Fans to select NBA dunk champ from new faces
Posted February 16, 2012 12:06 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — The NBA is leaving it up to the fans to determine the winner of the All-Star slam dunk contest.
Defending champion Blake Griffin passed on returning, leaving a lacklustre field of New York’s Iman Shumpert, Paul George of Indiana, rookie Derrick Williams of Minnesota and Houston’s Chase Budinger.
The league announced Thursday that there no longer will be judges in the event, which also will be reduced to one round. Each contestant will execute three dunks. Fans will determine the champion by voting on NBA.com, Twitter or through text messaging.
The format in recent years was two rounds, with a panel of judges voting on the first round before fan voting in the second.
A closer look at this year’s field:
Houston Rockets forward Chase Budinger
He may look like a grown-up version of Shane from the original Degrassi series but Budinger can sky with the best of them.
Indiana Pacers guard Paul George
George would likely be a bigger star if he were located in a bigger market as he makes getting above the rim look easy.
New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert
If he figures out a way to incorporate teammate Jeremy Lin into his dunks he will be a shoe-in for the title with the fan’s voting.
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Derrick Williams
Williams could be counted upon for at least one thunderous dunk per game last season with the Arizona Wildcats.
