The NBA Slam Dunk Contest is one of the usual highlights of NBA All-Star Weekend. It will be held on Saturday night in Cleveland. A panel of five judges will score each dunk, from six to 10. One dunk will be scored as the best dunk. For the final round, each participant will have to perform two dunks.
Last year's contest was an anti-climatic affair. Nate Robinson defeated Dwight Howard and DeMar DeRozan, but missed out on an opportunity to defeat Andre Iguodala in the finals. While this contest did not have the glamour of previous years, the crowd still enjoyed the action. This time, however, the players were tasked with re-creating the classic dunks that have gone down in history.
The first competition was held during the ABA All-Star game in 1976. Former players such as Julius Erving, Anfernee Simons, Harold Miner, Dee Brown, and Artis Gilmore took part. In addition, a rookie player was also invited. Corey Maggette and Desmond Mason both competed.
The first champion was Larry Kenon. He had a good day. His dunks were well-placed and he had the ability to dunk from various angles. He received a 38 from the judges.
After a brief break, the NBA brought the slam dunk contest back in 1984. However, it lasted just one season. Several other players took part in the slam dunk contest, including Michael Jordan, who had a perfect 50.
In 2002, four players were invited to participate in the slam dunk competition. These included Jason Richardson, who has won the contest twice, and Zack LaVine. Before this competition, the NBA tried to make the slam dunk contest a season-long event.
In 2003, the contest was revived. The competition was a team format, and the winning team decided which dunkers would go into the final round. During the Battle Round, each dunk attempt was limited to two minutes, and the team could choose which dunkers went up against each other. Each dunk was scored from 6 to 10 by the judges.
Another competitor in the 2002 contest was Amar'e Stoudemire, who played for the Phoenix Suns. Stoudemire is a 6-foot-10 big man who has been known for his strong rebounding and rim-rattling dunks.
Nate Robinson is a former point guard who has spent ten years in the NBA. He is a three-time winner of the slam dunk contest, having won in 2006, 2007, and 2009. He is currently the captain of the New York Knicks. During his time in the NBA, he has taken part in the dunk contest in 2006.
As a result of his participation in the dunk contest, Toppin became a household name. He was also known as Krypto-Nate, which is a portmanteau of his first and last name. Known for his toughness, Toppin has a sturdy body.
He will be competing in the slam dunk tournament for the second straight year. The Orlando Magic guard will be accompanied by his father, Greg, a former 11-year NBA veteran. They have practiced their dunks, and their attempts should be impressive.
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