Top 5 NBA Players We Wish Were in The Slam Dunk Contest

On February 19th, four of the NBA's rising stars will take part in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

Between Blake Griffin, JaVale McGee, Serge Ibaka, and DeMar DeRozan, there should be many high-flying throwdowns that night.

But what the contest has lacked recently is star power.

We already have seen what Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson, and Vince Carter can do. Here are five current players who have never been in the contest that would put on one heck of a good show.

No.5: Rodney Carney, Warriors Forward

Memphis product Rodney Carney has never made a name as a great basketball player, but he sure as heck is a great athlete and dunker.

This video showcases his incredible hops when he dunks on none other than Dwayne Wade. Carney dunked in the 2006 College Slam Dunk Contest, and he could easily put on a similar show at the pro level.

No.4: Trevor Ariza, Hornets Forward

For as many different uniforms as Trevor Ariza has seen throughout his career, one thing has definitely remained constant; his ability to dunk.

His hangtime is elite, and he could definitely do things in the air that few human beings could dream of. Ariza has made a strong case to be in a Dunk Contest, including posterizing JaVale McGee, a participant this year. Plus, imagine a tandem dunk with Chris Paul. Oh, the possibilities.

No. 3: Russell Westbrook, Thunder Guard

At 6'3, Westbrook is a little shorter than your average Slam Dunk Contest participant, but as the video shows, height is no impairment to him.

Most basketball fans know him as Kevin Durant's wingman and the one who runs the potent Thunder offense, but over his NBA career he has filled up several highlight reels worth of dunks.

What few people know is that Westbrook could not even dunk until he was 17 years-old. This late bloomer is one of the NBA's best up-and-coming stars and one of its best athletes.

No. 2: Derrick Rose, Bulls Guard

Much like Westbrook, Derrick Rose of the Bulls is shorter than an average dunk champion, but his athleticism is off the charts. In fact, that's a major reason he was so highly touted out of high school in Chicago and college at Memphis.

Aside from his excellent scoring ability and leadership, Rose can throw down some major slams. Just ask Danilo Gallinari.

No. 1: Lebron James, Heat Forward

You knew this was coming.

As much of a hated figure as Lebron has become since taking his talents to South Beach, he remains the single most talented basketball player on the planet.

His leaping ability and power are unmatched.

Lebron is a player who could make Isaac Newton roll over in his grave for his gravity-defying slams. And you know that after all the hate he has received, Lebron would be eager to put on a show in the Dunk Contest.

Lebron would make us all witness perhaps the greatest collection of dunks ever.