Baron Davis vs. Kevin Johnson: Who Had the Better Dunk?

After Baron threw down the dunk of the Playoffs (so far) last night, I immediately thought back to Vince Carter's vicious cram on Alonzo Mourning from last season. Upon further reflection -- considering the position that Davis plays and the time of year -- it's the closest thing to the legendary dunk that Kevin Johnson threw down on Hakeem Olajuwon during the 1994 Playoffs. So, which one was better? Let's take a look at the video evidence:

The two dunks happened during the second round of the Playoffs, and will go down as the defining moments in each of the point guards' respective careers. Baron's dunk last night was spectacular indeed, but it was against the Utah Jazz and Andrei Kirilenko. The Jazz aren't going to win the title this year, and as good a player as Kirilenko is, he's not a superstar.

Johnson dunked over Hakeem Olajuwon. The Dream was the best basketball player in the world at the time (and one of the greatest and most intimidating defensive players to ever play the game.) Oh, and the Rockets won the first of back-to-back titles that year. All factors considered, I'm going to give the edge to KJ. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

5-12-2007 @ 5:38PM

achiappanza said...

I see your point, but the Baron dunk has two advantages:

1) Kirilinko actually got better position to defend than Hakeem did

2) Baron threw it down with more force.

5-12-2007 @ 5:46PM

hppzz said...

KJ's! smaller dude vs. The Dream is much more impressive then Baron vs. AK-47.

5-12-2007 @ 5:50PM

5-12-2007 @ 7:42PM

Jason said...

The fact that KJ dunked on Olajuwon is more impressive--he wasn't really known as a dunker, and Olajuwon is probably the 2nd-best defensive center of all time.

However, when you look at the actual dunks, Baron's had a lot more going for it. Take Hakeem out of the picture, and KJ's is nothing special. Baron's dunk would have been sweet even without the defender.

5-12-2007 @ 8:52PM

reggie said...

Baron's dunk was one of the best ever kj dont compare with the force and the hype of the playoffs..No more no more its over.

5-12-2007 @ 8:59PM

butch12774 said...

Both dunks were good, but i think John Starks over MJ was the best playoff dunk ever

5-12-2007 @ 11:37PM

boydgt said...

I think the force of Baron's dunk is what gives him the edge

5-13-2007 @ 12:52AM

markus barron said...

starks dunked on grant not mj get it right

5-14-2007 @ 5:11AM

Jimmy G said...

First off Starks never dunked Jordan, Mike was behind him. Second, Golden St's crowd makes a blowout fun to watch.

Baron's is better because he was in the air long to cock it back. Baron over KG is still his best dunk to me

5-13-2007 @ 2:35AM

HBomb said...

I'm a harcore Warrior/Baron fan. Utah IS a VERY good team (get use to seeing them) and AK 47 IS a Superstar. But I saw that KJ dunk for the first time in years and I got to give it to KJ. That was Hakeem! (mooshed in the face and all!). I forget how KJ's 2pts impacted the game, but I know when Baron pulled up his shirt after, it was like-"That's it, that's all, I'm done for the night, drive safe". Warriors in 6!!!

5-13-2007 @ 2:48AM

I'm a big Warrior/Baron fan. Utah IS a Very good team (get used to seeing them)and AK IS a superstar. I saw the KJ dunk for the first time in years and I've got to give it to KJ. I mean...that was Hakeem! (mooshed face and all!). I forget how KJ's 2pts impacted that moment in the game, but I know when Baron pulled his shirt out, it was like saying...."That's it,that's all, I'm done for the night, thanks for coming out, drive safe." Warriors in 6. BELIEVE.

5-13-2007 @ 8:53AM

money bags said...

REMEBER ONE THING. KJ"S DUNK OVER HAKEEM WAS MADE INTO A COMMERCIAL. I STILL REMEMBER WHEN I SAW THAT DUNK.WE WERE IN MY GARAGE WATCHING IT ON THE T.V THAT ME AND MY FRIEND CARRIED FROM MY BEDROOM. THERE WERE LIKE 8 OF US IN THE GARAGE THAT DAY AND WHEN KJ DUNKED ON THE DREAM WE MADE SO MUCH NOISE SOMEONE CALLED THE COPS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS GETTING KILLED. THE COPS CAME 10MINS LATER. LATE AS ALWAYS (LOL) AND WE EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY SAID KEEP IT DOWN. WE WERE LIKE WHATEVER.

5-13-2007 @ 9:17AM

j. West said...

KJ's was good,but Baron Davis's dunk was a hungry mans slam.That was a special moment in time glad I got a chance to watch it live. Dream got there late AK was right there it was mono e mono Ali would say Baron Davis is a bad man

5-13-2007 @ 11:07AM

terence said...

they're equally impressive but, scottie pippen dunkin' over ewing was more impressive. ewing posterized!

5-13-2007 @ 11:12AM

for those of you old mature enough to remember; pippen posterized daddy ewing. much more powerful! kj and b. davis' posterization of their respective opponents was impressive also but, pippen over ewing was classic. feel me?

5-13-2007 @ 11:16AM

seeing davis go up and up was deja'vu!

5-13-2007 @ 1:06PM

Reese said...

You got it all wrong. As much as it pains me to admit it, hell, even to be forced to remember the damn thing, it was that punk, John Starks, going over, around ~ then throwing down on both Pippen and MJ.

I'm pretty sure it was a Knicks-Bulls playoff game from '95-'97.

I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

5-13-2007 @ 1:12PM

OOPS!

Guess that'll teach me to read what other people have to say BEFORE I start "...reflecting back nostalgically at the past."

I'll ship a case of your favorite brew to the first person who can identify the person who said the above comment.

HERE'S A HINT: The guy was usually not a practitioner of the redundant. Usually.

5-13-2007 @ 2:19PM

Bill Tyra said...

I have always been a Byron Davis fan and the dunk was great but postering after was stupid. We already have Jackson we don't need any more.

5-13-2007 @ 2:30PM

Jonathan said...

Reese, you're an idiot... Starks dunked on Horace, MJ was in lane, but not in front of Starks. Pippen was no where near any of them...

The greatest dunk ever, (playoffs, regular season, or all-star weekend)is without a doubt Scottie Pippen cramming it on Patrick Ewing's head! Scottie jumped into Patrick, rode him like a horse, and elevated over the top of him. Kenny Smith said it best... "They rode the elevator up, Patrick went to the 9th floor, Scottie went to the 10th".

Then after Scottie hammered the ball through the rim, he rode Patrick to the ground. Pat was left lying on his back looking up at Scottie, who was straddling him. After Scottie walked over Ewing's fallen body, he ran past Spike Lee (who was courtside), and talked trash to him too.

Pippen is the man! Bulls would have won that series without MJ if Hue Hollins hadn't made that b.s. call against Pippen who touched Hubert Davis' hand after a 3 point shot long after the ball was gone.