Dunking a basketball is the coolest form of a shot in basketball. Many fans tend to go into a basketball game to see spectacular dunks and plays. A dunk is also a form of disrespect to the opposing player and a dunk is used by basketball players to show off or to hype up the crowd.
However, dunking a basketball can only be done if you are tall or if you have a high vertical jump. There are young basketball players who can already dunk at the age of 16 like Bronny James. In the NBA, dunk shots are common because the vast majority of NBA players are capable of dunking.
The truth is, not all NBA players can dunk. Several players have no capability of dunking. In this article, we are going to talk about some NBA players who cannot dunk a basketball, but they still had an impressive career. Let’s go!
Check out our list of best outdoor basketball shoes!
Minimum Height Requirement For Dunking
The minimum dunk height requirement is 5’8 and you should be 35” high to touch the basketball rim. However, Spud Webb is only 5’7 and the only NBA player who can dunk at that height, which means that this can happen rarely. But, who knows? If you are 5’6 and if you put in some work, there is a high chance you can dunk even if your height is below 5’8.
If you like to jump high, check out our free vertical exercise here. You can do this exercise for 30 days consistently, and for sure you will see results. If you want a professional trainer and you have some penny to spend, go through this link for a discount.
7 NBA Players Who Can’t Dunk
Below are the top 7 NBA players who can’t dunk and have never seen dunk during an NBA game.
1. J.J Barea, 6’0
J.J Barea is a Puerto Rican NBA player, and he was the seventh Puerto Rican to play in the league. Barea was undrafted when he tried his luck at the 2006 NBA draft. He joined the Warriors for the 2006 Las Vegas Summer League and joined the Dallas Mavericks for the Rocky Mountain Revenue. After Dallas saw that Bare had potential, they signed him on August 17, 2006.
Due to his height and low athleticism, Barea has never dunked in the NBA, but some footages show that he tries to dunk during practice. Even though he can’t dunk, Barea is a good passer, and he has a good percentage outside the arc.
2. Jameer Nelson, 6’0
Jameer Nelson was selected as the 20th overall pick of the Denver Nuggets in the 2004 NBA draft and traded in the Orlando Magic. Most of his prime years are shown to the Orlando fans before he was traded to other various NBA teams.
Jameer Nelson stated in an interview (video below) that he has dunked a basketball once in an NBA game. He possesses the athleticism needed for a basketball player to dunk. However, Nelson decided to forget about dunking and focus to improve on more important skills like shooting. Another reason why he forgot about dunking is that he claimed that he is not a crowd-pleaser.
3. D.J Augustin, 6’0
D.J Augustin was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats (which is the Hornets today) as their ninth overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft. He played for various teams, and he is currently playing for the Orlando Magic.
D.J Augustin is an astounding three-point shooter with a 42% outside the arc. Augustin had never dunked in an NBA game, and no footage has been recorded that showed him dunking.
4. Beno Udrih, 6’3
Beno Udrih signed with the San Antonio Spurs after being drafted in the 2004 NBA draft. He played for various NBA teams and is now an assistant coach of the Westchester Knicks.
In all the NBA games Beno Udrih played, he has never attempted to dunk a basketball during an NBA game. Udrih is a good three-point shooter and an impressive point guard.
5. Isaiah Thomas, 5’9
Isiah Thomas was selected in the second round of the 2011 NBA draft and picked by Sacramento Kings. Thomas played for various NBA teams also, but his best years were with the Boston Celtics, where he led the Celtics to playoffs.
Thomas has some dunk attempts made but all failed. He also tried to dunk during his college years, but his vertical leap is not enough to slash the rim. However, there was one time where Thomas blocked Chris Paul’s fast-break shot. Check the footage below:
6. Patty Mills, 6’0
Patty Mills is an Australian NBA player and was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers and became the first Saint Mary’s player since 1983. He also played two professional basketball leagues overseas before successfully had a spot in the NBA. Mills is currently playing for the San Antonio Spurs. He was a good use for the team because of his three-pointers and his high basketball I.Q.
7. Steve Nash, 6’3
Steve Nash was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft and he played 18 seasons in the NBA. He won back-to-back MVP awards while he is playing for the Phoenix Suns. Nash also played for the Lakers to help Kobe to try to get a championship. However, because Kobe tore his Achilles, Steve Nash and the Lakers did not get a ring in that season. Steve Nash is one of the best NBA players who haven’t won a single championship ring.
There is some footage where Nash dunks the basketball during practice games, which many consider as a weak attempt. However, there is no footage recorded where Steve Nash dunk in an NBA game.
Final Words
Some basketball players believe that nothing is impossible. However, I don’t believe in this saying. We also need to accept some truths so that we can live a happy life. There is a saying that said, change what you can and accept what you can’t change. You cannot change your height, but you can train to improve your vertical leap for you to be able to dunk. But if all the hard work you have made doesn’t pay off, which sometimes happens, then shift your focus to improve the other important basketball skills that you think will be helpful for you.
Who is your favorite NBA player who can’t dunk? Comment your answers in the comments section below!
