The Best Dunks of All Time from slam dunk contests. Basically looking over them again Vince Carter and Jason Richardson are on a level that no one else really is. The one dunk they really left out was Vince's where he did the 360 the opposite way than everyone else and threw in a windmill also. It was the first dunk he did the year he won and really set the tone of "I'm going to dunk six times tonight and you've never seen anyone attempt any of these before."
found this article at Weird Christian Site
Finding the open man is what Mark Jackson does best. The Utah Jazz Guard ranks fourth on the National Basketball Association’s all-time assist list. Only current teammate John Stockton and former greats Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson have doled out more assists than Jackson, who is in his 15th NBA season. It is with the same success that Jackson shares something of even greater importance—his faith in Jesus Christ. “I have a wonderful platform, a tremendous forum,” said Jackson, selected to the NBA’s East All-Star Team in 1989. “I have a great opportunity to just stand up and shout just how good God has been to me.”
Jackson has shared the basketball—and that incredible message—with many players around the NBA. Since joining the league as New York’s first-round draft choice in 1987, Jackson’s travels have taken him to the Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana, Denver, Toronto, back to New York and now Utah. Some may look at his career as that of a journeyman—Jackson sees things differently. “People look at it as though I’ve been to so many places,” added Jackson, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 1987. “I look at it like a blessing. God has sent me different places to witness to different people, to share with different teammates and different organizations. It’s a wonderful opportunity because it’s just great to find new friends and, quite frankly, upset the enemy—upset the devil—because he knows when I’m in town I’m going to speak the truth. God has been so good to me that I have to tell people.”
Jackson is also thankful for the date he had with a young lady during his second year in the NBA. There was no goodnight kiss at the end of the evening. Instead, only questions that forced him to face his eternity: “Are you saved?” she asked. “Have you given your life to the Lord?”
“Up to that point, I prayed every night. I was a college graduate. I loved my parents. I didn’t smoke, I didn’t drink, didn’t do all those things,” added Jackson. “But the truth of the matter is, I was on my way to Hell.” That night, she led him in a prayer of salvation. Desiree, that young woman, became Jackson’s wife. The couple is now expecting their fourth child. “If she wouldn’t have surrendered and been obedient to God’s word and His call at that particular time, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Jackson. “If she would have sold out, it would have been a different ballgame.”
Jackson’s ballgame is sharing the basketball—and Jesus—with his teammates. For that, he is getting more than a passing grade.
Played college ball at St. John's until 1987.
Selected by the New York Knicks as 18th overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft. Played in New York till 1992.
Traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in September 1992.
Traded to the Indiana Pacers in June 1994.
Traded to the Denver Nuggets in June 1996.
Traded to the Indiana Pacers in February 1997.
Signed with the Toronto Raptors in August 2000.
Traded to the New York Knicks in February 2001.
Traded to the Denver Nuggets in June 2002. Waived in September.
Signed with the Utah Jazz in October 2002.
Joined the Houston Rockets in December 2003.
Joined ESPN as an NBA studio analyst in 2004.
Named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1988.
Selected to the NBA All-Star Game in 1989.
Led the NBA in assists in 1996-97.
Ranks second in the NBA all-time assists list.
beefcakejcc
Has Jackson earned a pass to the Hall?
By Marc J. Spears
Special to ESPN.com
SALT LAKE CITY -- Usually a guy who averaged less than 10 points a game in his career, had one All-Star appearance and no NBA championship rings wouldn't receive consideration for the Hall of Fame. And then there is Mark Jackson, who recently passed Magic Johnson to rank second among the NBA's all-time assists leaders.
"First ballot, first ballot, no doubt," said Jazz forward Karl Malone, who is projected to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. "Why? Who did he pass? You can get to the Hall of Fame by statistics and team winning and things like that. So, there is no doubt in my mind that he has earned that right. I think it's just a formality. I think it is without a doubt."
While there is no doubt in The Mailman's mind, the inclusion of Jackson into the Hall of Fame will probably bring a strong debate among voters.
Mark Jackson has more than 10,000 assists but only one All-Star Game appearance.
But considering where Jackson came from, it's amazing that he is even being talked about being a Hall of Famer.
Following an All-America career at St. John's, the New Yorker was chosen 18th overall in the 1987 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder was named the 1988 NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 13.6 points and 10.6 assists per game. He was selected to the 1989 Eastern Conference All-Star team and averaged a career-high 18.6 points that season.
While playing for Denver and Indiana during the 1986-87 season, Jackson led the NBA in assists at a career-high 11.4 clip. Entering his 16th season, he never averaged less than 6.3 assists per game in his career. And he's just the third player in NBA history to record 10,000 assists.
"I was hoping to hang around and be successful," said Jackson. "I didn't know it would add up to what it added up to. That would be a dream. But I'm truly grateful and thankful of what I've had coming to this league."
The crowning jewel of Jackson's career arrived on March 16 in Cleveland when his assist to Andrei Kirilenko with 11:20 left in the game moved him past Magic (10,141 assists). Especially since Jackson grew up wanting to be like the Lakers' former "Showtime" floor general.
"It means a lot to me," Jackson said. "There have been a lot of things I've been blessed to accomplish in this league. But to pass, in my opinion, the greatest point guard to play the game is really unbelievable. A kid coming from New York City, playing in all the playgrounds, watching Magic and trying to imitate all the things that he was doing ... To one day have the opportunity to surpass him and do it, is truly a blessing. I'm grateful to the guys I played with who have made the game fun. I felt that they made me as successful as I have been."
Second to Jazz teammate John Stockton in all-time assists, third member of the 10,000-assist club and 16 seasons in the business is nothing to sneeze at. It's a nice hoops résumé. Even so, Jackson has his skeptics over his Hall of Fame prospects.
"As much as I admire his longevity and his skill as a set-up man, to me, his overall game never made him a perennial All-Star," one former member of the Hall of Fame voting committee said. "That being the case, I don't think he is deserving of a spot in the Hall of Fame."
The other four of the five topping the career assist list possess a lot of All-Star appearances.
Stockton has been named an All-Star 10 times. Magic played in 13 All-Star games, and Oscar Robertson and Isiah Thomas both played in 12. Stockton will be in the Hall of Fame, and Magic, the Big O and Zeke are already members.
Jackson doesn't think his lack of All-Star appearances should be held against him.
"I don't think that's valid," Jackson said. "These days, it's really a popularity contest. I've had situations where I led the league in assists and didn't make the All-Star team. I've had situations where my team was the best in the conference and I didn't make the All-Star team over say a guy like Penny Hardaway, who didn't play the first half of the season. I really don't think it's fair to hold those things against me. The bottom line is I've had longevity and I've won everywhere I have gone."
Stockton's career scoring average is 13.1 points per game, Magic's was 19.5, Robertson's was 25.7 and Thomas' was 19.2. Jackson now sits at 9.9 points per game.
Stockton has played his entire career with the Jazz, Magic played his with the Lakers, Robertson played for just two teams in Cincinnati and Milwaukee and Thomas played only for Detroit. Jackson has played for New York, the Clippers, Indiana, Denver, Indiana again, Toronto, New York again and Denver again via trade before a buyout enabled him to join Utah.
“
I am a student of the game and I'm well aware of what the Hall of Fame means and the people that are in there. One day, to have the opportunity to join them would be incredible. ”
— Mark Jackson
"Is there anyone in the Hall of Fame that has been traded six times?" the former Hall of Fame voter asked.
Malone has heard all the knocks against Jackson. But to him, 10,000 assists is 10,000 assists.
"Everywhere he has gone, he has won and made someone better on his team," Malone said. "I don't think (the lack of All-Star appearances) matters. He has 10,000 assists. He's a true point guard."
Nuggets center Marcus Camby, who played with Jackson in New York, said: "I'd love for Mark to get into Springfield. First ballot, I don't know. They are probably going to look at his scoring. But over 10,000 assists is a lot of assists."
Jackson won't be eligible to be a Hall of Fame candidate until five seasons after he retires. As far as his playing days are concerned, Jackson says he is taking it year by year and still has basketball in his blood.
Jackson should receive strong consideration for the Hall. While he may not be a perennial All-Star or have led the league in scoring, a lot can be said about a plateau only Stockton and Magic have surpassed. And the New Yorker is hopeful that others will also believe he is deserving to be in Springfield, Mass., with all the other basketball greats.
"I don't even know how to describe it because I am a student of the game and I'm well aware of what the Hall of Fame means and the people that are in there," Jackson said. "One day, to have the opportunity to join them would be incredible."
