Today, Pistons forward Josh Smith turns 28 years old, and Dime Magazine would like to celebrate by looking back at his 15 best dunks over his nine seasons in the NBA. Smith, a.k.a. J-Smoove, is notably known for his superior athleticism as a big man. His ability in the open court instantly increases the probability that a highlight play is coming your way. Detroit’s offseason signing of Smith – four years/$54 million – has created a beast of a starting frontcourt – along with Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe – that will only get more powerful as the season wears on.
He uses his size – a 6-9 small forward – to add more film to the highlight reel by stealing the ball and making the other team pay for their negligence by handling the rock or by throwing down some insane blocks. While fans wish he would stop shooting threes and stick to playing closer to the bucket, Smith always findd a way to dazzle the crowd with his biggest weapon: his athleticism.
Whether it shows up as a thunderous tomahawk, a wonderful windmill, an acrobatic alley-oop, a powerful putback, or putting someone on a poster – yes, I’m talking to you, Chris Bosh – Josh Smith knows how to deliver jaw-dropping, highlight-worthy dunks that are sure to be water cooler talk the next day. So on his 28th birthday, let’s take a trip down memory lane for the Georgia native’s 15 best dunks in the NBA.
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15. STRONG FINISH OVER JOEL ANTHONY IN TRANSITION
Smith simply crushes this dunk down on Joel Anthony after receiving a beautiful bounce pass from Mike Bibby.
14. ATHLETIC REVERSE ALLEY-OOP JAM
Smith’s athleticism is on full display in this sick reverse jam lobbed up by Jeff Teague.
13. FILTHY DUNK ON KENDRICK PERKINS
Smith throws down a hammer on Kendrick Perkins for the and-one opportunity.
12. SMITH TAKES FLIGHT FOR AN INSANE WINDMILL
This might be the loudest dunk I’ve ever heard, and it’s easily one of the best windmills in NBA history.
11. J-SMOOVE GOES COAST-TO-COAST FOR A MONSTER SLAM ON BROOK LOPEZ
Smith gets a defensive board and takes matters into his own hands by going coast-to-coast for this facial on Brook Lopez.
10. STEAL LEADS TO AN AND-ONE ALLEY-OOP IN THE PLAYOFFS
Smith steals the ball, hands it off to Joe Johnson, and finishes a lob while getting fouled to wow the crowd during Game 6 of the second round series against the Chicago Bulls in the 2011 postseason.
9. CRAZY ONE-HANDED ALLEY-OOP FINISH AGAINST THE KNICKS
Josh Smith and Joe Johnson show off their alley-oop game with this phenomenal one-handed catch and finish.
8. SMITH DUNKS ON PRIMOZ BREZEC’s HEAD
Charlotte’s center really had no shot on this one. By the time he turned his head, Smith was already well above the rim. I’m not sure anyone could’ve blocked this dunk.
7. POSTER DUNK ON STEVE NASH
Steve Nash attempts to take a charge, but Smith has other plans in mind.
6. SMITH PUTS THEO RATLIFF ON A POSTER
J-Smoove takes off on the right block to deliver a facial to Boris Diaw and Theo Ratliff.
5. SMITH DESTROYS EDUARDO NAJERA
Smith throws down the monster hammer dunk on the Bobcats’ Eduardo Najera.
4. GAME-WINNING PUTBACK AGAINST THE ROCKETS
Smith flies down the middle to put back a missed jumper from Mike Bibby to win the game with 0.7 seconds remaining.
3. J-SMOOTH POSTERIZES SERGE IBAKA
I don’t know what’s better: Smith’s facial of Ibaka or the Hawks’ announcer proclaiming: “He just grounded Air Congo.”
2. INSANE PUTBACK TO BEAT THE FINAL BUZZER AGAINST THE MAGIC
Smith comes out of nowhere to put back Joe Johnson’s missed jumper with authority as time expired.
1. RIDICULOUSLY CREATIVE DUNKS AT 2005 SLAM DUNK CONTEST
Josh Smith put on a sick show, using his creativity with these four dunks to earn the 2005 Dunk Contest title. His acrobatic and athletic jams, along with a little help from Kenyon Martin and a throwback to Dominique Wilkins, made for one of the best dunk contests ever.
Did we miss any?
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