Who comes to your mind when you think of the greatest dunker ever? Is it Michael Jordan soaring from the free-throw line in 1988? Maybe Vince Carter’s iconic between-the-legs dunk? While Carter has no doubts about his name being on the top, he might’ve surprised many by naming a former Boston Celtics star as a better dunker than MJ.

The game started with VC picking a better dunker between Dwyane Wade and Jason Richardson. Picking Richardson as his first choice, Carter went on to select Shawn Kemp, Blake Griffin, Dominique Wilkins, and then Dr. J as the better dunker than the preceding name in the given order of names.

The only name he retained was Julius Erving against LeBron James, only to replace Dr. J with Gerald Green. And then came the answer that not many would’ve expected. Carter picked Green as a better dunker than Michael Jordan. Now, before you roll your eyes, let’s talk about Gerald Green. If you’ve ever watched Green dunk, you know he wasn’t just good—he was electrifying.

In fact, a common perception is that dunking was his calling card in the NBA. He loved it so much that, as a teen, he literally sacrificed part of his finger to it. The story goes that while dunking on a shaky hoop, Green caught his ring finger on a nail, resulting in an amputation. But even with that setback, his dunks were jaw-dropping.

But, still, saying he’s better than MJ—that’s where many fans would pump the brakes. Green did win an NBA Slam Dunk Contest, but out of three tries. Jordan, on the other hand? Two contests, two wins, even against a name like Dominique Wilkins. And don’t forget, MJ’s vertical leap of 48 inches (said to be the highest in the NBA) towers over Green’s 39 inches.

And let’s not pretend anyone has forgotten Mike’s legendary 1988 free-throw line dunk. The build-up, the crowd holding their breath, and then Michael Jordan flying through the air like a superhero from the free throw line. That moment didn’t just win him the contest but became basketball’s most iconic image. So, while Gerald Green deserves respect, calling him better than His Airness may feel like a stretch to some fans.

Gerald Green did not want to be remembered for his dunks

Think of Gerald Green, and chances are, a dunk comes to mind. Maybe it’s the time he blew out a candle in mid-air or that ridiculous windmill alley-oop. His highlights are pure YouTube gold. Fun fact—as per SB Nation, Green’s Wikipedia page mentions “dunk” 24 times while LeBron’s mentions it just thrice.

But does that define Gerald Green? He, at least, didn’t desire for this to be true.

As mentioned earlier, Green lost part of his right ring finger in a freak accident as a kid. Twice, he was cut from his high school team. He entered the NBA as a phenom, drawing comparisons to Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady, but his career flamed out in just four years. To get back, he took the long road—playing in Russia, China, and the D-League.

No wonder he wanted his career to be what many had hoped for when he entered the league. So, when he was asked about dunks, he brushed it off. “Nah, hell no,” he once said, “I don’t want to be remembered for dunks. Hopefully, I can win a ring before it’s all said and done.”

Green’s worst fear, however, came true. While he secured a G-League championship, he didn’t win any in the big league. And even today, the most that fans remember him for is his electrifying dunks. Carter picking him over Michael Jordan is one example of it.