Best Big Man Dunker Ever: Italy’s Shawn Kemp, Team USA’s Dwight Howard, or Darryl Dawkins?

On Saturday, I had a late nineties flashback when reading my man Shawn Kemp is back in basketball. Well, sort off. Turns out, Seattle’s ‘Reign Man’ inked a deal with an Italian club for 2008-09.

The Italian team Premiata Montegranaro announced on Sunday that 38-year-old Shawn Kemp has agreed to play for the team starting in November.

"I am happy that a player that has made basketball history would come to Montegranaro," coach Alessandro Finelli said.

Finelli believed that the six-time NBA All-Star, who last played in the NBA in 2002-03, could still contribute.

"He is very motivated," Finelli said. "And he has been staying in shape to show up at our camp in good shape." (ESPN)

The news got me reminiscing. Not too long ago Kemp was a superstar –in fact, he was the second best player in the 1996 Seattle-Chicago Final, where the Sonics took Michael Jordan’s Bulls to six games.

His personal issues soon set in. There were drugs and enough baby-mama-drama to keep Jerry Springer and Dr. Phil busy for an entire season. Unfortunately, these off-court issues overshadowed his explosive play, which reminds many of Orlando’s Dwight Howard.

The Howard comparison is interesting because Kemp has recently claimed he’s the best big man dunker ever. Watching the highlights he could be right. Notice I said could be.

Of course, Howard warrants consideration after winning the Slam Dunk Title last February. Year ago, Darryl Dawkins –another post who went from high school straight to the pros- tore up the NBA by breaking backboards and poster-jobbing opponents.

With Kemp back in basketball, we decided to re-ignite this classic debate. Who is the best big man dunker of all-time: Kemp, Howard or Dawkins?

Option 1: Shawn Kemp, the newest Italian.

Option 2: Dwight Howard throwing down in games.

Option 3: Darryl Dawkins also known as ’Chocolate Thunder’.

Kemp, Howard, or Dawkins? Who is the best big man dunker ever? Get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of majiscup. Part of this post has appeared before in HoopsVibe.