At the end of every year, the dunking community naturally asks the question — who was the best dunker of the year? In episode 41 of Dunk Talk, Dylan Haugen makes the case for Donovan Hawkins as the best dunker of 2024, breaking down the performances, achievements, and impact that set him apart from an incredibly deep field of competitors.
The Case for Donovan Hawkins
Dylan builds a comprehensive argument for why Donovan deserves the title of best dunker of 2024. The case rests on multiple pillars — the quality and difficulty of his dunks, his consistency across multiple events, his ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes competitions, and his broader impact on the community through mentoring and content creation.
Key Performances of 2024
The episode walks through Donovan’s most impressive performances from the year, providing context about the events, the competition, and the specific dunks that stood out. Each performance is analyzed not just for its visual impressiveness but for the technical difficulty, the competitive context, and the reaction it generated from the dunking community.
Consistency as the Differentiator
One of Dylan’s central arguments is that while several dunkers had individual moments of brilliance during 2024, Donovan’s consistency across the entire year set him apart. He was not just great at one event — he was great at virtually every event he entered. That level of sustained excellence requires a combination of physical fitness, mental toughness, and professional preparation that few athletes can maintain over an entire year.
The Competition
Dylan acknowledges the other athletes who had exceptional years and explains why, despite their impressive performances, Donovan’s overall body of work edges them out. The episode is respectful of the competition while making a clear case for why one athlete stood above the rest.
What It Means for 2025
The episode closes with a look ahead at what Donovan’s 2024 dominance means for the competitive landscape going into 2025. His performance raised the bar for the entire community, and other athletes will need to respond with their own elevated performances. The resulting competitive escalation is good for the sport as a whole.
Do you agree that Donovan Hawkins was the best dunker of 2024? Make your case in the comments below.