Who’s In The NBA Dunk Contest?

The 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest will take place on Saturday, February 15th during All-Star Weekend. Here’s a look at the participants.

NBA Dunk Contest

This year’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest will take place on Saturday, February 15th at 8:00 PM ET. The participants this year are: Dwight Howard, Gerald Green, Josh Smith, and Nate Robinson.

Past winners

The National Basketball Association Slam Dunk Contest is an annual event that takes place during the NBA All-Star Weekend. The contest was first held during the 1976 ABA All-Star Game, and when the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, the dunk contest became a part of the NBA All-Star festivities. The contest has been held every year since, with the exception of 1998 and 1999.

Some of the most memorable moments in dunk contest history have come from past winners, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter and Shawn Kemp. Below is a complete list of all past winners:

-1976: Julius Erving (ABA)
-1977: David Thompson (NBA)
-1978: Larry Nance (NBA)
-1979: Daryl Dawkins (NBA)
-1980: Darrell Griffith (NBA)
-1981: Dominique Wilkins (NBA)
-1982: Clyde Drexler (NBA)
-1983: Larry Nance (NBA)
-1984: Larry Nance (NBA)
-1985: Spud Webb (NBA)
-1986: Dominique Wilkins (NBA)
-1987: Michael Jordan (NBA)
-1988: Michael Jordan (NBA)
-1989: Kenny Walker (NBA)

Notable participants

Throughout the years, some of the most notable players in the NBA have taken part in the Slam Dunk Contest. These participants have included:

-Michael Jordan
-Kobe Bryant
-Shaquille O’Neal
-Dwight Howard
-Vince Carter
-Tracy McGrady

This year’s participants

Aaron Gordon

Aaron Gordon is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. He was selected by the Magic with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He played one year of college basketball for the University of Arizona before declaring for the draft. He has been selected to play in two NBA All-Star Games and won the Slam Dunk Contest in 2020.

Derrick Jones Jr.

Derrick Jones Jr. (born February 15, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels. Jones was selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 13th pick in the second round of the 2016 NBA draft. He was traded to the Miami Heat on February 8, 2017.

Pat Connaughton

Pat Connaughton, is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. As a senior in 2014–15, he was a co-captain on the team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

Born and raised in Arlington, Massachusetts, Connaughton played high school basketball at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, Massachusetts. In his senior season in 2010–11, he helped lead his team to an undefeated 27–0 record and the Division 1 state championship. A three-star recruit according to both Rivals.com and Scout.com, he chose to play college basketball for Mike Brey at Notre Dame over offers from Boston College and Providence.

At Notre Dame, Connaughton majored in finance and graduated with honors as one of 10 students in his class with a cumulative 4.0 grade point average (GPA). On the court, he was part of a four-year run that saw the Irish win at least 24 games each season, reach two NCAA tournaments (2013 and 2015) and make one Elite Eight appearance (2015). As a senior co-captain in 2014–15, he averaged 12.5 points per game while shooting 42 percent from three-point range en route to being named third team All-ACC

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been selected to eight All-Star teams, eight All-Defensive teams, and three times as Defensive Player of the Year.

Why these participants?

The NBA has many great dunkers, but only a few can make it into the Slam Dunk Contest. This year, the participants are Aaron Gordon, Dwight Howard, Derrick Jones Jr., Pat Connaughton, and Miles Bridges. Let’s take a look at why these participants were chosen.

Their style

In terms of style, these participants definitely bring a lot to the table. Aaron Gordon is an incredible athlete with a ton of ups, while Derrick Jones Jr. is one of the best leapers in the league. Hamidou Diallo has some serious hang time, and Dwight Howard is a dunking legend.

Their following

Every year, the Slam Dunk Contest is one of the most anticipated events of All-Star Weekend. And every year, there are always a few high-flyers who are conspicuously absent from the field of participants.

This year is no different, as a number of marquee names have declined their invitations to take part in the dunk fest in Chicago. While some have cited injury concerns, others have simply said that they don’t want to compete this year.

So who exactly is in the Slam Dunk Contest this year? Let’s take a look at the field of participants and their followings on social media.

Their ability

One of the most electric events during NBA All-Star Weekend is the Slam Dunk Contest. The contest pits some of the league’s best dunkers against each other in a head-to-head battle to see who can perform the best slam dunk.

This year’s field is loaded with talent, as some of the best dunkers in the league will be on display. Here’s a look at the participants and what makes them so special.

Dwyane Wade: One of the best athletes in the world, Wade has been an All-Star 12 times and has won three NBA championships. He’s also a two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion, winning back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. At 6’4”, Wade is shorter than most contestants, but his explosiveness and ability to finish with both hands make him a dangerous dunker.

Aaron Gordon: Gordon came in second place in the 2016 Slam Dunk Contest, losing to Zach LaVine in one of the most exciting contests in recent memory. Gordon is an outstanding athlete who can take off from well outside the paint and throw down some ferocious dunks. At 6’9”, he has a significant height advantage over most of his competitors, which could give him an edge.

Derrick Jones Jr.: Jones was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2016 but has really come into his own over the last couple of years. Heading into this year’s Slam Dunk Contest, he is coming off back-to-back performances where he won MVP honors. Jones is an elite athlete with a 48-inch vertical leap, which allows him to throw down some jaw-dropping dunks.

What to expect

This year’s dunk contest is going to be star-studded. There are a lot of big names participating, and it’s going to be a great show. Here’s what you can expect from this year’s dunk contest.

Thrills

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest is always one of the most thrilling events of All-Star Weekend. Some of the league’s biggest stars take to the court to show off their aerial prowess, and the spectacle never fails to disappoint.

This year’s contest is shaping up to be especially exciting, with a number of high-flying players set to take part. Here’s everything you need to know about who’s in the dunk contest, when it will be taking place, and how you can watch.

Spills

Between the years of 2000 and 2008, only two dunkers failed to complete their dunk – Vince Carter in the 2000 contest and Desmond Mason in 2003. However, since 2009, there have been spill outs in almost every contest. In 2010, Blake Griffin and JaVale McGee both failed to complete their first dunk, while in 2011 DeMar DeRozan and Derrick Williams both missed their first attempts. The 2012 contest saw five failed dunks, while the 2013 contest had six – including three misses from defending champion Jeremy Evans.

Skills

When you watch the best dunkers in the world compete, you can expect to see a wide range of skills on display. Some of the dunkers will be tall and powerful, while others will be short and quick. Some will be able to jump really high, while others will have incrediblehang time. And some will have a combination of all of those skills.

But there are a few skills that are common to all great dunkers. They include:

-The ability to jump really high
-The ability to hang in the air for a long time
-The ability to execute complex dunking moves with ease
-The ability to make the dunk look effortless