The NBA fell flat on their face with the 2017 NBA Slam Dunk Contest thanks in part to the biggest names in DeAndre Jordan and Aaron Gordon not living up to the hype. Relative unknowns Derrick Jones Jr and Glenn Robinson III stole the show but last year all but deflated the hype that Zach LaVine and Gordon built up in 2015 and 2016. It appears that the 2018 NBA Slam Dunk Contest has the league coming back swinging, bringing some of the most exciting dunkers in recent memory to compete.
Dallas Mavericks rookie guard Dennis Smith Jr isn’t exactly lighting up the box score on a night-to-night basis but he is often someone you see in highlight packages or viral videos. On the other hand Victor Oladipo, a fellow dunk contest runner-up, has emerged as a star this season with his newfound role on the Indiana Pacers. Oladipo’s former teammate and fellow slam dunk contest runner-up Aaron Gordon is having a slight renaissance of his own as the number one option on a Orlando Magic team possibly looking to add new pieces around him. Larry Nance Jr might be on the trade block for the Los Angeles Lakers but he’s still out there dunking on everyone who gets in his way.
Aaron Gordon has gone on record earlier this season to say he would accept an invite to the dunk contest if it came his way. The dunking talents off all four players are what will reportedly book them a ticket to the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend to participate in the 2018 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports first reported Dennis Smith Jr would be entering the contest.
Dallas Mavericks rookie Dennis Smith Jr. has accepted an invitation to participate in NBA's slam dunk contest at All-Star weekend, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 23, 2018
Dennis Smith Jr says he has not yet personally received an invite to the event but he would accept an invite if he got one.
Sorry guys but I have NOT been officially invited to the slam dunk contest. As stated previously, i would be honored to be apart of it.
— Dennis Smith Jr. (@Dennis1SmithJr) January 23, 2018
Oliver Maroney of Uproxx says the field has actually been completed and these four great dunkers are participating in the show.
Aaron Gordon, Victor Oladipo and Larry Nance Jr. along with Dennis Smith Jr. (as reported by @ShamsCharania) have accepted their invitations to the 2018 NBA Dunk Contest, a league source tells me.
— Oliver Maroney (@OMaroneyNBA) January 23, 2018
We’ll add more information as it becomes available.
