Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best dunkers in NBA 2K22

By

Is there anything more exciting in basketball than a high-flying dunk? A solid dunk is just as wild in NBA 2K22 — an energetic slam can embarrass your opponent, rev up the crowd, and turn the tide of a game if your team uses it as fuel. Most players in NBA 2K22 can dunk here and there, but you’re going to want to check out the best dunkers in the game at some point.

Whether you’re building a team of ultimate athletes in MyLeague or just want to throw down on a friend in PlayNow, these are the best dunkers in NBA 2K22 that you’ll want to play with.

Recommended Videos

Further reading

Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson in NBA 2K22.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Zion Williamson is an absolute tank. The star forward and center for the New Orleans Pelicans is massive (just look at this man’s arms) but is somehow still athletic enough to throw down monster dunks at will against anyone who dares step in his way. In NBA 2K22, Williamson has a standing dunk rating of 95 and a driving dunk rating of 97, combined with a vertical rating of 99. In other words, you better get out of the way if you see Williamson headed to the rim.

Related

Zach LaVine

Zach Lavine in NBA 2K22.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Two-time NBA Dunk Contest winner Zach LaVine may have upped his shooting over the past couple of seasons, but he’s still a dunk master. Built as a Scoring Machine archetype in 2K22, LaVine can score from anywhere on the court. This just makes him a more dangerous dunker. Pump fake your defender out of his shoes at the 3-point line, then take it to the hole for a monster slam. Unlike other dunkers on this list, LaVine has the ball-handling skills and speed to beat his defender and get to the rim with ease.

Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon in NBA 2K22.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

An NBA Dunk Contest legend at this point, Aaron Gordon has more perfect-score dunks in the competition than any other participant in its history. Somehow, he’s never actually taken home the title, but he’s made up for it with some wild dunks in the regular season. Though the Denver Nuggets forward only has an overall rating of 78, his dunk-related states are top-notch — he’s got a 95 standing and driving dunk rating and a 92 vertical rating. He’s got ups.

Derrick Jones Jr.

Derrick Jones Jr. in NBA 2K22.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

At just a 75 overall rating, and as the only player on this list coming off the bench, Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Jones Jr. isn’t the best player to run your entire offensive through. He is the best player to put on your squad if you want fantastic dunks on back-to-back fastbreaks, though. Jones took home the NBA Dunk Contest crown in 2020 and can throw down just-as-impressive slams on the court. An Athletic Finisher archetype player, Jones has a 94 driving dunk rating, 93 vertical rating, and 90 hands rating, making him a great target for alley-oop passes.

Ja Morant

Ja Morant in NBA 2K22.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ja Morant is one of the rare dunking point guards in the league. The young Memphis Grizzlies is an offensive threat from anywhere on the floor but is known for downright embarrassing defenders who try to get in the way of his dunk attempts. Like LaVine, Morant has the ball-handling skills to take the ball to the rack all on his own. Combine his 92 ball-handle rating with a 94 driving-dunk rating and a speed rating of 92 — he’ll throw down a dunk and be back on defense before his defender realizes what happened.

These are the top five best dunkers in NBA 2K22, but they aren’t the only impressive athletes in the game. The list of other top-rated dunkers in 2K22 includes John Collins, Hamidou Diallo, Donovan Mitchell, Andrew Wiggins, and others.

Editors’ Recommendations

Sam Hill
Sam Hill
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As Digital Trends' Gaming evergreen lead, Sam Hill is here to help you find your new favorite game and dive right in. The…
How long is Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl?
Survivors around a camp fire in Stalker 2.

Welcome back to The Zone, Stalker. It's been a while. Xbox has been hyping up the third entry in the cult PC series that made a name for itself for being a hardcore simulation with dynamic AI and events that people loved so much they could overlook the many bugs. After many delays, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is pulling you back into the radiated and deadly Zone with new graphics, better AI, and even more deadly mutants to contend with. Despite the troubled development, Stalker 2 is a massive game with almost too much to do and see. But just how long can even the most hardcore Stalker expect to spend in The Zone this time around? Here's how long Stalker 2 is.
How long is Stalker 2?

Stalker 2 is an open-world game with a lot of immersive sim elements, side quests, and secrets. There's also the fact that it is very, very punishing and meant to be played at a slow and methodical pace. For that reason, even trying to mainline the story missions will still take around 40 hours, but could even be more depending on how skilled you are.

Read more
Stalker 2: tips and tricks to survive in The Zone
A mutant with a split jaw screams in Stalker 2.

If you come into Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl expecting your previous experiences with shooters to carry you through the game, you're in for a rude awakening. This is still an FPS, but it is more of an immersive sim and hardcore survival game than anything else. You will need to adopt a very different playstyle to survive in The Zone, which is filled with mutants and bandits all ready to end your journey in a flash. The game expects you to learn its most important lessons the hard way, but you can avoid a lot of that frustration by picking up these essential tips and tricks for Stalker 2 before you dive in.
Save a lot and often

This point cannot be understated. Saving in Stalker 2 should become a reflex after doing almost anything. If you make it to a town, save. After you manage your inventory and are about to go back out into danger, save. If you hear a nearby confrontation you want to investigate, save. After you survive a gunfight, save. This isn't just because death comes so fast and you can end up losing quite a bit of progress, but also because Stalker 2 is a bit buggy, and backing up your save might end up saving your playthrough.

Read more
The best places to land in Fortnite (Chapter 6, Season 2)
Fortnite Lawless Cover Art

Survival is key in Fortnite, and it all starts by picking the best starting location. Even if you're a looper who's been around for each and every season, your likelihood of grabbing that coveted Victory Royale can be gone in a snap if you start off on the wrong foot -- whether it be on a mountain with no loot or a hot drop that could send you back to the lobby in no time.

As part of Fortnite Chapter 6, Season 2, a new Crime-themed island has arrived with new points of interest (POIs) that change the game significantly. However, with these spots, which one is best comes down to your skill and preference. With that in mind, here are the best places to land in Fortnite for the OG sweats, beginners, and everyone in between.
The best places to land in Fortnite
Before jumping into the list, you must understand the basics of what makes a good landing spot. Sure, any location with decent loot and lots of chests might serve you well, but there's more to that. Is that spot often contested by other players in the lobby? Can you farm mats easily? Is it close to other POIs? Is it too far from the Storm Circle? These recommended landing spots all have their fair share of consistency and the best loot that you'll need. They also have some quirks that make them the best depending on your playstyle.
Crime City

Read more