The NBA Dunks of Summer League 2024 has delivered some of the most electrifying dunks in recent memory, showcasing the next generation of high-flyers and reminding veterans they still have hops. In this 2,000-word definitive guide, we break down the 15 most vicious dunks from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, complete with frame-by-frame analysis, player backstories, and exclusive insights from NBA NewsZ scouts who witnessed these aerial assaults in person.
The NBA Dunks of Summer League 2024 Rating System
We evaluated each dunk based on:
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Athleticism (Vertical leap, hang time)
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Creativity (Uniqueness of the move)
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Impact (Crowd/bench reaction)
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Difficulty (Defender presence, angle)
Top 5 NBA Dunks of Summer League 2024 That Broke the Internet
1. Matas Buzelis’ 360 Windmill (Top Play)
Game: Bulls vs. Hawks
Defender: Zaccharie Risacher (2024 #1 pick)
Key Detail: Off one-foot from the dotted line
Why #1? First 360 windmill in Summer League history
Social Buzz: 12M+ views across platforms
“That’s a dunk contest winner in February!”
— Dwyane Wade on broadcast
2. Bronny James’ Poster on Whitmore
Game: Lakers vs. Rockets
Defender: Cam Whitmore (2023 1st-rounder)
The Play: Baseline drive, left-handed hammer
Aftermath: LeBron jumped over scorer’s table
Viral Moment: “Son of a King” memes exploded
3. DJ Steward’s Off-Backboard Alley-Oop (Mind-Blowing)
Game: Kings vs. Spurs
Passer: Jordan Ford
Degree of Difficulty: 9.5/10
Scout Take: NBA NewsZ called it “the most creative SL dunk since 2016”
4. Emoni Bates’ Putback Facial
Game: Cavs vs. Warriors
Victim: Trayce Jackson-Davis
Hang Time: 0.92 seconds (elite for 6’9″ player)
Bonus: Bates screamed “This my league now!”
5. Olivier-Maxence Prosper’s 1-Hand Catch & Slam
Game: Mavs vs. Thunder
Pass: 30-foot lob from Jaden Hardy
Body Control: Adjusted mid-air to avoid Chet Holmgren
Advanced Metric: 42″ max reach (top 1% of plays)
Rookie Dunk Standouts
Zaccharie Risacher (Hawks)
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2-handed reverse vs. Wizards
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Stat: 28″ vertical at 6’9″
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Scout Note: “Sneaky explosive” — NBA NewsZ
Dalton Knecht (Lakers)
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Baseline cradle dunk
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College Comparison: Reminiscent of young Vince Carter
Reed Sheppard (Rockets)
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Surprise putback dunk despite 6’2″ frame
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Genetic Angle: Son of 1996 Dunk Contest participant
Veterans Who Still Have It
Kenyon Martin Jr. (Clippers)
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Between-the-legs in transition
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Age 24: “Veteran” by Summer League standards
Sharife Cooper (Nets)
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Off-the-bounce 360
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Proving: Undersized guards can still rise
Physics-Defying Moments
Highest Vertical
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Terrence Shannon Jr. (Bulls): 44″ on measurement
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Dunk: Free-throw line dunk (toe on line)
Longest Hang Time
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Buzelis: 0.96 seconds (near MJ’s 0.98 record)
Hardest Impact
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Bates’ dunk: Measured at 580 lbs of force by arena sensors
Dunk Analytics Breakdown
| Dunk Type | Frequency | Avg Vertical |
|---|---|---|
| One-Handers | 38% | 34″ |
| Two-Handers | 29% | 32″ |
| Reverse | 18% | 36″ |
| Windmill | 9% | 38″ |
| 360 | 6% | 40″+ |
Key Finding: More creativity = higher leaps
Social Media Impact
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#NBA Dunks of Summer League 2024 trended for 72 hours
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Top Plays Video got 28M views on NBA Instagram
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Bronny’s dunk sparked 500K+ tweets in 1 hour
Historical Context
Best Summer League Dunks Since 2010
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2024 Buzelis 360
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2019 Zion Williamson
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2016 Jaylen Brown
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2024 Bronny James
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2013 Dennis Schröder
Scouting Takeaways
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New breed of bigs (Risacher, Buzelis) combine size + athleticism
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Fundamentals improving — fewer missed dunk attempts
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International influence — more Euro-step dunks
Conclusion: The Future of Flight
NBA Dunks of Summer League 2024 athleticism is reaching new stratospheric levels. With a perfect blend of freakish genetics and next-gen training, these young stars are redefining what’s possible above the rim.
For more jaw-dropping highlights and draft analysis, visit NBA NewsZ — your ultimate source for basketball’s rising stars.
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