NBA Slam Dunk Contest 2015: Odds and Predictions for Entire Field
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest may not feature the league’s biggest stars like it did at the peak of its powers, but it is still the headlining event of All-Star Saturday. It will also introduce America to some of the league’s most exciting young talent.
With that in mind, here is a look at the entire field, predicted finish and some odds for the 2015 version of the dunk contest. Odds are courtesy of Odds Shark, as of Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
Odds and Predicted Finish
| Zach LaVine | Minnesota Timberwolves | -110 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | +225 |
| Victor Oladipo | Orlando Magic | +300 |
| Mason Plumlee | Brooklyn Nets | +700 |
| 1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2 | Zach LaVine |
| 3 | Victor Oladipo |
| 4 | Mason Plumlee |
Format
Adi Joseph of USA Today broke down this year’s format, and it is a throwback to some of the more traditional and memorable dunk contests in history.
Rather than the team format fans were exposed to last year, it is once again an individual contest where each competitor gets three chances per dunk to complete two dunks in the first round. The top two performers, as determined by five judges instead of any type of fan voting, advance to the finals.
The two finalists get two additional dunks with the same format.
It harkens back to the old days with a two-man showdown in the finals and judges determining the outcome instead of a difficult-to-understand team format with fan voting playing a role in the winner.
Predicted Winner
One thing is for certain in this season’s dunk contest—there will be a first-time champion.
None of the four competitors have ever contended in the dunk contest, and Mason Plumlee is the oldest of the four at only 24. Zach LaVine is a rookie, and the other three players are all in their second season in the league. If nothing else, fans will get a glimpse at some of the young talent they will watch in the near future.
LaVine is considered the favorite because of some of the incredible dunks he threw down in the Summer League and the occasional regular-season contest.
As for Victor Oladipo, Eric Freeman of Yahoo Sports believes he could take home the trophy because of his overall consistency:
"The second-year guard has been a notable dunker since his days as an Indiana Hoosier and recently threw down a 360 to close out a Magic win. He is the kind of player who might not have the best dunk of competition but could end up as the most consistent, which is often enough to win.
"
Then there is Plumlee, who may seem like the outsider in a field filled with athletic skywalkers, but All-Star Weekend is in Brooklyn. His presence in the field is more likely for the benefit of the hometown Nets fans than anything else, although Dwight Howard proved that big men can compete in the slam dunk contest, with some creativity, with a height advantage.
However, it will be Giannis Antetokounmpo who takes home the title.
Antetokounmpo discussed the opportunity, via Andrew Gruman of Fox Sports Wisconsin: “I would take the challenge. It will be a nice experience. I'm just going to go there and have fun."
Antetokounmpo is nicknamed “The Greek Freak” because of his overall athleticism, wingspan and size at 6’11” and the ability to make incredible plays with that combination. That combination will also be lethal in a slam dunk contest because he can glide through the air and make some athletic slams look easy and natural.
With his wingspan, Antetokounmpo will be able to start his jumps from much further away from the hoop than LaVine or Oladipo, which gives him more time to pull off aerial stunts and wow the crowd.
That will be enough to secure the upset victory.
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