The Most Epic NBA Dunk Contest Photos Ever Taken

With the 2015 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on the horizon, here is a look back at the most memorable photos and videos from the competition over the years.

1. 2014

Reuters / USA Today Sports

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

 

Washington Wizards guard John Wall won the 2014 contest when he jumped over the team mascot and did a reverse dunk at Smoothie King Center on Feb. 15, 2014, in New Orleans.

4. 2013

Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE / Getty Images

 

Terrence Ross of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a dunk during the 2013 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 16, 2013, at the Toyota Center in Houston.

7. 2012

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

 

Jeremy Evans of the Utah Jazz jumps over teammate Gordon Haywood and dunks two basketballs during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at Amway Center on Feb. 25, 2012, in Orlando.

Chris O’Meara / AP

Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel / MCT

 

Houston Rockets’ Chase Budinger pays homage to the 1992 dunk contest winner Cedric Ceballos by dunking with a blindfold during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, in Orlando.

12. 2011

Noel Vasquez / Getty Images

Mark Ralston/Pool / Getty Images

 

Blake Griffin, of the Los Angeles Clippers, dunks the ball over a car in the final round of the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest as part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night at Staples Center on Feb. 19, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Noah Graham / NBAE / Getty Images

JaVale McGee, of the Washington Wizards, dunks on two hoops simultaneously during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at Staples Center on Feb. 19, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Garrett Ellwood / NBAE / Getty Images

Serge Ibaka dunks from the free-throw line during the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at Staples Center on Feb. 19, 2011, in Los Angeles.

21. 2010

Glenn James / NBAE / Getty Images

Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

 

Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks dunks during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the American Airlines Center on Feb. 13, 2010, in Dallas.

24. 2009

John W. McDonough / Sports Illustrated / Getty Images

New York Knicks’ Nate Robinson (4) in action, leaping over Orlando Magic Dwight Howard (12) during the finals of the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 14, 2009, in Phoenix.

27. 2008

Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE / Getty Images

Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images

 

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic bounces the ball off of the back of the backboard before dunking at the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at New Orleans Arena on Feb. 16, 2008, in New Orleans.

Greg Nelson / Sports Illustrated

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic dunks while wearing Superman cape during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 16, 2008, in New Orleans.

Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE / Getty Images

 

Gerald Green of the Minnesota Timberwolves completes his “birthday cake dunk” by blowing out a candle while dunking during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the New Orleans Arena on Feb. 16, 2008, in New Orleans.

34. 2007

John W. McDonough / Sports Illustrated

Ethan Miller / Getty Images

 

Gerald Green of the Boston Celtics jumps over various things, including Nate Robinson, before dunking during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 17, 2007, in Las Vegas.

37. 2006

JAMES NIELSEN / AFP / Getty Images

Lucy Nicholson,Pool / AP Photo

 

Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks jumps over former NBA Slam Dunk champion Spud Webb during the Sprite Slam Dunk on Feb. 18, 2006, in Houston.

Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE / Getty Images

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

 

Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks from behind the hoop during the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest at Toyota Center on Feb. 18, 2006, in Houston.

42. 2005

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

 

Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks takes off in the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk competition at Pepsi Center on Feb. 19, 2005, in Denver.

45. 2004

Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE / Getty Images

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

 

Fred Jones of the Indiana Pacers almost hits his face on the basket while dunking during the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Competition on Feb. 14, 2004, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

48. 2002 and 2003

Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE / Getty Images

 

Jason Richardson of the Golden State Warriors is shown during the 2002 and 2003 Sprite Slam Dunk Contests, where he was crowned the champion both years.

51. 2001

Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE / Getty Images

NBAE / Getty Images Nathaniel S. Butler

 

Desmond Mason of the Seattle SuperSonics dunks over a teammate during the 2001 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 11, 2001, at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.

54. 2000

Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images

Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport

 

Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors performs two of the most memorable dunks of all time during the 2000 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California.

57. 1997

Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE / Getty Images

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

 

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers soars for a dunk during the 1997 Nestle Crunch Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 8, 1997, at the Gund Arena in Cleveland.

60. 1996