2014 Slam Dunk Contest Participants: Predicting Most Exciting High-Flyers

The NBA's 2014 Slam Dunk Contest still doesn't feature the biggest names in the Association, but this year's field is full of high-flyers that will surely put on a show for the fans in New Orleans.

This year's event will work differently than ever before. The six participants in the contest will be divided into two teams—the East and the West—and the winner will be decided in a conference-against-conference format. That being said, Alex Kennedy of BasketballInsiders.com reminds us that fans will be able to vote for "Dunker of the Night":

Paul George, John Wall and defending champ Terrence Ross will be representing the East. Harrison Barnes, Damian Lillard and Ben McLemore will be representing the West. The field is full of young, athletic talent, and it will be exciting to see which high-flyer comes up with the best dunks.

Here's predicting which contestants will throw it down in the most exciting fashion on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Paul George

Paul George has to be considered a favorite in this year's installment of the Slam Dunk Contest. There aren't many players more exciting than him in today's NBA, and the dunks he throws down in games are often a sight behold.

Just take a look at this in-game 360-windmill against the Los Angeles Clippers:

And this windmill slam against the Minnesota Timberwolves:

George's prowess above the rim is well documented. Not many players in the NBA can do the things he does while in the air. That makes him a threat to the rest of the field in this one.

It will come down to his creativeness in the end. Both of his best dunks (in my opinion, the two above) were windmills. The former had a slight variation in that it was a 360, but the latter was a more pristine example of the traditional windmill.

George will have to break out all the stops to wow the judges (and the fans voting at home), but he's going to be a favorite choice for many leading into the action.

Terrence Ross

Last year's champion, Terrence Ross will have big shoes to fill after his impressive display in Houston.

Ross is one of the most impressive dunkers in the NBA. Even in games, he does not hesitate to be flashy and throw it down with authority. His ability to give the fans a show has made him a favorite for the Toronto Raptors' faithful.

Ross needs to be careful in the 2014 contest. If he does anything at all similar to last year's exploits, he may get docked a few points by the judges. The last thing you want to do in this type of contest is something that everyone has seen before.

Here's what he did last year, just in case you're in need of a refresher:

He'll be without the surprise aspect in New Orleans, as he can't get bonus points for whipping out the Vince Carter jersey for the second-consecutive year. Instead, he'll need to find other ways to be creative.

Given his pedigree as one of the game's better dunkers, though, I have faith in Ross to put on a show. If his highlight reels tell anything, it's that his athletic ability is enough to wow a lot of people.

Ben McLemore

Jared Weiss of CelticsBlog was told by Ben McLemore himself that he might attempt a 720 dunk during the contest. That's never, ever been done before—and probably never even thought of by most competitors.

The fact that he might give it an attempt makes his rounds worth watching. Whether he succeeds or not remains to be seen, but it'll make for some great television.

Outside of the potential 720, McLemore does have other things to offer—like this emphatic throwdown against the Clippers:

It might take McLemore converting on the 720 to win this event, though. Barring any surprises, McLemore doesn't really have the same reputation as a dunker that others in the competition have. Plus, the fact that he's a rookie playing on this stage might mean some nerves will be involved.

If he lands a 720 dunk, it'll be a round to remember. If he doesn't, it might end up being one of the more forgettable performances of the night. But that's why you need to watch. You risk too much in passing him by.

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