Mitchell, Gobert, Favors Highlight Utah Jazz’s Best Dunks Of 2018-19 Season
May 13, 2019, 12:11 AM | Updated: 12:23 am
Scott Winterton, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz fans were treated to tons of moments featuring the most exciting play in basketball, the slam dunk, in the 2018-19 season.
Jazz center Rudy Gobert threw down an NBA record of 306 dunks in a season and was the first player since shot types were record for the first time in 2000-01 to have over 300 in a single season.
Donovan Mitchell, the 2018 NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner, chose not to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest this season, but still provided plenty of awe-inspiring dunks during the year.
The staff at sports.ksl.com has conferred and voted together and these are the top five dunks of the 2018-19 season by the Utah Jazz:
5. Crowder’s Half Court Alley-Oop To Mitchell
On Christmas Day, playing in front of a nationally-televised audience and donning the team’s new green uniforms, Mitchell received an alley oop pass from Jae Crowder, who threw the ball from beyond half court and caught it for a huge slam. The Jazz went on to win the game 117-96.
4. Donovan Mitchell Dunks On Two Mavericks
In the Jazz’s 117-102 victory over Dallas on Nov. 7, Mitchell found himself being guarded on the perimeter by highly touted rookie Luka Doncic. Mitchell dribbled past Doncic, who gave pursuit, and drove the lane. Maxi Kleber and Doncic were both near the basket to meet Mitchell, who disregarded the pressure and threw down a powerful dunk on both of their heads.
3. Gobert Posterizes Zubac
Ivica Zubac has been a victim of more than one ruthless rim rocker by Gobert. On Feb. 27, he took his worst abuse yet on a vicious slam by the French big man. Gobert ran a pick and roll with Joe Ingles, received the ball back from Ingles and took Zubac to the rack. Zubac was left staggering and backpedaling back to the baseline after the monster dunk by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
2. Favors Goes ‘Hulk Mode’ On Bucks
The Jazz’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks on March 2 may have been their best of the season. While Mitchell turned in a career high 46 points in the win, it was Derrick Favors who electrified Vivint Smart Home Arena with a powerful slam on Milwaukee’s Ersan Ilyasova. Jazz color analyst Matt Harpring called the dunk the best of Favors’ career.
1. Mitchell Throws Down On McGee
No dunk was as satisfying to Jazz fans as Mitchell’s posterization of Los Angeles Lakers’ center Javale McGee. After driving down an open lane to the basket, Mitchell took off for one of his signature, one-handed, leg-kicking dunks. McGee went airbourne too and paid the price as Mitchell stuffed it right in his face to the delight of the crowd at Vivint Smart Home Arena. ESPN’s Adam Amin added to the excitement with a terrific call of the moment.
