Murphy has consistently proven he’s one of the NBA’s most complete offensive weapons. He stretches the floor with ease, attacks closeouts with confidence, and finishes plays above the rim with authority. This season, he’s recorded the 13th-most dunks league-wide—pretty impressive for a player whose game is just as dangerous outside the arc. Not too shabby at all.

Kel'El Ware (MIA)

Dunks — 46

2025-26 Stats: 11.1 PPG · 10.2 REB · 0.5 APG · 53.3 FG%

Give Kel’El Ware his flowers. There may not be a center in the league right now more mobile getting to the rim and comfortable operating as a pick-and-pop threat. While his shooting efficiency doesn’t quite mirror that of someone like Karl-Anthony Towns, Ware’s consistency above the rim has been undeniable in Miami Heat colors. He’s firmly planted himself 12th league-wide in made dunks, thriving as a vertical spacer who finishes plays decisively. Ware is one of the premier athletic bigs in today’s NBA—and that’s no small praise.

Thompson Twins (HOU/DET)

Dunks — 56 (Amen) 27 (Ausar)

2025-26 Stats: 17.3 PPG · 7.3 REB · 5.3 APG · 48.0 FG% (Amen)

2025-26 Stats: 11.6 PPG · 6.0 REB · 2.9 APG · 52.0 FG% (Ausar)

The chances of either Thompson twin competing in the dunk contest are…extremely low. But make no mistake—Amen and Ausar are widely viewed as athletic outliers, with praise coming from players and analysts alike, including Kyrie Irving and Shaquille O'Neal, who’ve labeled them among the most athletic players the game has ever seen. Sky-high verticals, explosive acceleration, and relentless downhill pressure separate them from the modern, stand-in-the-corner NBA wing archetype. These two would rather flush at the rim than wait for a catch-and-shoot three. Amen, in particular, ranks fifth league-wide with 56 dunks this season, a number that reflects just how often his athleticism translates in real games. A reported 44-inch vertical at the Overtime Elite combine tells you everything you need to know. Ausar isn’t far behind either. Seeing either twin on the All-Star Weekend dunk stage? Keep dreaming.

Jalen Duren (DET)

Dunks — 62

2025-26 Stats: 18.0 PPG · 11.0 REB · 1.7 APG · 64.8 FG%

Another player who’s taken a legitimate leap this season, Jalen Duren has emerged as a true secondary offensive option in Detroit. I was careful about loading this list with centers—because let’s be honest, dunk totals can get inflated when you’re parked under the rim (for example, Rudy Gobert ranks first league-wide but isn’t exactly known for elite athleticism). Duren, however, is nothing like that archetype. He doesn’t rely on dump-offs or cleanup finishes—he glides, elevates, and finishes plays on his own terms. A masterful alley-oop target with real mobility, Duren ranks third league-wide with 62 dunks, and watching him play makes it obvious why. This is explosion, not convenience.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL)

Dunks — 73

2025-26 Stats: 28.9 PPG · 10.1 REB · 6.1 APG · 63.9 FG%

For a player who’s dealt with injuries and missed time this season, it’s honestly remarkable how high Giannis still lands on this list. With 73 recorded dunks, he ranks second league-wide—at 7’0”, with elite mobility and over a decade of NBA experience, he’s mastered interior offense. When Giannis takes flight, there’s very little a defense can do. Too much height. Too much strength. Too much momentum. The result is almost always an uncontested finish, even when defenders are right there. Giannis flirted with the NBA Slam Dunk Contest nearly a decade ago, but he wasn’t quite the Greek Freak yet. It’s hard not to wonder what would’ve happened if this fully realized version showed up back then.

Don’t see your favorite high-flyer? That’s the tough part. This list isn’t built on nostalgia or one viral poster—it’s about the analytics and who’s actually living above the rim right now and finishing at a high clip. Statistically, these are the players elevating through contact and turning games into their own personal mixtape reel. And unfortunately, chances are you won’t see many of them lace it up for the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Some have already done it and moved on. Others never will. The league’s best in-game dunkers usually let their in-game play speak for itself.

That said—who would you want to see on All-Star Weekend? If you could build a dream dunk contest with today’s stars, who’s in it?