Dwight Howard’s ’Supaman’ Dunk versus Vince Carter’s Forearm Jam

February 17 08

The AM Take … One word describes Dwight Howard’s play in yesterday’s Slam Dunk Contest: iconic. Howard’s showmanship and athleticism helped the competition reach back to the classic era of Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins.

Of course, ‘His Airness’ and ‘Nique’ used to own this contest and the entire All-Star Weekend. And Howard’s dunks, specifically ‘The Supaman’, will be featured next to all-time greats on ESPN highlight packages.

On the one hand, it’s unfair to compare Howard’s performance to older heads like Jordan and Wilkins. Different time, different era. On the other hand, it’s fair to compare Howard’s heroics to the Vince Carter show at the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest.

You remember Carter’s run in Oakland, right? Eight years ago, he was universally hailed as ‘The Next Jordan’ and could do no wrong -dunk contest included. He took the competition with ease, capturing the hearts of judges and leaving a did-you-see-that-buzz in the building with his famed forearm jam.

So, which jam rules the modern era of the Slam Dunk Contest? Howard’s ‘Supaman’ or Carter’s forearm?

As always, we want the HoopsVibe masses to make the call. Watch both dunks, form an opinion, and get at us in the comment box below with your vote for Howard or Carter.

Dwight Howard, 2008 Slam Dunk Contest, The Supaman …

Vince Carter, 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, The Forearm …

Howard’s ’Supaman’ or Carter’s forearm? Get at us in the comment box below? The AM Take is Oly’s morning thoughts on the NBA appearing Sunday through Friday on HoopsVibe.com. Errors can be attributed to the time and his need for another coffee. Click here to read and subscribe to his blog.

33 Comments: Dwight Howard’s ’Supaman’ Dunk versus Vince Carter’s Forearm (...)

Posted by
AMMR flicklessx3000x
on 05.9.2008

Vince Carter is the best dunker of all time that is it end of story. Vince showed the world how to dunk he more than anyone deserves to be known as the best dunker of all time .

Posted by

on 02.21.2008

even if he did throw it in, you gotta give it to him for jumpin dat high which allowed him to throw it in, but geralds dunk was still better though, the only reason dwight won was because of the props he used, otherwise, he wouldv’e lost .

Posted by
Gerald Green
on 02.19.2008

He threw the ball in so he cheated ane the fans should ofnever voted the judges shouldGerald Green wonn man .

Posted by
mdh
on 02.19.2008

To begin, I would like to thank you for addressing the Dunk Contest and the lack of competitiveness that has been occurring over the last couple of years. You start your post by stating Dwight Howard’s slam-dunk has redefined the contest to the era of Michael Jordan and Dominque Wilkins. Howard is without question amazing to witness, but I have a hard time watching a man in a cape, seven feet tall, under jump his target and throw a basketball into a hoop. It was remarkable at the time. However, retrospectively the dunk surely could have been accomplished by the likes of Kobe Bryant or Vince Carter, both former Slam-Dunk Contest Champions. This leads me to your second point. Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins both added competition to each other. They built off the energy one another created to make good slam-dunks, great. Michael and Dominique competed dunk-for-dunk, using the competition to help inspire their art form. These Champions also repeated and defended their titles; they also, as you point out, dominated for their respective teams in the actual All-Star Game. The hardest part for me to understand about your post when you state that one mans dunk has revived the dunk contest. Was it the dunk itself that was impressive, or was it the unexpected showmanship from a soft-spoken youngster? I believe that Vince Carter’s dunk is impressive for two reasons. First, Carter’s sequence of dunks showed not only his mastery as a showman, but a dunker as well. Secondly, Carter is a smaller man and displayed an array of more challenging dunks. The truly sad part is that there is no longer the willingness for great dunkers to compete together and feed of the energy created by the other like “Sir Airiness” and “Nique”. I would be more inspired by the competition that would occur between two All-Stars instead of watching 5 “dunkers”. After all, the All-Star Game has it’s title for a reason let the compete at all facets of the game. Like yourself, I agree that there is much to be desired from the modern day dunk contest, and hope that Howard has help push a progression and created and incentive for All-Stars to go out there and compete like the greats. .

Posted by
ronny
on 02.19.2008

Bump that... he was in the air, his heavy body lacked air time, so he decided to improvise by throwing it in. Clever yes, He’s like the Daffy Duck of Dunkers. .

Posted by
bone me
on 02.18.2008

The coolest dunk would be to put a blow up doll on the rim and to "Supaman" yourself onto it. That would be a dunk with a happy ending. That dunk would be hot and rated R for Riskay! .

Posted by
Raynmann
on 02.18.2008

honey dip, best ever, ’nough said... .

Posted by
tempy
on 02.18.2008

dwigth howard threw the ball in the hoop, didnt even dunk it, it was stil amazing tho.

but vince’s dunks was new and pretty spectacular so im gona hav to give it to him .

Posted by

on 02.18.2008

Earl was good...but he would have been better if he would have did the toilet dunk where you land your butt on the rim and EXPLODE! .

Posted by

on 02.18.2008

earl boykins best dunker of all time! .

Posted by
richtown
on 02.18.2008

Everyone thinks that the forearm dunk has never been done before. I saw the harlem globetrotters do that dunks years befor VC did it, It was done around the same time they broke the record for highest dunk around 13 ft or so. I like vc’s but he punked out on his last dunk and for that i give it to "superman" although it would have been nice to see him pull out the kiss the rim dunk like was going to last year .

Posted by
bacon
on 02.18.2008

carter’s dunk. the forarm dunk was never seen before. everyone was shocked when he did it .

Posted by
Ben
on 02.18.2008

Jordan is the all time slam dunk contest King. Everyone else is not. Jordan made up the hype then he lived up to it. Everyone else is snaking his style, I am so sick of kobe imatating Jordan its not even funny anymore stop Kobe you aint even related to him. I am ready for a shot blocking contest until somebody can make me want to see them dunk. .

Posted by
A.D
on 02.18.2008

I take VC 4 sure cuz dwight howard aint even dunk it he jus threw tha ball in so dat aint even a dunk. .

Posted by

on 02.18.2008

i gotta go with vc. even though dwights dunks were out of this world vince set the standards for dunking. when he had his hops he was the best dunker of his era .

Posted by
far
on 02.18.2008

Although this recent contest was very entertaining, Vince Carter showed the world how to dunk the ball. The first dunk oh Howard was his best dunk, no props, pure dunk. Also, Howard may have jump so high, but he’s close to 7 feet tall! what do you expect? VC Wins! but Howard’s performance is almost par with VC. .

Posted by
AI for MVP
on 02.17.2008

I love how this contest was all about creativity not seeing slightly modified windmills or under the legs. Dwights the Man .

Posted by

on 02.17.2008

haha yea u right man...they could call it the POOPERMAN that ho.......... .

Posted by

on 02.17.2008

man they should dip their nuts in the rim. Slam dunk nuts yo! And then put their butts in the rim and end in the toilet position. Like they have mad gas son! .

Posted by

on 02.17.2008

man they should dip their nuts in the rim. Slam dunk nuts yo! And then put their butts in the rim and end in the toilet position. Like they have mad gas son! .

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	About Oly Sandor
Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

Dwight Howard’s ’Supaman’ Dunk versus Vince Carter’s Forearm Jam

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