Skip to main content

Vince Carter recalls his legendary Slam Dunk Contest performance

Vince Carter recalls the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk contest in Oakland. 

In the pantheon of great performances in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, one stands alone as the most amazing show ever put on during the event.

It’s been 15 years since Vince Carter, then of the Toronto Raptors, rocked the Oakland Arena with a display of not just one quality dunk, but several of them en route to a dominant win.

Carter, who turned 38 last month, is now a role player for the Memphis Grizzlies—out presently with a torn tendon in his foot—but he has fond memories of that night in Oakland in 2000.

Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones III show off greatest pre-game handshake ever

Carter pulled off a reverse 360-degree windmill dunk that brought down the house.

"I just said, I’m going to try it," Carter told USA Today. "I felt like I could jump to the moon. I pulled it off and I jumped higher than ever and when I got around for that 360 and saw the rim, I just threw it through."

The follow-up was a soaring honey dip.

"It was one of those things where I wanted to show the people how high I can get above the rim and then I can put my arm in the rim," Carter said. "After that it was just ‘hold on’ and hopefully I’d wow the crowd where it would be silent in the arena."

• Michael Jordan misspelled Barack Obama's name

He finished up the night with a soaring dunk where he took a high-bounce from then-Raptors teammate (and still cousin) Tracy McGrady, pulled the ball between his legs and then threw it through for the big finish.

You can relive all Carter's dunks from the night below:

- Phil Watson