Report: Zach LaVine to defend title as dunk contestants revealed
Zach LaVine will return to defend his NBA Slam Dunk Contest championship, as the league has set the field for the event during All-Star Weekend next week in Toronto, cleveland.com reported on Wednesday.
The Timberwolves' LaVine will be challenged by the Nuggets' Will Barton, Pistons' Andre Drummond and Magic's Aaron Gordon, cleveland.com reported, citing league sources. The official announcement could come Thursday.
Drummond, a 6-foot-11 center who leads the league in rebounding at 15.3 per game, is an unusual choice in that the NBA's tallest players normally don't dunk as spectacularly in the contest. Barton is 6-6, Gordon 6-9 and LaVine 6-5.
LaVine won last year with a series of dunks featuring through-the-legs and behind-the-back moves topped off with windmill slams.