It’s the end of an era in Los Angeles where Lakers star Kobe Bryant has just announced that this will be his final season in the NBA:
Bryant played his entire career with the Lakers, including five championships and 11 “1st Team All-NBA” all-star selections:
With the 2015 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on the horizon, here is a look back at the most memorable photos and videos from the competition over the years.
Washington Wizards guard John Wall won the 2014 contest when he jumped over the team mascot and did a reverse dunk at Smoothie King Center on Feb. 15, 2014, in New Orleans.
Terrence Ross of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a dunk during the 2013 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 16, 2013, at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Jeremy Evans of the Utah Jazz jumps over teammate Gordon Haywood and dunks two basketballs during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at Amway Center on Feb. 25, 2012, in Orlando.
Houston Rockets’ Chase Budinger pays homage to the 1992 dunk contest winner Cedric Ceballos by dunking with a blindfold during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, in Orlando.
Blake Griffin, of the Los Angeles Clippers, dunks the ball over a car in the final round of the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest as part of NBA All-Star Saturday Night at Staples Center on Feb. 19, 2011, in Los Angeles.
JaVale McGee, of the Washington Wizards, dunks on two hoops simultaneously during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at Staples Center on Feb. 19, 2011, in Los Angeles.
Serge Ibaka dunks from the free-throw line during the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at Staples Center on Feb. 19, 2011, in Los Angeles.
Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks dunks during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the American Airlines Center on Feb. 13, 2010, in Dallas.
New York Knicks’ Nate Robinson (4) in action, leaping over Orlando Magic Dwight Howard (12) during the finals of the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 14, 2009, in Phoenix.
Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic bounces the ball off of the back of the backboard before dunking at the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at New Orleans Arena on Feb. 16, 2008, in New Orleans.
Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic dunks while wearing Superman cape during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 16, 2008, in New Orleans.
Gerald Green of the Minnesota Timberwolves completes his “birthday cake dunk” by blowing out a candle while dunking during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the New Orleans Arena on Feb. 16, 2008, in New Orleans.
Gerald Green of the Boston Celtics jumps over various things, including Nate Robinson, before dunking during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 17, 2007, in Las Vegas.
Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks jumps over former NBA Slam Dunk champion Spud Webb during the Sprite Slam Dunk on Feb. 18, 2006, in Houston.
Andre Iguodala of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks from behind the hoop during the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest at Toyota Center on Feb. 18, 2006, in Houston.
Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks takes off in the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk competition at Pepsi Center on Feb. 19, 2005, in Denver.
Fred Jones of the Indiana Pacers almost hits his face on the basket while dunking during the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Competition on Feb. 14, 2004, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Jason Richardson of the Golden State Warriors is shown during the 2002 and 2003 Sprite Slam Dunk Contests, where he was crowned the champion both years.
Desmond Mason of the Seattle SuperSonics dunks over a teammate during the 2001 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 11, 2001, at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.
Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors performs two of the most memorable dunks of all time during the 2000 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers soars for a dunk during the 1997 Nestle Crunch Slam Dunk Contest on Feb. 8, 1997, at the Gund Arena in Cleveland.
Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jonpremosch/the-most-epic-nba-dunk-contest-photos-ever-taken
