Dunks that get more impressive as you go from the 2025-26 NBA Season
Check out some of the season’s best dunks, but they get more impressive as you go!
The Dunk Score returned for its second season in 2025-26, breaking down every jam from every game throughout the regular season and playoffs. Before we dive into some of this season’s top-rated dunks, here’s a quick refresher on how it works and what it measures.
- Dunk Score is courtesy of the NBA’s player tracking data and innovative data science
- Throughout each NBA game, NBA official tracking data produces a location (x,y,z) for 29 different points on all 10 players’ bodies 60 times per second. That results in a stream of the location of every player’s head, shoulders, hands, hips, feet and more throughout the game. Add that to the location (x,y,z) of the ball and the full context of every play is able to be analyzed.
- From there, the NBA Stats team is able to leverage the tracking data to calculate the meaningful features needed to make Dunk Score possible. After that, there’s an additional layer of data science in the form of an NBA-specific mathematical model that weighs the value of each feature to ultimately output the final Dunk Score. Essentially, it turns the unparalleled athleticism we all witness with NBA dunks and debate about in our favorite forums into empirical numbers.
The final Dunk Score is broken down into four subscores: Jump, Power, Style and Defensive Contest. Each characteristic we calculate falls into one of these categories:
- Jump: The jump is the key to any dunk. This group of features includes all the measurements that quantify the athleticism of the jump itself. The key metrics include the distance the player is from the hoop when he leaves the ground and the maximum vertical jump height during the course of the jump.
- Power: When it comes to the Dunk Score, the more power, the better. Power is demonstrated by the speed of the ball as it goes through the hoop as well as some additional angular velocities of the player’s arms through the course of the dunk.
- Style: The more power the better, but not if it comes at the expense of style. The best dunks entertain. The Dunk Score would be incomplete if we didn’t credit for the alley-oops, 360’s and windmills. It’s a bit more subjective than other measurements, but the evaluation is consistent from dunk to dunk and vitally important to capturing the quality of a dunk.
- Defensive Contest: All things being equal, the same dunk done on a 1-on-0 breakaway isn’t as impressive as doing it against a defender trying to get the block. There’s a reason why they put these dunks on posters. The calculations in the Defense subscore look at whether a defender is between the dunker and the hoop and how high above the rim the defender’s hands get to block the shot.
Between the regular season (11,533) and playoffs (775), over 12,300 dunks were scored during the 2025-26 season. Here’s a closer look at the top 10 and why they sit at the top of the leaderboard.
Justin Champagnie: 127.7
Wizards vs. Celtics (Dec. 4, 2025)
Justin Champagnie flies to the rim for 127.7 Dunk Score
Washington Wizards guard Justin Champagnie throws down the highest Dunk Score of the year against the Boston Celtics.
Justin Champagnie soared against Boston, delivering not only the highest dunk score of the season but the highest since tracking began in 2024-25.
On Dec. 4 vs. the Celtics, Champagnie’s slam was the result of a perfect storm of elite metrics. He launched from 9.7 feet out and reached a 30.9” vertical – an impressive combination achieved by only five other dunks all season. What set this dunk apart even further was his 11th highest defensive contest subscore of the year at 91.5. Defensive contest measures how directly in front of the dunker a defender is positioned throughout the entire flight, from takeoff to finish. Stack those three factors together, and Champagnie’s dunk makes history as the highest Dunk Score ever recorded.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 97.9
- Power: 71.6
- Style: 80.1
- Contest: 91.5
Jamal Cain: 121.5
Magic vs. Pistons (April 27, 2026)
Jamal Cain’s poster over Jalen Duren earns a 121.5 dunk score!
Jamal Cain goes upstairs on the poster over Jalen Duren for a 121.5 dunk score!
While Champagnie has the highest Dunk Score on record in any game over the past two seasons, Cain holds that distinction when it comes to the NBA Playoffs.
In the fourth quarter of Orlando’s win over Detroit in Game 4 of the First Round, Cain caught the ball in the backcourt and had a one-way ticket to the rim. He drove around Cade Cunningham, and then skied above and through the defense of Jalen Duren for a one-handed throwdown. Cain’s combination of Jump (91.2), Power (88.1) and Defensive Contest (93.9) is unmatched in Dunk Score history. Only four other dunks this season even hit 80 in each of those three categories — and they’re all on this list.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 91.2
- Power: 88.1
- Style: 65.4
- Contest: 93.9
Shaedon Sharpe: 120.8
Trail Blazers at Rockets (Nov. 14, 2025)
Shaedon Sharpe’s poster charts 120.8 Dunk Score
Shaedon Sharpe’s poster charts the 2nd-highest Dunk Score of the year at 120.8
Sharpe is known for his athleticism, having charted four of the five highest verticals recorded last season and three of the five highest this season. The 6-foot-5 guard made his presence felt early, delivering the second-highest Dunk Score of the regular season.
On Nov. 14 vs. the Rockets, Sharpe elevated with a 37.6-inch vertical and reached a max ball height of 11 feet, 1 inch on this slam, contributing to a Jump subscore of 89.3. One impressive subscore alone, however, doesn’t guarantee an elite Dunk Score. What pushed Sharpe’s dunk to the top of the leaderboard was the combination of all four subscores working together. His average subscore of 84.6 ranks as the third-highest among all dunks this season.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 89.3
- Power: 91.2
- Style: 73.0
- Contest: 84.9
Jalen Smith: 119.2
Bulls vs. 76ers (Dec. 26, 2025)
Jalen Smith’s huge poster registers 119.2 dunk score
Bulls forward rises up for an emphatic dunk over Joel Embiid.
On Dec. 26 vs. the 76ers, Jalen Smith delivered a dunk that proved why every element of a dunk counts toward the overall Dunk Score. From his lift off the floor to the speed and control through the rim, his slam combined Jump, Power, Style and Contest in a way no other player has this season. Smith is the only player to earn 77 or higher in all four subscores, making his dunk not just impressive, but truly complete.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 81.3
- Power: 91.4
- Style: 78.1
- Contest: 88.5
Onyeka Okongwu: 117.8
Hawks vs. Thunder (Oct. 25, 2025)
Onyeka Okongwu’s poster registers 117.8 Dunk Score
Atlanta’s Onyeka Okongwu rises up for huge poster slam vs. Thunder.
Between the regular season and playoffs, a total of 196 dunks posted a Power subscore of 95 or higher, while 27 dunks saw a Defensive Contest subscore of 85 or higher. But only one had both. On this slam, Okongwu posted a 96.8 Power subscore, driven by a ball speed of 28.8 mph as it went through the rim. He also recorded an 87.3 Defensive Contest subscore, which reflects how close the defender was and how directly in front of him they remained from takeoff through the finish.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 82.6
- Power: 96.8
- Style: 69.1
- Contest: 87.3
Zion Williamson: 117.5
Pelicans vs. Spurs (Oct. 24, 2025)
Zion charts 117.5 Dunk Score vs. Spurs
Check out the rim-rocking jam that earned Zion Williamson a high dunk score!
Williamson showed his explosiveness early this season with a massive putback slam that earned a 117.5 Dunk Score. Powered by a 33.6-inch vertical, a 5-foot, 6-inch takeoff distance, .533 seconds of hang time and a max ball height of 10-foot-7, he posted a 91.9 Jump subscore. The dunk also received a bump in Style for being a putback and showcasing plenty of Power, with the ball ripping through the rim at 28.0 MPH.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 91.9
- Power: 55.4
- Style: 68.6
- Contest: 75.9
Stephon Castle: 116.9
Spurs at Thunder (May 20, 2026)
Stephon Castle drops 116.9 Dunk Score, 2nd highest of playoffs
Stephon Castle drops 116.9 Dunk Score, 2nd highest of playoffs
As the pressure elevated in the NBA Playoffs, so did Castle — literally. In Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, he unleashed the second-highest Dunk Score of the postseason with a slam that lit up all four subscores.
The play begins with Victor Wembanyama in the post. When the Thunder defense collapses on the 7-foot-4 alien, he kicks it out to a wide-open Castle at the 3-point line. With the defense scrambling back to him, the 6-foot-6 Castle gives a quick ball fake then drives down the lane, rising up off two feet from just outside the restricted area (6.553 feet from the rim to be exact), reaching a max vertical of 33.878 inches and powering home a one-handed hammer over the defense of 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 83.8
- Power: 83.5
- Style: 76.0
- Contest: 87.4
Cooper Flagg: 116.8
Mavericks at Clippers (April 7, 2026)
Cooper Flagg defies gravity with vicious throwdown, earns 116.8 dunk score
Cooper Flagg defies gravity with vicious throwdown, earning him a 116.8 dunk score.
Cooper Flagg threw down a total of 74 dunks on his way to winning Kia Rookie of the Year honors, and the No. 1 pick in the 2025 Draft saved his best jam for the final week of the regular season. In the first quarter against the Clippers in LA, Flagg caught the ball outside the 3-point line and noticed his defender slightly out of position, leaving a lane to the basket open. With no hesitation, Flagg took two dribbles then elevated toward the rim. Clippers center Brook Lopez rotated over for a last-minute contest, but he was too late to stop what was coming. Flagg’s 31.9-inch vertical and .550-second hangtime were his second-highest marks on any dunk this season.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 86.7
- Power: 78.7
- Style: 79.5
- Contest: 72.1
Victor Wembanyama: 116.8
Spurs at Grizzlies (March 25, 2026)
Dunk of the Night: Victor Wembanyama – Mar. 25
Dunk of the Night: Victor Wembanyama – March 25, 2026
With 178 dunks in the regular season and another 54 in the playoffs, Wembanyama was no stranger to the rim during his third NBA season. The jam that delivered his highest Dunk Score over the past two years of tracking showcased what makes Wemby so unique and difficult to contain.
The play begins with Dylan Harper driving toward the basket, with the other four Spurs spread out around the 3-point line. Harper kicks out to Devin Vassell in the right corner, who swings it to Wemby on the wing. In addition to his 232 total dunks between the season and playoffs, Wemby also made 161 3-pointers, which means the Memphis defense must respect him beyond the arc. With Taylor Hendricks closing out to him, Wemby delivers a pump fake, takes only one dribble, then uses his long strides to get in the paint. He rises up, brings the ball back 2.218 feet with his right hand, and punches it through the rim at 27.1 MPH over the leaping defense of GG Jackson.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 76.4
- Power: 97.4
- Style: 78.1
- Contest: 84.3
Brandon Miller: 116.8
Hornets vs. Hawks (Feb. 11, 2026)
Brandon Miller takes flight for filthy poster
Hornets forward registers 116.8 dunk score on huge poster vs. Hawks.
On Feb. 11 in Charlotte, Brandon Miller and Grant Williams turned a routine wing pick-and-roll action into the 10th highest Dunk Score of the 2025-26 campaign. With Miller isolated on the wing, Williams delivers an up-screen that gives Miller a wide-open path to the basket. Miller drives and takes off over 8.4 feet from the basket, hits a max vertical of 36.4 feet, hanging in the air for 0.584 seconds before hammering it down with the right hand against the rotating defense of Onyeka Okongwu. Cue Hornets play-by-play announcer Eric Collins with a “Brandon Miller, how do you do?!!” call that only enhances the moment.
Subscore Breakdown
- Jump: 94.8
- Power: 83.5
- Style: 72.5
- Contest: 65.4
