Who Won the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and How Did They Achieve Victory?
I still remember sitting in my living room that March evening, watching the 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest with a mixture of anticipation and skepticism. The COVID-19 pandemic had transformed what's normally one of the most electric events of All-Star Weekend into a more subdued affair at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, with limited fans and that strange emptiness we'd all become accustomed to. As someone who's analyzed dunk contests for over a decade, I'll admit I had low expectations - the recent competitions had been somewhat underwhelming, missing that magical combination of creativity, execution, and sheer athleticism that made Vince Carter's 2000 performance so legendary.
The field featured three contestants that year, which I personally think creates better drama than the usual four - it allows each dunker more attempts and builds more narrative tension. We had Anfernee Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers, Obi Toppin from the New York Knicks, and Cassius Stanley from the Indiana Pacers. What struck me immediately was the youth of the competitors - Simons at 21, Toppin at 23, and Stanley at 21. This was clearly a contest about the next generation, though I worried their relative inexperience might show under pressure.
Simons entered as somewhat of an underdog despite his incredible 44-inch vertical leap. At 6'3", he represented that classic guard dunker archetype - players who compensate for lack of height with extraordinary hops and creativity. I've always had a soft spot for these smaller dunkers because their feats seem more relatable to us mere mortals while being anything but ordinary. His first dunk was solid but not spectacular - a between-the-legs reverse jam that earned him 46 points from the judges. Not the strongest start, but I've learned never to count out a dunker early.
Meanwhile, Toppin came in with tremendous hype as the 2020 NBA Draft's 8th overall pick and a player known for his highlight-reel dunks at Dayton. Standing 6'9", he brought that power-forward physicality that creates such a dramatic contrast when someone that big gets airborne with grace. His first attempt was ambitious - he tried to leap over his teammate Julius Randle and tap the ball against the backboard before dunking. The concept was fantastic, but the execution failed multiple times, eventually settling for a simpler dunk that scored only 42 points. I've seen this pattern before - sometimes the most creative ideas are the hardest to land consistently under pressure.
Stanley, who I considered the dark horse, delivered what I thought was the most underrated dunk of the first round - a powerful 360-degree hammer jam that showcased his explosive athleticism. He scored 44 points, putting him in second place after the first round. What impressed me about Stanley was his clean technique - no wasted motion, pure elevation.
The second round is where Simons began to separate himself. He attempted something I hadn't seen before - dunking while touching the bottom of the backboard with his left hand mid-flight. The physics of this still boggle my mind - maintaining enough control to touch the backboard while generating the upward force to still dunk powerfully. He scored 49 points for this effort, and I remember texting my fellow basketball analyst friends that we might be witnessing something special.
Toppin responded with a dunk that paid homage to his father, who had dunked over him in previous exhibitions. The emotional resonance was there, and the execution was better than his first attempt, earning him 46 points. Stanley's second dunk - a between-the-legs effort from a step inside the free-throw line - was ambitious but didn't quite stick the landing, earning him 41 points.
This set up the final round between Simons and Toppin, and here's where the contest truly became memorable. Toppin went first with a dunk that involved him spinning 360 degrees in the air before hammering it home. He scored 46 points, which I thought was slightly generous if we're being critical, but it set the stage nicely.
Then came Simons' moment. He brought out the ultimate tribute card - wearing a throwback Tracy McGrady Orlando Magic jersey while executing a dunk that honored McGrady's own contest history. But he didn't just copy a McGrady dunk - he elevated it. After receiving a pass from McGrady himself, Simons jumped, caught the ball mid-air, and completed a between-the-legs dunk. The symbolism was perfect - paying respect while pushing the art form forward. The judges awarded him a perfect 50, and honestly, I would have done the same.
What secured Simons' victory wasn't just that final dunk though - it was his consistency throughout the competition and his understanding of dunk contest psychology. He built his performance narratively, saving his best for last while maintaining quality throughout. At 21 years, 6 months, he became the youngest Slam Dunk Contest winner since John Wall in 2014, and the first Trail Blazer to ever win the event.
Reflecting on that night, I think Simons' victory represents something important about the evolution of dunk contests. The most successful dunkers today aren't just athletes - they're historians who understand the legacy they're entering, performers who grasp theatricality, and innovators who find new ways to defy physics. Simons checked all these boxes while bringing his unique flair. His vertical leap measurement of 44 inches certainly helped, but it was his creativity that made the difference.
The 2021 contest also reminded me why I still love this event despite its occasional shortcomings. In an era of analytics and three-point revolutions, the dunk contest remains a celebration of basketball's most visceral pleasure - that moment when human flight seems possible. Simons' victory, achieved through a combination of athletic pedigree, creative vision, and flawless execution under pressure, gave us exactly what we needed during that pandemic-altered season - a reminder of basketball's pure, unadulterated joy.
