posted May 12, 2008 at 14:10 in NBA Free Picks

With the 2007-08 NBA online betting postseason recently getting under way and several thrilling sports betting matchups taking place in both conferences, (no matter what the pundits say about the Eastern Conference), this NBA hoops article is dedicated to the Top 10 high-rising dunk artists currently plying their respective trades in NBA arenas across the nation.

With the postseason moving quickly along, let me get busy.

10. Desmond Mason

Mason, the 2001 slam dunk winner, hasn’t produced many highlight-reel jams this season, but is certainly one of the best dunk artists in the game today. Despite the fact that Mason has never really developed into a complete player in other facets of the game, this guy’s dunking ability can not be denied.

9. Jason Richardson

The former slam dunk champion in 2002 and 2003 is undoubtedly one of the top dunkers in the game today, even if he didn’t throw down many highlight-reels slams in his first season with the Charlotte Bobcats as he normally produced for the high-octane run-and-gun Golden State Warriors.

8. Nate Robinson

Simply put, the 5-foot-9-inch Robinson is this generation’s version of former Atlanta Hawks dunk artist legend, Spud Webb, with his pogo-stick jumping ability and flair for the dramatic. Say what you like about Robinson’s team, the atrocious New York Knicks; just remember the Knicks’ ‘biggest little man’ and winner of the 2006 slam dunk contest, is one of the top dunk artists in the NBA.

7. Andre Iguodala

Philadelphia’s newest A.I. is undoubtedly one of the top dunkers in the NBA today, with his eye-opening athletic ability and willingness to throw one down on any defender standing in his path. Yes, Iguodala is nothing like the electric Iverson when it comes to his lack of an electric personality; however, this high-flyer doesn’t take a back seat to many players when it comes to his ability to throw down hellacious dunks.

6. Amare Stoudemire

While Stoudemire isn’t going to leap out of the building on any of his jams, he is downright explosive around the basket and routinely throws down some powerful jams, usually of a pass from point guard Steve Nash following a classic pick-and-roll play.

5. Josh Smith

Smith, who won the 2005 dunk contest wearing a throwback jersey of Hawks legendary Hall of Famer, Dominique, “The Human Highlight-Reel’ Wilkins, is one of the game’s best dunk artists and possibly highest leaper, often throwing down hellacious left-handed dunks that leave spectators rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

4. Dwight Howard

Howard, the winner of the 2008 slam dunk contest isn’t what I’d call a ‘high-riser’ but he is undeniably one of the best dunkers in the game – and certainly the most powerful ‘jam-master’ in the entire league. Trying to block one of Howard’s dunks is just plain stupid as a defender could lose a limb trying to stop Orlando’s young, ‘man-child.’

3. LeBron James

Not only is James the best all-around player in the league and a future Hall of Fame inductee, but the high-flying James is one of the best finishers in the game and a player who has routinely ‘posterized’ countless players of every size and position.

2. Kobe Bryant

Simply put, Bryant is the closest thing we’ve seen to Michael Jordan with his unbelievable ability to put the ball in the hole while routinely shutting down opponents at the other of the floor. Bryant, who won the slam dunk contest as a rookie in 1997, is also one of the best dunkers to ever play the game and routinely throws down a wide variation of dunks on unsuspecting opponents all over the league.

1. Vince Carter

Despite not coming anywhere close to becoming ‘the next Michael Jordan’ as many so-called basketball pundits predicted when he was graduating from North Carolina, Carter is the best dunk artist in the entire NBA. When he’s not helping the New Jersey Nets lose games by shooting a million fade-away jump shots, Carter regularly throws down some of the best dunks ever. From one-handers to reverse jams, to straight-up ‘tomahawks’ and 360’s, Carter is the best dunk artist in the NBA today and arguably, of all-time.

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