The NBA has announced the participants for the upcoming 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on All-Star Saturday night. Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic, Pat Connaughton of the Milwaukee Bucks, Derrick Jones Jr of the Miami Heat and Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers are this year’s four confirmed participants.
#ATTSlamDunk participant at #NBAAllStar #StateFarmSaturday… @DwightHoward of the @Lakers! pic.twitter.com/D9Rlp29tDv
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 4, 2020
#ATTSlamDunk participant at #NBAAllStar #StateFarmSaturday… @pconnaughton of the @Bucks! pic.twitter.com/GfpbyHrRgC
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 4, 2020
#ATTSlamDunk participant at #NBAAllStar #StateFarmSaturday… @TheRea1DJones of the @MiamiHEAT! pic.twitter.com/nYMhzqYYdn
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 4, 2020
#ATTSlamDunk participant at #NBAAllStar #StateFarmSaturday… @Double0AG of the @OrlandoMagic! pic.twitter.com/QwtDDVTTNj
— 2020 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) February 4, 2020
Perhaps the early favorite for the contest is Aaron Gordon, who was the runner-up in the 2016 iteration of the Slam Dunk contest, finishing second to Zach Lavine in what many consider to be one of the best Slam Dunk contests of all-time.
Dwight Howard is the only former Slam Dunk Contest winner amongst the crowd of 2020 participants, winning the 2008 contest, and hinting that his performance may feature dunks that are reminiscent of his 2008 performance. Howard had also mentioned his interest in having his former teammate Kobe Bryant feature in his dunk routine prior to the tragic events that transpired January 26th.
Derrick Jones Jr., nicknamed “Airplane” for his aerial prowess, will be making his second dunk contest appearance, a runner-up in the 2017 contest as a then-member of the Phoenix Suns, though Jones undoubtedly possesses the creativity and athletic ability to claim this year’s dunk crown.
The only contestant debuting in this year’s contest is Notre Dame alum Pat Connaughton. Noted for his athleticism, Connaughton was a sought-after baseball prospect, being drafted by the San Diego Padres before committing to basketball full-time. Though Connaughton enters this contest without the experience the other participants have, his athleticism makes him a sleeper pick as we approach All-Star Weekend.
The 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, sponsored by AT&T, is scheduled to take place Saturday, February 15th at 9 PM ET on TNT.
