This week marked a trio of accomplishments for Toronto Raptors star DeMar DeRozan. On Monday he passed the 10,000 point mark in his career, bringing him that much closer to Chris Bosh’s Raptors record of 10, 275. At opening tip on Thursday night, DeRozan officially suited up for his 543rd game, surpassing Morris Peterson to become the Raptors all-time leader in games played. And then there was the dunk— a nasty putback over Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio in the final minute of Toronto’s 124-110 win over the visiting Timberwolves— that instantly vaulted up the list of the best dunks of his career. And there are certainly no shortage of contenders.
While DeRozan, now in his seventh NBA season, often jokes that he doesn’t dunk like he used to (which rings true given how he’s continually added more to his offensive game) it’s obviously been a calling card of sorts for the two-time dunk contest participant. So where does last night’s slam rank on the list of the best dunks of DeRozan’s career? Let’s find out:
10. vs. Dallas, 2015-16
DeRozan’s athleticism, body control, and coordination are on full display here, when a cutting DeRozan turned a rocket pass from Cory Joseph into an impromptu alley-oop, taking off as the ball leaves his teammates’ hand and catching it at his waist before converting the slick one-handed dunk.
9. Vs. Charlotte, 2009-10
Tyrus Thomas, a draft bust, yes, but also once an accomplished shot-blocker, was simply a step too late on this one and was promptly burned by a rookie DeRozan as a result.
8. Vs. Houston, 2012-13
Most of the dunks on this list are variations of an explosive one-handed tomahawk— DeRozan’s apparent dunk of choice— but this one does a good job of showing off DeRozan’s hops and ability to manoeuvre his body mid-air.
7. vs. Indiana, 2016 playoffs
DeRozan gets things started with a nice entry pass to Jonas Valanciunas in the paint and heads straight to the basket, popping back into the action just in time for the putback slam over the back of Pacers big man Myles Turner. Not the smoothest dunk on the list, but bonus points for the fact that this happened during a playoff game.
6. Vs. Detroit, 2013-14
Poor Kyle Singler was absolutely helpless on this vicious one-hander.
5. vs. Boston, 2014-15
Setting the tone during an early-season matchup with a division rival, Kyle Lowry’s steal leads to a clutch jam from DeRozan, who put the Raptors up two with thirty seconds left in the game in the process.
4. vs. Minnesota, 2016-17
Sure, Ricky Rubio doesn’t cast the most imposing figure underneath the basket, but there’s just so much to like about this opportunistic put-back slam that capped off the Raptors’ comeback win over the Timberwolves on Thursday night.
3. Vs. Denver, 2012-13
Timofey Mozgov is no stranger to being dunked on, but credit where it’s due: he doesn’t back down from a challenge. He certainly got one from DeRozan on this play, and the outstretched arm of a helpless Mozgov flailing against the Raptors’ all-star helped take this poster dunk to another level.
2. 2011 Dunk Contest
Ok, so maybe contest dunks shouldn’t count here, but, in my humble opinion, this might be the most underappreciated slam in recent dunk contest history. It warrants a few replays, where you’ll notice how impressive it is that DeRozan caught and finished this wildly impressive jam with just one hand.
1. vs. Utah, 2015-16
Tops on the list for so many reasons, including the fact that this play came down the stretch in an incredibly close game— a clutch poster dunk (does it get any better? No, it doesn’t)— and that it was in the face of one of the NBA’s most lethal rim-protectors in Utah’s Rudy Gobert. While there are a few dunks on this list over shot-blocking big men, DeRozan often catches them off-guard. Here, Gobert anticipated the play, did his best to challenge the shot, and still got posterized.
BONUS! Vs. Nigeria, 2016 Olympic warm-up
Agree with this list? Disagree? Let us know what dunks you think should be included in the comments below.