Grading the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest

Readers, we love an excellent Slam Dunk Contest right here at CelticsBlog. At its greatest, the competition is among the coolest occasions in sports activities, celebrating one of many inherently coolest performs in athletic competitors. Everyone loves an excellent dunk — in principle, cramming a bunch of them into a brief span of time is only a no-brainer sort of good time.

Nicely, the luster has worn off of the competition in current seasons. Since Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon famously went head-to-head in 2016 in one of many biggest contests in NBA historical past, the occasion has confronted an accelerated lack of curiosity. The celebrities aren’t displaying up, and the dunks haven’t felt as thrilling; it’s felt as if one thing is lacking. On the eve of tonight’s contest, the Wikipedia web page for “Slam Dunk Contest” didn’t even point out a contest after LaVine’s second win.

This 12 months, the Celtics’ personal Jaylen Brown has supplied a much-needed spark to the system. He’s the primary All-Star to compete within the occasion since Victor Oladipo in 2018, lending a little bit of legitimacy that it looks like the competition has been missing. Although Brown finally completed in second place, in honor of the star ahead’s participation within the contest, we’ve put collectively our personal, (principally) unbiased grades for every dunk of tonight’s contest.

First Spherical

Jaime Jaquez Jr., Dunk #1:

The primary of two dunks on this competitors to characteristic Shaquille O’Neal, Jaquez kicked off this contest with a one-handed windmill, snatching the ball from Shaq, who held it behind his head (bowing it fairly a bit, as I at all times really feel the necessity to word). There was fairly a little bit of setup time for this one, however Jaquez did full it on the primary attempt. Succeeding on the primary try isn’t meant to be a requirement of the competition (they get 1 minute 30 seconds for a motive, and even Michael Jordan missed the primary try from the free throw line) however appeared to matter to those judges tonight, so Jaquez earned himself some credit score for knocking it down in a single.

For my part, this can be a stable, if unspectacular dunk. Jaquez did clear Shaq, and didn’t seem to push off of Shaq’s shoulder (a cardinal sin of the “dunking over a man” style) a lot as he did a little bit of a stiff-arm to maintain himself up. It’s fantastic sufficient for a primary dunk, he launched himself to the competitors fairly nicely.

My grade: 46

Judges’ grade: 47.4

Jacob Toppin, Dunk #1:

The brother of 2022 champion Obi Toppin actually didn’t need us to neglect about their familial relation. Carrying the sneakers his brother wore throughout his title-winning efficiency, Toppin accomplished his first dunk in a single try, fairly cleanly, over Obi. The 2-handed reverse over the pinnacle was good, however lacked showmanship — it’s a dunk you’ll be able to’t complain about, which set him up solidly within the first spherical.

My grade: 47

Judges’ grade: 47.4

Jaylen Brown, Dunk #1:

Jaylen went for a Dominque Wilkins homage with this one, pulling out a two-handed windmill after receiving the ball from a man sporting a ‘Nique jersey (who wasn’t ‘Nique). It was an odd setup, and the dwell broadcast managed to overlook his dunk totally. Undecided what occurred there.

As for the dunk itself, I wouldn’t name it splashy, but it surely was efficient. A little bit of a development for Jaylen tonight was that he broke out a few dunks that appeared like one thing he would throw down in an precise recreation. Technically stable, and thrown down laborious. That’s a pleasant thought, and the dunk itself was executed nicely on a technical stage, but it surely lacked the “wow” issue you anticipate from a dunk contest. The printed’s fumble could have damage this one, however total, it felt extra “good” than “nice.”

My grade: 47

Judges’ grade: 48.8

Mac McClung, Dunk #1:

This was essentially the most baffling judges’ response of the evening. I’m not totally clear why these dunkers get a time restrict for makes an attempt in the event that they’re going to be punished for not changing on their first attempt. Clearly, everybody will get a bit of extra excited if the primary try is a winner — there’s no replicating the sensation that creates. However you continue to have to go away room for audacity, don’t you?

This was an audacious dunk! McClung promised he was bringing one thing to this contest that we’ve by no means seen earlier than — I might say this one certified. It was a two-hand, behind-the-head end off of an over-the-head handoff, however with the added caveat that the grabbed the ball, let it go, after which regained management for the end. This dunk required a powerful quantity of dexterity on prime of the already outstanding quantity of athleticism; if something, it might have been too refined to actually win over the judges and crowd within the second.

This was the one 50/50 I might have handed out tonight. It was a genuinely nice dunk! Visitor decide Darnell Hillman gave this a 46 — what??

My grade: 50

Judges’ grade: 48

Jaime Jaquez, Dunk #2:

Jaquez had a hat on this time, and pulled off a reasonably good 360-degree two-hander off a bounce go to himself. This one was much like a few Brown’s, in that it was a bit of extra technical and rather less show-y, and I believe that equally damage it a bit of bit. I might not say I used to be extremely blown away — a dunk like this must be completed a bit of bit tougher. Nevertheless it was acceptable. I don’t suppose this contest introduced any really unhealthy dunks to the desk.

The commentators made a number of mentions of Jaquez’s hair amplifying the dunks tonight, and I’m going to be sincere with you… I agree. The hair’s fairly wonderful, particularly in sluggish movement. This was first rate sufficient work for Jaquez, and if he needed to take part once more, I wouldn’t complain. No haircuts, although.

My grade: 46

Judges’ grade: 46.8

Jacob Toppin, Dunk #2:

It is a very technically spectacular dunk, and it does really feel like Toppin took a steep hit for not ending it on his first try. Toppin went for a 360, between-the-legs try, bringing the ball up together with his left hand to attach for the two-handed end. It appears very good in slow-motion.

Toppin appeared pissed off with the judges’ response to this, and I get that. However the query I can’t escape: will anyone ever take into consideration this dunk once more? There was a scarcity on a “it issue” to it that I can’t shake. Maybe there wasn’t fairly sufficient showmanship right here.

My grade: 48

Judges’ grade: 47.2

Mac McClung, Dunk #2

McClung jumped Brown within the dunking order right here, for some motive, and arrived with an exceptionally stable — if not altogether game-changing — dunk. He performed to the rating, in different phrases, busting out one thing comparatively protected with the intention to guarantee he superior to the ultimate spherical.

Protected, it was, however spectacular nonetheless. McClung introduced the ball behind his head, earlier than bringing it again all the way down to waist-level and spinning 180-degrees for the behind-the-head end. McClung hit this dunk on the primary attempt, and he did so with gusto. In an excellent world, this might be the baseline stage of high quality we might anticipate from dunk contest rivals.

Nevertheless, I actually really feel this was the worst occasion of the judges overreacting as to if or not the competitor completed his first try. You’ll be able to’t inform me this was extra spectacular than his first dunk, or for that matter, a virtually good dunk by itself rights.

My grade: 48

Judges’ grade: 49.4

Jaylen Brown, Dunk #2:

Jaylen needed to carry out his fellow Jay in some unspecified time in the future, and certain sufficient, he introduced Jayson out onto the ground for his second try of the primary spherical. Sadly, it was to little impact — this was the worst dunk of the evening.

Tatum arrange on the restricted space, with streamer Kai Cenat seated in a chair, recording on a cellphone. From there, Tatum tossed up a lob to Brown. The duo didn’t join on their first try — that seemed to be Jayson’s fault — however succeeded on their second. Sadly, the end result wasn’t altogether spectacular. Brown flubbed an try at a tribute to Dee Brown’s no-look dunk from 1991, and the ultimate product appeared like a easy one-hander with out a lot aptitude. This jogged my memory of the notorious Blake Griffin dunk over the Kia. Thankfully for Brown, the judges loved it a reasonable quantity greater than I did.

My grade: 45

Judges’ grade: 47.6

Closing Spherical

Jaylen Brown, Dunk #1:

In the beginning of the ultimate spherical, Brown promised the Indianapolis crowd a giant end. He started his showdown with McClung by donning the Brewster Academy jersey of Terrence Clarke, a Dorchester, Massachusetts native and NBA prospect who tragically died in a automobile crash in 2021, simply three months earlier than he seemingly would have been drafted into the NBA. It was a touching tribute to a younger man who had a detailed relationship with Brown and the Celtics, and who handed far earlier than his time. Clarke was simply 19 years outdated.

Brown missed his first try at this dunk, and he appeared to be the primary participant to precise some consternation with the newfangled LED flooring the NBA deployed for All-Star Weekend. The second try was an excellent one, although, with Brown pulling off a 360-degree spin earlier than ending a windmill with one hand. This was a rock-solid dunk; it appeared good in sluggish movement, and resonated with viewers for its tribute to Clarke. I might argue Brown ought to have deployed this to shut out the primary spherical, somewhat than main off the finals with it.

My grade: 48

Judges’ grade: 48.6

Mac McClung, Dunk #1:

McClung deployed not one, however two human props for this one, stacking one particular person on one other’s shoulders as an impediment. I really feel personally obligated to notice that each of those people have been hunkered down fairly a bit, diminishing the picture that “he dunked over two folks” would possibly recommend. Nevertheless, McClung completed this dunk on his second try, and there’s no denying that he received completely large air right here. The dunk itself could have appeared too simple — only a easy, one-handed windmill — however McClung flew. This was an excellent closing spherical dunk.

My grade: 49

Judges’ grade: 48.6

Jaylen Brown, Dunk #2:

Brown amplified the showmanship for his closing dunk of the evening, and I’m not about to take a seat right here and faux that I wasn’t extremely amused. Donning a Michael Jackson-style bejeweled glove on his left-hand — a transparent nod to the “no left hand” criticisms which have dogged him in current seasons — Brown trotted out his erstwhile NBA Bubble frenemy Donovan Mitchell for the handoff. This was a really self-aware setup from Brown; I discovered it fairly humorous.

It’s a reasonably good dunk, too! He completed it on his first attempt, and he did so cleanly. The “left hand” narrative was a stable one. A dunk like this may need been higher deployed as his first dunk within the finals, with one thing extra jaw-dropping as a finale. That’s the large rub on Brown’s efficiency on this contest although: it didn’t really feel like something factor he threw down was best-in-show kind stuff.

My grade: 47

Judges’ grade: 49.2

Mac McClung, Dunk #2:

Our second Shaq look rears its head — we could have to implement a rule outlawing the usage of Shaq as a human prop from right here on out. Aspect word: how did no one attempt to dunk over Victor Wembanyama tonight? Was he simply not prepared to cooperate?

McClung trotted out Shaq, and added the (admittedly superb) little bit of clothes him in an extra-extra-extra giant McClung highschool basketball jersey. O’Neal held the ball behind his head, head bowed barely (however not all that a lot), and McClung absolutely cleared him, grabbing the ball with two arms and ending behind his head as he flew previous the basket. This was not a 50 for me, but it surely was for the judges. For my cash, although, this was the second-best dunk of the evening.

My grade: 49

Judges’ grade: 50

So, Mac McClung finally wins the evening, and although I discovered the judges’ grading complicated in his occasion, the ultimate result’s laborious to disagree with. Brown deserves kudos for bringing some title worth to an occasion that has severely lacked it in recent times, and I might not name his efficiency disappointing (although the Kai Cenat dunk might have been scrapped). It felt as if each finalists had one thing extra to supply although, and awarding McClung a unanimous 49 on his closing dunk would have resulted in a dunk-off between the 2 which may have given us the exclamation level we have been ready for.

For what we received, although, this was a wonderfully cromulent contest. There have been no fully disastrous dunks; every little thing we noticed was no less than credible. By itself, the 2024 NBA Dunk Contest may not rank among the many occasion’s most memorable contests, however we are able to hope that it would result in higher issues to come back. Mac McClung has cemented himself as dunk contest royalty, and the hope is that Jaylen Brown would possibly spark a brand new wave of high-profile NBA gamers stepping in to compete. That’s a ok begin, and an entertaining sufficient spectacle for the evening.