NBA Slam Dunk Contest 2015: Rules, Odds, Contestants and Predictions
No All-Star Weekend is complete without a Slam Dunk Contest. This year, the 2015 NBA All-Star Game festivities feature some of the best young dunkers in the game, as they are set to shine on the big stage.
The Brooklyn Nets' Mason Plumlee, the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Minnesota Timberwolves' Zach LaVine and the Orlando Magic's Victor Oladipo are all set to face off in the display of athleticism at Madison Square Garden. The NBA's official All-Star account provides a look at the four contestants:
Currently, OddsShark.com has LaVine (10-11) as the favorite to take the crown; however, Antetokounmpo (2-1) and Oladipo (3-1) might also have some tricks up their sleeves. Plumlee (7-1) is the underdog in the competition, but he will also provide some bang for the fans' buck on Valentine's Day.
Prior to the contest officially getting underway, here's a look at the updated rules with a prediction for the winner.
2015 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Date: Saturday, Feb. 14
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, New York
TV: TNT (coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET)
2015 Slam Dunk Contest Rules
This year, things are a little different than in the past for the Slam Dunk Contest. For example, there will be no team format like last year's controversial contest.
Each dunker will be limited to three attempts to complete a given dunk in the two rounds, per Steven J. Gaither of Sporting News. Along with the more classic format, there will be five judges handing out scores between six to 10 for the participants. That leaves a minimum of 30 and maximum of 50 for each dunk.
The use of props is also permitted, but it must be approved before the contest starts through the NBA Basketball Operations department. No, seriously, that's actually a thing that's happening.
Instant replay can also be used by the referee judging whether a dunk is official. Lastly, there is also the possibility of a "dunk-off" to decide a tiebreaker. Participants will be permitted one dunk to decide who the winner will be in the event of a tie.
Predicted Winner: Zach LaVine
Go ahead and hate on me for picking the odds-on favorite to win the whole thing. There's a reason the lone rookie in the competition is also Vegas' choice to take the crown.
LaVine just so happens to be one of the most athletic young stars in the game. He regularly wows the Timberwolves fans with his above-the-rim dunks, as he did earlier this month, per NBA TV:
Paired with teammate Andrew Wiggins, the T-Wolves are slowly becoming an entertaining team to watch. Though Wiggins decided not to participate, the franchise will be well represented with LaVine.
Minnesota coach Flip Saunders spoke about what he plans to see from LaVine, per Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press: "He's going to try to bring back the old-school dunk contest. You aren't going to see props. You are going to see what you saw in the old days as the dunkers came and showed off what they could do without props. That will probably be as exciting for me to watch as anything."
Over the years, stars like Blake Griffin and others have turned the competition into a spectacle unlike anything we've ever seen. But while dunking over a car is cool, LaVine's pure athleticism alone Saturday might lead some to believe he has pogo sticks for legs.
Zach Harper of CBS Sports offered his take on the event:
Suffice to say, this is LaVine's contest to lose. The rookie hasn't been on this stage yet, but the expectations are clearly high for him.
Equipped with a plethora of old-school dunks that will make an impact on the judges, LaVine should breeze through the contest Saturday. Expect huge things from the Minnesota player and an easy win.
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