As All-Star Weekend gets closer and closer, fans of the NBA and super-humans alike are anxiously awaiting the announcement of the 2013 NBA Slam Dunk Contest roster. For years, fans have been calling for LeBron
to enter the contest and shatter the limitations of gravity, but it seems as if The King has finally ruled it out once and for all.
We won't see Blake Griffin again either, nor will we see stars like Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, or Josh Smith. Superstars don't tend to participate in the dunk contest anymore, for reasons unknown to mankind. Anyone who's seen footage of the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest when MJ
and Dominique Wilkins faced off knows how cool the contest can be when superstars compete.
However, there is no reason to be upset, NBA fans. There are a plethora of NBA players out there with out-of-this-world hops, and the Dunk Contest provides them with an opportunity to showcase their skills and make a name for themselves. Here are the four best candidates for the 2013 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, be sure to click on the players' names in the subheads for a hyperlink to YouTube videos of their nasty crams.
James White, Shooting Guard, New York Knicks
White, the former University of Cincinnati standout slammer, is known by underground dunk fans around the world as the best living free-throw line dunker
on the planet. His world-wide presence has been earned after playing for years overseas, from Turkey to Italy. In the video hyperlinked in the subhead above, White does a between-the-legs dunk FROM THE FREE-THROW LINE (it happens at the 4:45 mark of the video). That's not a typo. There are very few living others, if any at all, that can accomplish that task. Thankfully for us all, White finally got a contract with an NBA team this year, so he's eligible for the Dunk Contest. If the NBA knows what's good for them, James White will be on the Dunk Contest roster. After all, how can you leave a man whose nickname is "Flight White" out of a flying contest?
Jeff Green, Small Forward, Boston Celtics
Jeff Green has been supplying poster companies with oodles of material this year. Green, who currently plays for the Boston Celtics, is a walking highlight mixtape
. In the video hyperlinked above in the subhead, Green baptizes Utah's Al Jefferson with a tomahawk slam that probably made Sacajawea
turn over in her grave. After undergoing heart surgery last year after complications, Green is back in full force for Boston this year and is being heavily relied on after injuries to Rondo and Sullinger
. He's been dunking like a crazed man this year, one year after heart surgery. That storyline alone should get him in the contest. Green has earned a spot in the Dunk Contest with his play throughout the season, and it would be great to see him throw down on the big stage.
Terrence Ross, Shooting Guard, Toronto Raptors
Terrence Ross knows no boundaries. He dunks like someone strapped cans of NOS around his calves. In the video hyperlinked above in the subhead, Ross shows off his skills on two absurdly explosive dunks in the same game. Dwyane
Wade has already said that Ross is his favorite for the Dunk Contest, already assuming that he'll be named to the roster. And he should be, there is really no excuse not to put him on the list. Ross has been filling seats in Toronto as people yearn for a breakaway slam from the young, talented guard. He would not disappoint if he gets in the Contest, in fact, there's a strong chance he would win.
Gerald Green, Small Forward, Indiana Pacers
This las
t spot could've gone to some younger talents in the NBA, like DeMar
DeRozan
or Paul George, but Green deserves a spot in the contest yet again after winning it in 2007. Here's why: in the video hyperlinked above in the subhead, one can see Green and the aforementioned White battle it out in an epic slam dunk contest from 2010 in Russia as both were playing overseas. If the NBA were to include both Green and White again this year, the world would get to see two of the best dunking talents battle once again, this time on a bigger stage. The stars have aligned, and the NBA needs to make this happen.
In summation, these four players would make for a great NBA Slam Dunk Contest. While many think the famed contest is dying, I beg to differ. The talent of players is only increasing and if people would simply give the contest a chance and take the dunks for the truly amazing feats that they are, the contest would be extremely popular. It is disappointing that the big names scoff the contest, but that's no reason to disregard it. It will be great this year, especially if the NBA picks this lineup I have suggested. If you're free on the night of February 16, I strongly advise you to watch the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, because it will be jaw-dropping. The Slam Dunk Contest isn't dead, it just needs a little resuscitation and some love.
jm296009@ohiou.edu
