Most Iconic Warriors Dunk Tournament

The question is simple: What is the most iconic Warriors dunk?

To settle this extremely important matter, we will have a straight single elimination bracket tournament. You might say, wait isn’t this just an excuse to rewatch fantastic dunks? Of course not, this is purely for science.

DNHQ commenters nominated a number of dunks. I filtered out 16 based on whether I could find an official NBA or ESPN YouTube video about the play. The reasoning is simple: How iconic can a play be if it doesn’t have its own video?

I considered determining the seeding using the same strategy as NCAA March Madness Committees — “pulling it out of my butt” — but I opted to seed the plays based on the number of views the official video had. Humans must make the final decision. Humans like you.

I suggest for this very scientific process that you carefully view each dunk and put the volume on loud.

#4 Wiggins on KAT

#13 Jordan bell self-alley-oop

Vote

To vote, you can use the Substack poll here or write a comment including exactly one hashtag #FOUR or #THIRTEEN. Comment votes with explanation are worth 10 poll votes.

Results of Last Vote

The weighted results of last vote.

• 83.5% — #5 Barnes on Pekovic

• 13.7% — #12 Barnes on Mozgov

#5 moves on. The poll was very close (52% for Pekovic) but the comments were a landslide victory.

I prefer the Mozgov dunk for importance (pivotal moment in the pivotal Finals game), skill (tough to maneuver around the two contesting defenders) and degree of difficulty (set defenders).

But, the Pekovic poster is just plain more famous and provokes awe regardless of context. It was a dunk that announced that Barnes was no ordinary rookie and he could play an important role in the playoffs right away (which he did) and could blossom into a star (which he never did but still).

I couldn’t help noticing a certain respectful indifference to these dunks. It’s funny how time has cooled feelings about Harrison Barnes either way. It used to be an instant argument in Dub Nation to say his name while he was with the team.

Iconic Warriors Dunk Tournament: Barnes on Barnes…

Prediction: Black Falcon will win

• belilaugh (2 ♡):

  #FIVE because I was there

• SD (2 ♡):

  Voting for #FIVE. 12 has the advantage of being against the cavs in the playoffs, but 5 is just so much nastier.

• g8tgod (1 ♡):

  Tough choice, but I went with #FIVE. I actually think the other dunk is harder and more impressive, but if the measure is how iconic, I'll go with the surprise of that dunk and the staredown after. It was like Clark Kent deciding he wanted to flex on someone.

  FWIW, I don't think either of these dunks will survive the Wiggins dunks and Baron Davis on AK47.

• mDuo13 (1 ♡):

  #FIVE for the force, the reach, the absolute brutality of the slam right over the defender. The other one has the nice playoff moment thing going for it but the finesse of going between the defenders and the ball just barely getting over the rim subtracts from the impact.