The NBA Slam Dunk Contest stands out as one of the most eagerly awaited events during the All-Star Weekend. Participants, known for their incredible athleticism, defy gravity and captivate players and fans with spectacular dunks, making it a thrilling highlight of the festivities.
However, recent editions of the contest have been largely forgettable, besides the insane 2016 duel between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon, regarded by some as the greatest dunk contest ever.
The best players in the NBA used to compete in the contest, with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Dominique Wilkins, and Blake Griffin winning the crown.
Contrastingly, in the last season, participants such as Trey Murphy III, Kenyon Martin Jr., Mac McClung, and Jericho Sims lacked regular rotation minutes for their teams.
Notably, the winner, McClung, was on a two-way contract. This shift in participant profiles has raised questions about the contest's overall competitiveness.
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5 Players Who Should Be in the 2023-24 NBA Dunk Contest
1. Zion Williamson
Williamson is one of the most athletic specimens ever to grace the league. He expressed interest in joining the 2024 Slam Dunk Contest last year. Unfortunately, an injury prevented his participation back then, but he has maintained good health for most of the current season.
"I'll think about it. I'll put heavy consideration into doing the dunk contest. I feel like if I am going to do it, I'd probably do it next year," the 23-year-old said in February 2023.
2. Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The versatile and dynamic rookie from the Heat is primarily recognized for his well-rounded skill set, not for his vertical leap.
However, footage from his high school days emerged, revealing that he outperformed Philadelphia 76ers forward Kenyon Martin Jr. (a participant in the 2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest) and NFL's Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London in a high school dunk contest.
It would be interesting to see how the Mexican-American would perform at the professional level.
3. Victor Wembanyama
While the 7-foot-4 prized rookie could dunk the ball in his sleep, it would be fascinating to see what kind of dunks a player with his size could execute in the contest.
Many iconic moments in the competition have been produced by shorter players defying gravity, but the prospect of a tall player introduces the possibility of groundbreaking dunks never seen before.
4. Shaedon Sharpe
Sharpe was initially slated to compete in the 2023 edition of the contest, but he withdrew at the last minute to concentrate on the remaining games of the season for the Blazers.
The 20-year-old second-year player has exceptional athleticism that promises to entertain fans when he eventually participates in the event.
5. Mac McClung
McClung was a bright spot in an otherwise uneventful edition of the contest in 2023. His highlights generated 520 million views across several platforms in the 12 hours following the event.
The 6-foot-2 also received a shoe deal from German brand Puma due to his win, and the league has already invited him to defend his title despite currently playing in the G League for the Osceola Magic.
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