While the All-Star Game is billed as the main attraction of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, nothing captures the imagination like Saturday’s Slam Dunk Contest. Just how many iconic dunks can you think of from over the years? Whether we’re talking Michael Jordan in the late 80s or Vince Carter in the early aughts or any of the young dunkers in recent years, some of the best dunks we’ve seen have been talked about for years, even decades since.

But the event isn’t without controversy of its own, and recently, watchers and even the dunkers themselves have been split on the use of props. You could argue that props add to the theater of the dunk contest, but in the words of DeMar DeRozan, a purist: “I’m a dunker. Dunk contests, you go out there and dunk.”

We’ve certainly seen some great dunks with props and without. So, let’s compare, let’s contrast, and let’s see if we can’t come to a conclusion.

Prop: Blake Griffin’s dunk over a Kia

 

Of course, when we talk about props, nothing is more memorable than Blake Griffin rolling a car out to dunk over. Although some corners of the internet whisper of a conspiracy that the NBA rigged the dunk contest in Griffin’s favor, perhaps in partnership with Kia.

No prop: Michael Jordan’s free throw line dunk

 

We can’t forget the classics, and if we’re talking about Michael Jordan, then we have to talk about his free throw line dunk, right? MJ blessed us with no shortage of classic jams, but this is the one that you’ll recognize from the posters and phone wallpapers. This is the first time that we saw man fly.

Prop: Aaron Gordon’s under-the-legs dunk over the mascot

 

For his prop, Gordon went with Stuff the Magic Dragon, also the mascot of the Orlando Magic. You can’t say he settled, though, because he went over-under here — over the mascot, under his legs. Yeah, this one led to some incredible screensavers.

No prop: Zach LaVine’s between-the-legs free throw line dunk

 

Over the years, there have been countless inovations of Jordan’s original, and isn’t that the point? Even without props, dunks like this one prove that it’s possible to revamp the classics and stay creative. Just like MJ, LaVine is one of just four players to win the dunk contest in back-to-back years, thanks to this dunk.

Prop: JaVale McGee’s dunk on two rims

 

Now, this is really a novel use of a prop. You couldn’t do two dunks at once with just one rim, right? If you’re going to use a prop, then this is the sort of thing you use it for — and this dunk was so worth using the prop.

No prop: Jason Richardson’s off-bounce, between-the-legs reverse dunk

 

Sometimes, the prop is flashier, but you can’t hate on technical mastery. Look at the angle on this finish — and he went between his legs to his weak hand to go reverse! If you love dunks, plain and simple, then you have to love this.

Prop: Nate Robinson’s Kryptonite dunk over Superman

 

Is a person a prop? That seems debatable, although we lean towards saying yes. Anyway, that doesn’t change the fact that yamming on another man remains a classic of the genre, and this one had a narrative angle to it with Robinson going neon-green as Kryptonite (Kryptonate!) to dunk over Dwight, who had a cape on for his earlier Superman dunk. Also: Nate Robinson is 5’9!

No prop: Vince Carter’s elbow dunk

 

Who better to make the case for dunks without props than Vince Carter? You could pick any of his dunks to choose from, like the 360 windmill or his off-the-bounce, between-the-legs slam, but things weren't over until Vince declared things over with this one. Without using any props, Vince turned in what may just be the best ever performance of the dunk contest.