NBA Slam Dunk Contest 2023: Predictions for This Year's Contestants
The 2023 NBA Slam Dunk Contest isn't exactly filled with household names.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe is the only lottery pick among the four youngsters who are set to participate in this year's contest. Sharpe will be joined by Houston Rockets forward KJ Martin, G League guard Mac McClung and New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy in the capper to NBA All-Star Saturday night.
That's not prime Vince Carter status or a Zach LaVine vs. Aaron Gordon showdown we've got here.
That said, some of the least-hyped dunk contests tend to be the best. Let's check in on the field this year and break down the top contenders.
Runaway Favorite: Shaedon Sharpe
This event should be a spotlight for Sharpe, whose otherworldly bounce has impressed in an otherwise quiet rookie season.
Sharpe's insane vertical leap was the stuff of legend during the predraft phase last year, and he has some highlights this season that have him looking like he's floating on Pluto's gravity.
"I'm looking forward to it," Sharpe told reporters last month. "It is a dream come true. I always watched the dunk contest with Vince Carter, (Michael Jordan), Kobe (Bryant) and all of them dudes, so it is a dream come true. I'm looking forward to it."
Sharpe will have his work cut out if he wants to etch his name next to those Hall of Famers who wowed in the dunk contest, but he enters Saturday night as the overwhelming favorite. He has by far the highest profile of any player in the contest and should have the most expansive repertoire given his physical prowess.
That said, winning a dunk contest is just as much about creativity and execution as it is about leaping ability. Sharpe has the potential to put on an all-time classic performance; we'll just have to see if he works enough on the other components to make it happen.
Dark Horse: KJ Martin
Martin feels like more of an in-game dunker than a contest champion, but he has the tools to surprise. The Rockets forward already has a series of contest-worthy dunks on his resume, including a seemingly effortless throwdown from just inside the foul line last month against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
If Sharpe underwhelms and this becomes a battle of players scoring in the high-40s on their dunks rather than a 50 fest, then Martin has a real shot at winning. He has the type of consistency that would lend itself to making the finals, even if we don't expect him to have the best dunk of the night.
Crossover Moment Appeal: Mac McClung
If Jack Harlow (and, to be honest, Woody Harrelson) isn't involved in McClung's dunk set to promote the upcoming White Men Can't Jump remake, something has gone wrong. It's the type of obvious viral moment that everyone can see coming but would still be a potential 50 waiting for McClung in the moment.
Feelings about McClung being in the contest set aside—we're not in love with the idea of the G Leaguer infiltrating an NBA contest—the man arrived at Georgetown in 2018 with millions of YouTube mixtape views for a reason. He can dunk and has contest bona fides dating back to his high school days to boot.
From a virality standpoint, McClung is the favorite to throw down the most-viewed dunk of the evening. We're just not ready to take him over NBA talent.
Probably Not: Trey Murphy
Maybe Murphy surprises us, but he feels like he'd be a better fit for the three-point contest than the dunk contest. The second-year guard is a good-but-not-great leaper, so he's going to have to come through with 10/10 creativity to have a shot.
