The Slam Dunk Contest has always been a prominent event during All-Star Weekend. It typically serves as the grand finale of the Saturday night festivities and has produced memorable moments in NBA history, such as the breathtaking performances of Vince Carter and Aaron Gordon.
Jaylen Brown showcasing his dunking skills during practice! 😛
What surprises does the three-time #NBAAllStar have in store for the #ATTSlamDunk?
#StateFarmSaturday: February 17th at 8:00pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/JZuArCz2Bl
— NBA (@NBA) February 14, 2024
However, some argue that the contest has lost its shine in recent years due to the absence of big-name participants. Take the most recent edition, for instance. Out of the four participants in 2023, one player was averaging a mere 5 points per game, another was from the G-League, and the remaining two were KJ Martin and Trey Murphy III. Ultimately, the G-League player, Mac McClung, emerged as the winner.
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest has consistently lacked star power. In fact, in the nine years leading up to 2024, only three current All-Stars have competed: Andre Drummond in 2016, DeAndre Jordan in 2017, and Victor Oladipo in 2018. Since then, no All-Star has taken part in the contest.
However, this year brings a change. Despite the inclusion of lesser-known names like Mac McClung and Jacob Toppin, one of the league’s top players from the best team, Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, will be participating. Brown’s involvement adds much-needed star power to this year’s All-Star Weekend.
All-Stars in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest
(Via @Sportico ) pic.twitter.com/CnkEtcqQrY
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 16, 2024
While Brown will undoubtedly be the most recognizable participant, Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. will also be among the four contenders. Jaquez made a strong impression with a remarkable start to his debut NBA season, and although he has cooled off slightly, he is still regarded as one of the best first-year players in the league.
According to the odds provided by BetOnline, last year’s champion, Mac McClung, is the heavy favorite with a -275 designation to secure another victory in Indianapolis tonight. Brown follows closely behind on the list at +450. Jaquez Jr. is listed at +800, while Toppin’s odds stand at +900.
According to the Source sportslens.com