Obi Toppin will look to bring some much-needed joy to a disappointing Knicks season when he once again represents New York in the Slam Dunk contest on Saturday night.
Toppin, a second-place finisher in last year’s event, will look to become the third player in franchise history to take home the title when the action begins in Cleveland.
The sophomore has already put together a memorable performance in the event last year, and joined this list of the most memorable Slam Dunk Contest performers in Knicks history.
Here are the top five:
Gerald Wilkins
Shortly after being taken in the second round of the 1985 NBA Draft (the Knicks’ first-round pick was used on Patrick Ewing), Wilkins was competing in the event in his first NBA season, and finished in fourth place before returning again the following season.
His highlight dunk came in 1986, when he threw down a one-handed jam from the free throw line while jumping over a chair. It was the first 50-point dunk ever posted by a Knicks player.
Dennis Smith Jr.
Smith’s Knicks tenure was a forgettable one, but he did provide some entertainment in the 2019 contest, posting two 50-point dunks, one of them coming on an alley-oop from Steph Curry while jumping over Dwyane Wade.
Obi Toppin
There were only three contestants in last year’s event, but the rookie Toppin still did plenty to earn this spot on the list, starting with an impressive reverse dunk where he bounced the ball between the legs to himself while in flight.
His second dunk also opened eyes, jumping over both his father and teammate Julius Randle for a windmill dunk.
Kenny ‘Sky’ Walker
One of the most memorable dunk contest performances in Knicks history, Walker competed in the 1989 event just days after losing his father (he would attend his funeral the very next day), and won the event, starting with a windmill dunk for a 42.5 score and upping the flair from there.
Walker went on to throw down a 360 jam, then another with one hand while finishing with a windmill jam, then a reverse cradle dunk to become the first in team history to take first place.
Nate Robinson
Walker’s dunk contest victory has an argument to be the most memorable, but Robinson dominated the event during his Knicks tenure, winning three between 2006 and 2010, while coming in second in another. In that span, he jumped over big man Dwight Howard for a one-handed slam, jumped over Spud Webb for a one-handed alley-oop slam, and a dinner served 36- jam.
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