2016 Slam Dunk Contest will be spectacular -- but with a clear favorite
The NBA's Slam Dunk Contest might be the most unpredictable event in a sport that thrives on spontaneity. It sizzles at the apex of world-class creativity and unparalleled athleticism.
Each year, some of the most important memories in NBA history are created at this event — except for when they aren't.
On Saturday night, we have a pretty interesting field, headlined by defending champion Zach LaVine, All-Star Andre Drummond, hilarious person Will Barton and mystery box phenom Aaron Gordon.
Here's how we think things will turn out (Odds listed are completely made-up and just a way of keeping score):
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons: 25/1 odds
Why can't Andre Drummond win? It's simple: He's a big guy. And, fair or not, big guys in the dunk contest are compared with each other, not their competition. If whatever he does isn't more impressive than JaVale McGee's performance in 2011, or Dwight Howard's Superman show in 2008, then it's a dud.
Drummond can't match McGee's elasticity, and he lacks Howard's insatiable desire for fame. He's more of a power dunker than anything else, and that typically doesn't work when nobody's around to overpower:
Then again, Drummond is the biggest name and best all-around player by a very wide margin, and that could work in his favor for an event that's mainly about showmanship and popularity.
Hit 'em with it @AndreDrummondd pic.twitter.com/f2Uz9KyTj7
— Excel Sports (@excelsm) February 11, 2016
Extra points if he takes off from the free-throw line. Pun intended.
Will Barton, Denver Nuggets: 20/1
If you're genuinely interested in picking the upset, Will the Thrill is a really smart option. When the contestants were first announced last week, Barton immediately stood out as the most surprising participant. Despite a solid 2015-16 season that will earn him Most Improved Player consideration, most NBA fans probably don't know who Barton is.
Favorite dunk of all time? Easy. Can’t wait to do my thing in Toronto #VerizonDunk #ThrillToronto @nuggets @NBAhttps://t.co/d20KpjcSXI
— Will Barton (@WillTheThrillB5) February 11, 2016
But NBA diehards are well aware of the ridiculous in-game destruction he's caused on numerous occasions this season:
Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas has missed most of this season with a back injury. But the real reason he's out, according to us: Secretly, he just doesn't want something like this to ever happen again.
Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic: 8/1
Serious question: Is Aaron Gordon the most athletic participant in Slam Dunk Contest history? There is no correct answer here, unless your answer is yes.
If your laptop/phone/iPad spontaneously combusted trying to watch all three of those clips at the same time, our sincerest apologies. If all your electronic devices are still in one piece, let this serve as an appetizer for Saturday night's main event:
Gordon is human evolution in full effect. Bodies that large aren't meant to move the way his moves. It floats and crashes. There are no constraints on what the 20-year-old should be able to accomplish tomorrow night; the only thing holding him back is his own imagination.
Zach LaVine, Minnesota Timberwolves: 1/2
We began this piece calling the NBA Slam Dunk Contest one of the least predictable events in all of sports. Well, that's technically true. But in terms of predicting a winner, it's hard to watch everything Zach LaVine did last year and then not think he's the extreme odds-on favorite to hit a walk-off grand slam every year until he's 31.
In real life, much of LaVine's game is problematic. For some reason, the Timberwolves badly want him to be a point guard (which is a shame, because he's not a point guard), and his perimeter defense might be worst in the league. But as a human highlight machine, this person could be the most tantalizing deliverer of YouTube goodies since YouTube was invented.
On top of that, he takes his Playstation very seriously:
For real, if LaVine doesn't dominate this whole event, it means one of the other three dudes pulled off a top-5 all-time jam. So no matter what happens, everybody who watches walks away a winner! (Except for the unlucky few who bet three month's rent on Drummond.)
