NBA All-Star Dunk Contest 2016: Zach LaVine Defends Title Against Andre Drummond and Company
NBA All-Star 2016 is just around the corner, and one of the most anticipated events during this weekend spectacle is the Verizon Slam Dunk contest. And unlike in the previous installments of this event, the defending champion is excited to be back to defend his title.
Zach LaVine of the Minnesota Timberwolves will be coming back for another set of gravity-defying dunks, but he certainly will be in for a tough competition this year with a bunch of equally capable adversaries. The Feb. 13 event at the Air Canada Centre will also feature Denver Nuggets wingman Will Barton, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon, and Detroit Pistons star center Andre Drummond.
Last year's competition was for the ages, where LaVine took the court and impressed everyone with his athleticism, creativity, and unique dunks, plus the fact that he was a rookie at that time. He defeated Victor Oladipo of the Magic in the final.
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An interesting addition for this year's edition is the participation of an All-Star in Drummond, who will be playing as a reserve for the Eastern Conference team. The last time fans save an All-Star center taking his chances at a dunk contest was when Dwight Howard won it during the 2008 edition. Drummond is listed at 6'11" and weighs around 280 pounds. The most intriguing part of all this is to see how he can elevate and impress the judges in a contest that has been dominated by smaller and lighter guys.
The entry of Gordon in this competition is no surprise at all, having been a highly explosive leaper among forwards in the NBA. He also is taller than most competitors in a dunk contest, but he sure can rock the rim with authority.
The last competitor is Nuggets guard Barton, who by the way has been playing great for the team as of late. He's probably the thinnest and lightest among the contestants, but that usually is a good thing for him since smaller guys tend to look more impressive when they're dunking over stuff like other guys, cars, and mascots. We certainly hope he does one of those.
