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7 basketball players you think can’t dunk but can | With Proof

Many of us believe that not all NBA players can dunk a basketball. Or maybe you’re on the other side of the court and believe every basketball player that plays in the NBA right now can dunk or should be able to.

Today we are going to dive into the topic of Can He Dunk?

Here are seven players I present to you that most people believe that can’t dunk but actually can.

I feel as if some of us believe that if a player has never dunked in a game they can’t dunk at all.

Well, not true. I am going to list 3 criteria that enable us to determine if a player can dunk or not.

Those 3 are, If they dunked in an NBA game, In a College game, and In Warm-up.

If a player has dunked in one of these settings then it is safe to say they are able to dunk a basketball.

The reason I do not want to just mention if a player has dunked in the NBA during a game is because that really isn’t much fun.

I mean I would be giving you a yes or no answer. Also dunking in a game is super difficult, and unless you have a massive vertical even being a shorter player is still very difficult to do so.

You really need to find the right circumstances, maybe a steal at half court and dribbling the basketball all alone to cram one down.

Maybe in the second quarter when you are not tired compared to if it happened in the second half when you are. There’s a huge difference.

Speaking of height the tallest player in this list is 6 foot 3 inches tall.

Height is an obvious factor when it comes to dunking and so is their reach.

Some of these players you will see are able to dunk at a height of 6 feet or under and depending on their reach you’re looking at an easy 35 to 40 inch running vertical.

One Final note if the player is able to dunk in the NBA I am sure we can all agree they were able to dunk in college.

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J.J. Barea, Can He Dunk?

Listed at 5’10 Barea played most of his career with the Dallas Mavericks.

I was surprised to find out that he almost dunked a put back in a game.

He got up so high that even Vince Carter was even surprised. He didn’t have much of a run-up either. Check it out.

The video below shows JJ Barea dunking in warm-up off a lob quite easily.

This doesn’t surprise me, when he was in his prime playing for Dallas he was super quick and explosive and could get to the rim when needed.

There is a correlation between how quick a player is and their leaping ability.

Dunked In NBA: Almost

Dunked In College: No

Dunked In Warm-up: Yes

Trey Burke, Can He Dunk?

The 6-foot point guard made the all-rookie team and has played for 5 teams total in the NBA.

Averaging 10 points a game, Trey can jump and there is no question he can dunk the basketball in warm-up but has ever dunked in a college or NBA game?

In College, it looked easy…

In the NBA he did, towards the end of the video you can see it…

Dunked In NBA: Yes

Dunked In College: Yes

Dunked In Warm-up: Yes

Isaiah Thomas, Can He Dunk?

A two-time all-star standing at 5 feet 9 inches tall, this point guard in one season with the Celtics averaged 29 points a game.

He was nominated for the most valuable player award. Isaiah can jump, here’s a compilation of him dunking in college with ease in a game and in a dunk competition for his Washington State.

Although he has never dunked in the NBA but tried during the 2017 All-Star game with a self alley-oop but missed.

Dunked In NBA: No

Dunked In College: Yes

Dunked In Warm-up: Yes

Chris Clemons, Can He Dunk?

Many of us may not know Chris Clemons, but he can play, he is still new to the league and playing against giants standing only 5 feet 9 inches tall.

Chris suffered an Achilles tendon rupture in the pre-season of the 2020/21 season.

Chris Plays for the Houston Rockets and has a deadly outside 3 pointer.

On top of that, you can see him dunking on players in his college highlights.

Did he dunk in the NBA in his one year in the league? Yup!

Dunked In NBA: Yes

Dunked In College: Yes

Dunked In Warm-up: Yes

Patty Mills, Can He dunk?

Patty Mills is listed at 6 feet one inch tall and plays point guard for the San Antonio Spurs.

He has never dunked in a game and there is no footage of Patty dunking in college, but I was able to find him dunking during college in a gym, that counts for something right.

He also has dunked during a pre-game warmup.

Patty is in his 30’s now so it could be that he is slowing down and probably isn’t able to dunk anymore.

Dunked In NBA: No

Dunked In College: Maybe

Dunked In Warm-up: Yes

Chris Paul, Can He Dunk?

Arguably the best point guard to never win a title, he is one of the last true point guards in the league.

Standing only at 6 feet tall, some of us must have forgotten about Chris Paul when it comes to his ability to jump.

Even I did but this dunk I am about to show you is Paul dunking on prime Dwight Howard in an NBA game between the Orlando Magic and Paul’s first team he played for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Chris Paul was also seen dunking in the 2020 all-star game for fun.

Of course, if he is dunking in the NBA he can dunk in college and definitely during warm-up.

Dunked In NBA: Yes

Dunked In College: Yes

Dunked In Warm-up: Yes

Steve Nash, Can He Dunk?

This 6’3 point guard needs no introduction, he’s a 2x MVP and 5-time assists champion, and also now in the Hall of Fame. Can he dunk?

Being a long time Steve Nash fan, I could not remember or find any footage on Steve Nash dunking in an NBA game, nor did I find any footage of him in college.

All I got was him during an NBA commercial flashing back to when he was in college and shooting around. He goes up and squeaks a left-hand dunk seen below.

I think it is safe to say that if he is able to do this with his left he could dunk with his right and that is why I said Yes, he can dunk during warm-up.

Dunked In NBA: No

Dunked In College: Maybe

Dunked In Warm-up: Yes