In the upcoming weekend, the basketball world will turn its attention to Indianapolis as the NBA prepares for All-Star Weekend in the home city of the Indiana Pacers.
While the actual All-Star Game is scheduled for Sunday, February 18, Saturday will feature a variety of other events, including the highly anticipated Slam Dunk Contest.
According to insider Shams Charania, this year’s dunk competition is likely to feature Mac McClung, Jaylen Brown, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Jacob Toppin as the four participants.
McClung, who went undrafted in 2021 after playing for Texas Tech University, has been alternating between the NBA and the G League. Last season, he briefly played two games with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Among the quartet mentioned by Charania, Brown is the most prominent name. He has been a key player for the Boston Celtics for several years and is set to make his third career appearance in the All-Star Game. Currently, he is averaging 22.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game for the Celtics, who currently hold the league’s best record at 38-12.
Jaquez, a forward for the Miami Heat, has made a strong impression as a rookie this season, averaging 13.1 points per game. The 22-year-old, who stands at 6-foot-6, played four seasons of college basketball at UCLA before being selected as the No. 18 pick by Miami in last summer’s draft.
Toppin, the younger brother of the Pacers’ Obi Toppin, is an undrafted forward currently playing for the New York Knicks.
The Slam Dunk Contest may not hold the same allure as it did in previous decades, but it still captivates audiences with its participants’ unpredictable creativity.
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