NBA Slam Dunk Contest 2015: Highlights for Top Stars and Latest Predictions
Call the 2015 NBA Slam Dunk Contest a launching pad of sorts.
This year's event features four first-timers who have a chance to capture the imagination of the globe. While not everyone knows Zach LaVine (who plays on an 11-win Timberwolves team), Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Oladipo (17-win Orlando) or Mason Plumlee (21-win Brooklyn), all it takes is one memorable dunk to become a global commodity.
Some moments at the contest hang forever in time—just ask Michael Jordan and Vince Carter, among others. The league hopes to recapture this magic by going back to basics too, per NBA.com:
"Returning to a classic format, the Sprite Slam Dunk will be a two-round event in which the four participants can perform any dunk they choose without time limits. The players will have a maximum of three attempts to complete each dunk in both the first round and the final round. Five judges will score every dunk on a scale of 6 to 10, resulting in a high score of 50 and a low score of 30.
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Saturday's final event promises to entertain, especially with youthful talent on the hunt to make history while judged by Julius Erving, Walt Frazier, Nate "Tiny" Archibald, Bernard King and Chris Mullin.
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
When: Saturday, Feb. 14
Start Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Watch: TNT
Slam Dunk Contest Participants and Predicted Finish
| Zach LaVine | Minnesota Timberwolves | Third |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | Second |
| Victor Oladipo | Orlando Magic | First |
| Mason Plumlee | Brooklyn Nets | Fourth |
Preview and Prediction
It is impossible to find a blemish when one looks at this year's brief participant list.
Plumlee seems like a smart weak point at first glance. After all, he's a defensive-minded player who hangs out underneath the rim and comes in at 6'11" and 235 pounds.
Dunks are not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when considering the Duke product, especially since he averages seven boards and one block per game.
Then again, a brief glimpse at a highlight reel shows Plumlee certainly belongs in the event:
As the Nets capture on Twitter, Plumlee does not exactly require a running start, either:
Still, it is fair that explosive swingmen hog the spotlight.
Take LaVine, who at 6'5" can throw down with the best of the best and figures to do so for quite a long time provided he is just 19 years old.
NBA TV captures just one account:
A full breakdown shows well enough why the UCLA product stands a strong shot at the title Saturday:
Even LaVine seems to pale in comparison to the athletic Antetokounmpo, though.
The Greece native is a key facilitator for the surprising Milwaukee Bucks thanks to a 12.0/2.5/6.6 slash line. What he may lack in name recognition at the moment—despite the fact he appears to have the upside of a top-10 player in the league—he can make up for with sheer energy and creativity:
With all of the above out of the way, it is difficult to bet against Oladipo.
One of the best slashers in the game today, the Indiana product often cuts to the lane and makes defenders turn away rather than challenge in the hopes of avoiding the dreaded "poster-ization."
By now defenders know it is just better to get out of the way.
Oladipo's hunt for the prize goes toward good causes as well, with his earnings going to three charities, as captured by NBA.com:
"It’s an honor and privilege to be chosen for the Slam Dunk Contest and what better way to celebrate than share my good fortune with others through my partnership with Dunk Cancer. It was difficult to choose one charity to donate my earnings to and ask fans to help raise money for, so I chose three based on locations close to my heart—Maryland because that’s where I was born and grew up; Indiana because I’m a Hoosier for life; and Florida because they believed in me on draft night two years ago. I hope fans join me in such a worthy cause.
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A great representative for the new era of superstars set to take the NBA by storm, Oladipo figures to lead the way Saturday night.
A combination of passion and athleticism combine to give him an advantage as the more traditional contest unfolds. It seems Oladipo has prepared for this moment for some time now.
Once there, nobody will be able to bring down Oladipo.
All stats and info via ESPN .com unless otherwise specified.
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