RIP Craig Sager and Kobe Bryant crazy to think both gone. Kobe’s demeanor and that mamba mentality still the same from 18 to after basketball. Love it! Miss you Mamba! ❤️🙏
You can see the mindset of a champion that Kobe embodied. Everyone knew he was gonna be something special. And he was. Love and miss you Kobe fly with the angels 🙏
The evolution of the dunk contest is interesting. How the older contests dunks are so simple compared to the last 10-20yrs dunks. The dunks they've done in the 70s-90s are dunks players do in games the 2000+ seasons
yeah that's with anything...it usually goes full circle...eventually people stop running out of silly stunts to do and like 20 years from now, we'll be "back" to more like the old school dunks...do we really need to see someone bring a lion in a cage onto the court?
Ya but this shit is way BETTER than what we got today bro. It's all about the cameras now and showing off to your friends theres no competitive nature. And Vince Carter's dunks will be the greatest ever nobody will ever beat what he did that year.
@@davidgutierrez4606 Vince was amazing, the best dunker of all time period. Jordan, Shawn Kemp, Traci McGrady, Julius Erving and Dominic Wilkins were also some of the best too.
@@tj2084 funny how nobody cared about corey maggetes front wheel leap and he made the dunk as you could tell if Finley didn't miss he would've gotten a perfect by the dumb judges of that contest
Anthony Gray being over in Italy then moving back to America meant his accent was always going to be different, listen to the way he says his daughters names you can tell that time in his life meant a lot and he will be fluent in their pronunciation. But then talking to America media he has a mixed American accent which we all know
The most ass backward judging I've ever seen. Darvin Ham was the only one that landed all 3 dunks, he easily had the crispest execution, and his 3rd dunk was easily the most creative of the round. And yet the whack ass judges gave him one of the lowest scores.
Absolutely Carr did 1 good dunk one okay dunk and a miss and he gets a higher score then a guy who did 3 great dunks. They should have stopped everything right there and investigated.
Wow that was a yr ago so then why in the FUCK ARE YOU GUYS SO FUCKING TALKING THIS KINDA SHIT NOW.YOU NEED TO GET OFF THE FUK KOBE BANDWAGON.like from now on I don't have any idea what these people are like for real but I'm betting that they do nothing at all worth a SHIT.atleast KOBE gave us a little more additude to the BULLSHITUDE.to the nba that was already there
@@johnedmillapre6139 nah, ray allen said mj was a monster in both end of the court. He was a great offensive player and he is a great defensive player. And he has no weakness. Actually mj was in the era where 3 pointers are not a big part of the game. Jordan, evolved the game from what it is today. Then ray allen, tmac, and kobe introduced the 3 point game to everyone and then curry evolved it into what it is today. While lebron was a disgrace to the NBA because of his flopping and always complaining to the refs whenever there was a slight contact. Lebron james became the reason so many players do flops today and lebron is the reason why it is too soft today. Imagine you can shoot and drive all you want without anyone who'd be able to touch you or guard you. Easy points. Lebron is just top 7 that's all
Most surprising thing for me was seeing Ray Allen in a dunk contest lol. Also the evolution. Standard between the legs dunk 1996 = 49 Between the legs from free throw line 2016 = " that ain't a 50 " from Barkley lol
97' was a great year in Sports. As a Wildcat fan, Arizona winning it's first NCAA Basketball national title. Kobe, busting into the Scene. And remember when Mike Tyson,.And bit off Evander Holifield's ear? 😂 That was 97. And another youngster bursting I to the scene, Tiger Woods winning the Masters at 21 😊
I became a fan of basketball and a stan of Kobe as an eight year old kid watching this. Literally the first memory I have of watching basketball. Kobe, Gianna R. I. P. 🖤🙏
Ummm idk man I get what your saying, but I love the old school power and funk on the dunks back then. Plus they actually bent the rim too. That my opinion though.
The good old days when good to great NBA players would sign up for the dunk contest. Now we just get scrubs that barely see 4 mins a game winning the Slam Dunk Contest.
Rest in Peace Kobe and Gia. Kobe Bryant is the greatest basketball in NBA. ( If he was still playing, he will bring championship to Lakers team until now, keep the same roster and coach ) We miss you Kobe!!
This will always be special to me. As a 16y/o who lives away from the city and didn't have cable TV and only local TV channels are available. I am only familiar with our local leagues that time. This slam dunk contest was my first glimpse of the NBA, a Sunday after church and got invited to a birthday party. Don't get wrong I heard about MJ, magic, bird already but didn't seen them play. I thought Ham was going to get it, until Kobe Bryant pick the ball and get that reverse dunk and the rest is just special. That also made me one of the biggest fan of Kobe Bryant and for me one of the GOAT in the history of the game.
@@phonymontana4254 Unfortunately For Kobe His Arrogance Caused Him To Airball 4 Times Against The Jazz LMAOOOOO Michael Jordan Would Never Let That Happen To Himself
Kobe always showed he wasn’t afraid at anything and a super self confidence. Something Lebron never had at that stage of his life. And had to come years to show something even close. That’s why I would always put Kobe ahead of him by far…
On the bench: Ray, Mike, Kobe. Behind the bench: Latrell, C-Webb, Jalen. How much more peak 90's can we get. This is awesome, and what I lived for at one stage of my life., nostalgia. RIP Kobe.
I remember recording this with my pops vcr for him..hitting pause to cut the commercials out..the good ol days 💯
I used to forget to un-pause when my show came back on and missed all kinds of stuff.
Lol happens all the time 😂
這雙愛迪達Kobe鞋我有買😊
@@TheAutumnWind_RN4L I've done that a few times before tooooo 🤣🤣
@@lboogs1392 🤣🤣🤣
The 18 year old boy just gave the best he could and he carried the same style till his last game.
Kind of like when he gave his wife the best ring he could after the allegations.
Judges teleported to another planet for Ham's set 🚀 🥼
RIP Craig Sager and Kobe Bryant crazy to think both gone. Kobe’s demeanor and that mamba mentality still the same from 18 to after basketball. Love it! Miss you Mamba! ❤️🙏
franklin
Kobe dunks were trash
@@franklincrayton8830 sat2axezzz2seez2z2zzs2 zzw
@@___Anakin.Skywalker
ruclips.net/video/fLolQmTr7lw/видео.html
They really underrated Ham's dunk
You gotta love how during this era they were actually trying to take it kinda seriously. Haha
Yea so i guess the cart wheelie boy was a time traveler from 2024 😂
R.i.P Kobe you will be missed
Kobe was a decent dunker but not on same level as Zach Lavine or Aaron Gordon.
Aaron Gordon didn’t win some how
Stop
@@Flam1nK0 Because of Dwayne Wade
Which one is Kobe fam...
Lol I was told to watch this because it is apparently "the worst dunk contest ever" and it starts out with the cameraman showing the wrong person 😂😂😂
Not this one bro
2022 is now the worst I've seen.
@@100briancooper have to agree with you there
Off the top of my head 2001 and 2022 were both worse than this
Very trueee😂😂
LOVE THE ENTHUSIASM OF THESE COMMENTATORS! THE EXCITEMENT/INFLECTION IN THEIR VOICES IS CONTAGIOUS!😂😂😂🎉❤
How tf did darvin ham get a 36 🤦🏽♂️
Nostalgia brought me here... rest in peace Kobe❤
Nostalgia? Is that like a lady from Eastern Europe?
That was the worst cartwheel in history LMAO
😭😭💀
Ray Allen still looks a day older than this day
Ray got his titles in Boston and Miami.
@@hectorlopez1069 what does that have to do with this?
@@robertpitts8161he miss understood, he thought was a insult
@@victorzhao2736 All ok lol
That Ham touch the glass 360 was damn nice.
he was robbed
Indeed
by far the best contestant
I remember watching this contest. His last dunk was superb, but Judges and fans didn't understand it at all. One of the most underrated dunks.
That sht was clean af. I couldn’t believe that was him 🤣
Crazy to think Ray Allen and Lakers coach Darvin Ham was in a dunk contest
Even more crazy is Bob Sura being a part of this lol he was never a dunker
You can see the mindset of a champion that Kobe embodied. Everyone knew he was gonna be something special. And he was. Love and miss you Kobe fly with the angels 🙏
bla bla bla, i just see arrogance. his dunks were common, even for that period of time. nothing great or special. stop kissing ass
@@PharaoahMonk hate.
Really? Cheering on others' misses is the mindset of a champion???
@@kevinmichael503 7777
@@PharaoahMonk your just hating. if kobe 100% tried then his dunks arent, "common," as you say they are. His dunks were actually quite creative.
Anyone here after this past all-star weekend slam dunk contest? People thinking 2022 was bad... they ain't never seen this atrocity lmao.
You read my mind
Vitrapa
FACTZ!!! 💯
Damn, I cried watching this video. This was who I wanted to be like. This who I molded my game after. R.I.P KOBE
You cried over a celebrity who never gave a fuck about you? Time to focus your life in something real.
@@KMT15 not only you negative, but also ignorant AF
@@KMT15 not so smart are your?
Should of molded your game after MJ TBH...
I think we all not over his death
Darvin Ham had the best first round and didn’t even advance. Ridiculous.
kobe stolen the trophy！
Harvin Dam
Ray Allen played for a lot of teams but him playing for the Celtics with Pierce Rondo and Garnett made me a basketball fan
RIP Legend
The evolution of the dunk contest is interesting. How the older contests dunks are so simple compared to the last 10-20yrs dunks. The dunks they've done in the 70s-90s are dunks players do in games the 2000+ seasons
yeah that's with anything...it usually goes full circle...eventually people stop running out of silly stunts to do and like 20 years from now, we'll be "back" to more like the old school dunks...do we really need to see someone bring a lion in a cage onto the court?
Ya but this shit is way BETTER than what we got today bro. It's all about the cameras now and showing off to your friends theres no competitive nature. And Vince Carter's dunks will be the greatest ever nobody will ever beat what he did that year.
@@davidgutierrez4606 Vince was amazing, the best dunker of all time period. Jordan, Shawn Kemp, Traci McGrady, Julius Erving and Dominic Wilkins were also some of the best too.
But during games dunks have become basic as compared to this era
Todays kids do it soo much better... ruclips.net/video/yYtle6F4Cxs/видео.html
1997 = "this guy" / 2022 = "legend"
Who?
9:12 pm 01/09/2025, always rember, and your are one of the greatest in the NBA. J. L. Torres.
DARVIN HAM WAS A ROOKIE IN THIS DUNK CONTEST??? NOW HE COACHES THE LAKERS....WOW
Was going to say the same shit
M. Finley final dunk has to be one of the funniest dunk of all time 🤣🤣🤣
A good attempt but an epic fail. That wasn't even a cartwheel, lmao
@@tj2084 funny how nobody cared about corey maggetes front wheel leap and he made the dunk as you could tell if Finley didn't miss he would've gotten a perfect by the dumb judges of that contest
Hahaaaa
What was he thinking? ! 😂
Love seeing the young ray Allen dunking in a slam dunk contest.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
One of the greatest to ever play the game. RIP Kobe. We all miss you. ❤
P0
Imo he was the greatest
THE GREATEST**
@@rasheedjeffries5754 o
@@davidgutierrez4606 stop the cap lol
"It's hard to see him as a tough guy!" Looking back... they don't come any tougher than KOBE!!
The announcers we're atrocious. Arrogant plus stupid is a bad combination
he said that sarcastically but little did he know kobe was TOUGH
Kobe ruptured his Achilles tendon, hit 2 free throws, and then walked off the court! That's super hero level toughness.
THEY SHOULD STILL USE THAT '90'S TECHNO THEME SONG THEY PLAYED DURING THE INTRO!😂🎉❤
Kobe used to have a Philly accent but morphed into MJ over the years 😯
Anthony Gray being over in Italy then moving back to America meant his accent was always going to be different, listen to the way he says his daughters names you can tell that time in his life meant a lot and he will be fluent in their pronunciation. But then talking to America media he has a mixed American accent which we all know
Him talking has nothing to do with Michael Jordan bro.. 😑
Damn! It's the 90s again! Im still lovin the 90s dance baby! RIP kobe
Darvin Ham's dunks were nice. He got screwed. Should have been in the second round.
He got screwed harder than anybody Ive ever seen.
The most ass backward judging I've ever seen. Darvin Ham was the only one that landed all 3 dunks, he easily had the crispest execution, and his 3rd dunk was easily the most creative of the round. And yet the whack ass judges gave him one of the lowest scores.
I don’t know HOW Carr got higher when he misses his 3rd dunk!!! And Ham’s dunks were better 🤯
he was the best in that round
Absolutely Carr did 1 good dunk one okay dunk and a miss and he gets a higher score then a guy who did 3 great dunks. They should have stopped everything right there and investigated.
It's hard to imagine Kobe was this fearless at only 18.
Young kobe in this clip
Darvin ham drunks was crazy how he touched the backboard twist and slammed
You'll be missed Kobe.
We get it. He’s missed. Now stfu.
@@jsl6155 fuk you that was a year ago. Find something better to do with your time.
@@ryanmatzner7757 seriously tell him Ryan
@@ryanmatzner7757 - A year is a fucking long ass time. You didn’t know the man personally. Move on.
Wow that was a yr ago so then why in the FUCK ARE YOU GUYS SO FUCKING TALKING THIS KINDA SHIT NOW.YOU NEED TO GET OFF THE FUK KOBE BANDWAGON.like from now on I don't have any idea what these people are like for real but I'm betting that they do nothing at all worth a
SHIT.atleast KOBE gave us a little more additude to the BULLSHITUDE.to the nba that was already there
0:14 Cameraman is sleeping 😂😂
Please Rest In Peace Kobe My Dude You Will Be Missed And You Was Only 41 My Dude. Rest In Peace.
Jody Kidd my dude
Kobe 17x all star, 9x first defense, 3rd all time scorer , 97 dunk contest youngest to win, 08 mvp, 2x finals mvp
Wait did bro say at 4:05 that Darvin Ham is the replacement for A injured Rookie Allen Iverson, who was supposed to be in this dunk contest?
The immortal Kobe Bryant, to this day I still get goosebumps watching him play and dunk!!!
I don’t think you know what immortal means.
William he means immortal as in he will be remembered forever.
@@rasheedjeffries5754 dude probably chillin in hell with Satan to all eternity TBH
@@DUNGSTA tf is wrong with you?
REAL TALK !!!
Ray allen is not just a great 3 point shooter back then. He was one of greatest shooting guard in the league.
I see him as mj back then thou😂🔥
@@johnedmillapre6139 nah, ray allen said mj was a monster in both end of the court. He was a great offensive player and he is a great defensive player. And he has no weakness. Actually mj was in the era where 3 pointers are not a big part of the game. Jordan, evolved the game from what it is today. Then ray allen, tmac, and kobe introduced the 3 point game to everyone and then curry evolved it into what it is today. While lebron was a disgrace to the NBA because of his flopping and always complaining to the refs whenever there was a slight contact. Lebron james became the reason so many players do flops today and lebron is the reason why it is too soft today. Imagine you can shoot and drive all you want without anyone who'd be able to touch you or guard you. Easy points. Lebron is just top 7 that's all
Jalen Rose sitting behind Kobe bring back so many memories in that 81 point night
Had to watch this again. Dude was great!
Doc said of Kobe after his first, final round dunk:
"it's hard to take him as a tough guy, he's so skinny"
🤣🤣🤣 Little did he know at the time
R.I.P. Kobe Bryant
Never forgotten still remembered
RIP KOBE 🙏🏼
KB Between The Legs B4 Vince Took It Over the Mountain Rest n Power
Kobe&GiGi 🙏 😇 And the Rest of the lives lost in the Helicopter Amen...
Most surprising thing for me was seeing Ray Allen in a dunk contest lol.
Also the evolution.
Standard between the legs dunk 1996 = 49
Between the legs from free throw line 2016 = " that ain't a 50 " from Barkley lol
Ray had bunnies early in his career. Caught a few bodies !
P
Who's here after the passing of Kobe. R.I.P Legend
97' was a great year in Sports. As a Wildcat fan, Arizona winning it's first NCAA Basketball national title.
Kobe, busting into the Scene.
And remember when Mike Tyson,.And bit off Evander Holifield's ear? 😂 That was 97.
And another youngster bursting I to the scene, Tiger Woods winning the Masters at 21 😊
Even wrestling was great- Stone Cold was starting to pop off in ‘97.
@@gone.golfing yep Stone cold was da man
Thanks for the comments tho, imma look into these specifically if i can find videos of them
Facts 97 was da shit not to long after GOLDENEYE!!!!!!
Rock Chalk Jayhawk
Always good to see Kobe Bryant in these old videos. RIP champ! 🙏🙏🙏
C0
LITERALLY THE BEST ERA OF THE NBA!!! GOLDEN LOGO!!! BEAUTIFUL THREADS!!! I MISS THIS!!
You never lied
I'm more impressed by 18 year old Kobe handling that interview afterwards. That's an articulate kid on a huge stage!
I feel he talks a bit weird, was surprised
Darwin Ham had some sick dunks. The backboard slap and reverse was great.
Darvin Ham, he's the assistant coach for the Bucks now. He also shatter the backboard when he was in college .
Who cares
@@ampoysolis5789 ?
Ham was utterly robbed. He should have slapped the judges.
@@chrisyu327 I remember that dunk. Nasty putback.
Rest In Peace Kobe!!! Love You Idol!!! You will be missed!
I love how the commentators speak about Kobe as just some kid, but I know years later they all that change for them. R.I.P mamba
I dunno what makes me feel older. Seeing this live as a kid, or the VHS flicker. 🤣
My favorite player, and forever LEGEND!!! R.I.P
They said Allen Iverson was suppose to participate but couldn’t because of a sore shoulder 😮😮😮 I would have loved to see that!
Agreed
If he wasn't injured back that Year, he would have Dunk 360s though
Iverson would have won this contest easy!! Watch them Georgetown dunk highlights people 4get!!!
When the announcer said "Another Rookie" Kobe took it Personal.
I became a fan of basketball and a stan of Kobe as an eight year old kid watching this. Literally the first memory I have of watching basketball. Kobe, Gianna R. I. P. 🖤🙏
89 baby myself! 💯
They had everybody in here. MARLON I SEE YOU
Dang. I miss my GOAT. Rest easy, Mamba. Thanks for the 20-plus years of commitment to my team 😓🫶🏾
‘97? I feel like it’s only 10 years ago. Lol, but it’s actually over 20... I feel old.
Sarim Sok
We are old af
Damn. Close to 30 years now
Let’s just appreciate how much better dunking has gotten.
u havent watched the 2022 dunk contest 😭💀
@@playboyant it peaked at 2015-2016. After that, it was either mediocre dunks, missed ones, or 50 pt giveaways.
@@playboyant 😭 facts
Ummm idk man I get what your saying, but I love the old school power and funk on the dunks back then. Plus they actually bent the rim too. That my opinion though.
Yeah good point, I didn’t mean the NBA dunk contest, I meant dunking in general.
Finley had me weak in the beginning. He like that’s not me lol 😂 Classic dunk contest tho 💯
Hello!! 2023!! If only there's a time machine.. I will bring Gordon, Lavine and a street dunker kilganon. To just make there jaw drops 🤩😅🙌
18:37 Kobe cheers against the competitor, and the announcers weren’t feeling it 😂 that’s that mamba mentality !
I'm so happy Kobe have this trophy. R.I.P. Kobe ❤️ just came here to watch you winning the dunk contest once again.
He also has an Oscar
It is funny that in his later years everyone seemed to forget that ray Allen could dunk
Because by then he couldn't barely.
Bucks fans havent.. Ray Allen was a fuckin beast with the bucks
@@kobeandgary Ray Allen had hops and dunked on people alot. Look up Ray Allen with the Milwaukee Bucks.
EPIC NBA TIMES! 🔥👆😎
EVERY YEAR IS BETTER THAN THIS YEAR SLAM DUNK
@@sleeper9728 there, you are wrong
This year was complete trash
@@WolfKitchenStudios this year was the greatest slam dunk competition of all time.
@@jluck1590 The crowd thinks different..
The good old days when good to great NBA players would sign up for the dunk contest. Now we just get scrubs that barely see 4 mins a game winning the Slam Dunk Contest.
this is the dark ages of the nba!!!to see ray allen on a dunk contest is crazy
Young Kob’s Phili accent was HEAVY right here.
Best Dunk Contest Performance Ever Kobe Bryant Ol Jelly Bean.....
That matombo reaction is legendary
Rest in Peace Kobe and Gia. Kobe Bryant is the greatest basketball in NBA. ( If he was still playing, he will bring championship to Lakers team until now, keep the same roster and coach ) We miss you Kobe!!
And everyone else on the helicopter that died.
seeing this, IMHO, nothing as beautiful as Michael gliding and hanging. majestic artistry, thank you MJ.
What’s crazy is Kobe use to do dunks like this in game on defenders
Stop reaching you blood he never did that what u talking about
Aljon Acuna have u seen any 2000 Afro Kobe games
Kobe had Swag off the rip 🔥🔥💪🏾💯
Kobe Bryant......The Greatest Of All Time
Even though they were misses, Micheal Finley's finals were great 😄 The creativity of it all!!
20:52 - 22:11 mark of this video R.I.P: Craig Sager and Kobe Bryant. Thank you both for those great NBA memories.
I miss the 90’s
This will always be special to me. As a 16y/o who lives away from the city and didn't have cable TV and only local TV channels are available. I am only familiar with our local leagues that time. This slam dunk contest was my first glimpse of the NBA, a Sunday after church and got invited to a birthday party. Don't get wrong I heard about MJ, magic, bird already but didn't seen them play. I thought Ham was going to get it, until Kobe Bryant pick the ball and get that reverse dunk and the rest is just special. That also made me one of the biggest fan of Kobe Bryant and for me one of the GOAT in the history of the game.
Ham should have been in the Finals, he got royally screwed by the judges.
The Goat
KOBE was a Beast At 18!! If we only knew Then!!
I knew Kobe was the next Jordan. Even when Kobe was in high school. It was all over his game.
0:50 Kobe like, "Wait, thats it, thats all you gonna say, im the man, i need a better intro than that"
Lmao damn imagine being 6’5 and still considered the shortest in a dunk contest. Wow 🤩
I always admired Kobe's confidence even for an 18yr old
LOL super confident at 18!!! That's motivating
That wasnt confidence it was arrogance
@@phonymontana4254 true indeed as well with Kobe
@@phonymontana4254 Unfortunately For Kobe His Arrogance Caused Him To Airball 4 Times Against The Jazz LMAOOOOO Michael Jordan Would Never Let That Happen To Himself
Nobody at this dunk contest ever thought Darvin Ham would be coaching the Lakers in two decades later wow I am so happy for him 💯🔥Lakers4Lyfe
Darvin Ham could Yack more than any player in the comtest ..big time 😂
Or that Doc Rivers would win a Championship w/ Ray Allen...
Kobe always showed he wasn’t afraid at anything and a super self confidence. Something Lebron never had at that stage of his life. And had to come years to show something even close. That’s why I would always put Kobe ahead of him by far…
just say you hate lebron lol, why did you even mention him in a vvid he's not even a part of lmao, you haters are just everywhere.
@@ruffgodz9543 Yes, I am a Lebron hater.
@@chironjo I mean why though? He never did anything to you yet you hate him like he killed your dog whatsoever.
@@ruffgodz9543 Yes he did, what makes you so sure he didn’t?
@@omegamanGXE tf did he do to you then? lol y'all can't get him off your head and it's so hilarious lol.
Here after 2022 dunk contest…
Like its deja vu… cleveland now hosted two of the 5 worst dunk contest of all time
On the bench: Ray, Mike, Kobe. Behind the bench: Latrell, C-Webb, Jalen. How much more peak 90's can we get. This is awesome, and what I lived for at one stage of my life., nostalgia. RIP Kobe.
Vince Carter at home watching this like "This shit is weak. I'll be there soon."
RIP Kobe Bryant, your dunks are INSANE
Repent and turn to JESUS CHRIST! Spread this to everyone you know immediately!! Thanks!
11:51 RIP Lorenzen Wright. We love you man. Hometown.
V
Rest in paradise 🙏🏽 🐐 #24 #8
Darvin Ham was ROBBED. How did him and Ray Allen have about the same score when Ray only had 2 dunks.?
R.I.P. Mamba and Gigi
Darvin foreal had the sickest dunk