10. Allen Iverson
Standing at only 6 feet tall, Allen Iverson had an incredible vertical leap that allowed him to dunk with authority despite his modest height.
One of his most famous dunks came in 1997 against the Orlando Magic. Iverson crossed over point guard Penny Hardaway at the top of the key and drove straight to the hoop, rising to throw down a powerful one-handed jam over 7-foot-1 center Rony Seikaly.
Iverson was an 11-time All-Star, 2001 MVP, and rookie of the year in 1997.
He averaged 26.7 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game for his career.
9. Ty Lawson
Tywon Ronell Lawson is a retired American professional basketball player. He played for six different teams in his nine-year career.
Ty Lawson found success in the NBA with his lightning-quick speed and leaping ability.
At only 5’11”, Lawson had several memorable dunks. However, there’s no record of a windmill jam in a 2010 game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
He did not lead the league in assists.
Lawson averaged 12.7 points and 6.0 assists per game for his career.
His combination of craftiness and athleticism allowed him to thrive offensively despite lacking height.
8. Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas exploded onto the stage with the Sacramento Kings and established himself as one of the best scoring point guards in the NBA. At 5’9”, Thomas had hops that defied his small stature.
One of Isaiah Thomas’s best dunks came in 2016 with the Boston Celtics, when he soared in for a one-handed slam over 7-foot Brook Lopez.
Thomas was a two-time All-Star and one of the top scorers in 2016-17 when he averaged a career-high 28.9 points per game. His quick first step and leaping ability made him a constant threat to finish at the rim.
7. Nate Robinson
Nate Robinson played for eight different teams in his 11-year career. Despite his height, Robinson was an excellent scorer and playmaker, and he helped lead the teams he played for to many victories.
Robinson’s most memorable dunk was in a game against the New York Knicks in 2009, where he dunked over 6’11″ center Yao Ming.
Standing only 5’9”, Nate Robinson electrified crowds with his incredible vertical leaping ability. He won three NBA dunk contests between 2006-2010 with jaw-dropping dunks like jumping over a fan and a mascot. Robinson played 11 NBA seasons and averaged 11 points per game for his career.
He showed incredible athleticism with highlight-reel dunks, like his windmill jam over 6’11” Dwight Howard.
Robinson’s combination of speed, power, and leaping ability allowed him to outperform players much bigger than him.
6. Calvin Murphy
Calvin Jerome Murphy is a retired American professional basketball player. He played for the Houston Rockets for his entire career, which spanned 13 seasons.
Calvin Murphy was a one-time All-Star despite measuring only 5’9” tall. He made his mark as one of the best scoring point guards of the 1970s, averaging 17.9 points per game for his career. Murphy had a deceptive leaping ability that allowed him to dunk in traffic.
He set NBA records for most consecutive free throws made and for the highest free throw percentage in a single season (1980–1981), though both records have since been broken.
His craftiness and athleticism made him a prolific scorer.
Despite his height, Murphy was an excellent scorer and playmaker, and he helped lead the Rockets to many victories.
5. Keith Jennings
Keith Jennings is a retired American professional basketball player. He played for the Golden State Warriors.
Despite his height, Jennings was an excellent scorer and playmaker, and he helped lead the teams he played for to many victories.
He had a 42-inch vertical leap that helped him throw down impressive dunks in the NBA.
He played three seasons in the NBA, from 1992 to 1995.
While he didn’t put up big stats, Jennings made the most of his opportunities through sheer leaping ability and athleticism.
4. Greg Grant
Gregory Grant is a retired American professional basketball player. He played for six different teams in his seven-year career.
Despite his height, Grant was an excellent scorer and playmaker, and he helped lead the teams he played to many victories.
Grant’s most memorable dunk was in a game against the New York Knicks in 1990, where he dunked over 7’1″ center Patrick Ewing.
Greg Grant played in the NBA from 1989-1996 and used his incredible vertical to throw down dunks despite measuring only 5’7”.
He had a standing vertical leap of 40 inches without a running start. Grant showed off his leaping prowess with high-flying dunks and even completed an alley-oop windmill jam in a 1980 game against the San Diego Clippers.
While his NBA career was short, Grant left his mark with memorable dunks that defied his small stature.
3. Spud Webb
Spud Webb, whose real name is Anthony Jerome Webb, is a former professional basketball player known for his exceptional dunking abilities despite being only 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall.
He won the 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, surprising many, including his teammate Dominique Wilkins, who had never seen him dunk before.
Some of his most memorable dunks include the elevator two-handed double pump dunk, the off-the-backboard one-handed jam, a 360-degree helicopter one-handed dunk, a reverse double-pump slam, and the reverse two-handed strawberry jam from a lob bounce off the floor.
Webb’s victory in the Slam Dunk contest solidified his reputation as one of the most remarkable dunkers in NBA history.
Despite his height, he was able to perform impressive dunks due to his exceptional leaping ability and creativity in the air, which made him a fan favorite and a legendary figure in the world of basketball.
2. Earl Boykins
Earl Antoine Boykins is an American former professional basketball player. He played for ten different teams in his 14-year career. Despite his height, Boykins was an excellent scorer and playmaker, and he helped lead the teams he played for to many victories.
He is best known for his time with the Denver Nuggets, where he became a fan favorite.
Boykins’ most memorable dunk was in a game against the Detroit Pistons in 2004, where he dunked over 6’11″ center Ben Wallace.
At a mere 5’5”, Earl Boykins was the 2nd shortest player ever to play in the NBA.
He played 13 seasons from 1998-2012 and averaged 8.9 points per game.
Boykins showed incredible body control and leaping ability to finish at the rim against bigger defenders.
1. Muggsy Bogues
Muggsy Bogues is a former professional basketball player known for being the shortest player in NBA history at 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm).
He played point guard for four teams during his 14-season career in the NBA.
Despite his height, Bogues was known for his surprising defensive ability and managed to block 39 shots throughout his NBA career, including one from 7-foot-tall Patrick Ewing.
While there’s no video evidence of Muggsy dunking during an NBA game, there are multiple sources that claim Muggsy slam dunked in a pregame warm-up session on December 4th, 1990, he has personally confirmed his ability to dunk a basketball.
Despite his height, he had an impressive 44-inch vertical leap and could dunk the ball, as confirmed by himself in interviews. However, he did not dunk in an NBA game, according to witnesses.
Bogues played for 14 NBA seasons, averaging 7.7 points, 7.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. He is also known for his role in the movie Space Jam and for coaching the Charlotte Sting, a defunct WNBA team.
