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2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Preview: Can Mac McClung Defend His Crown Against All-Star Jaylen Brown?
The 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is shaping up to be an exciting one, with defending champion Mac McClung slated to take on All-Star Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat, and New York Knicks two-way player Jacob Toppin.
Mac McClung Looks To Go Back-To-Back
McClung took the league by storm last year, capturing the slam dunk crown as a member of the NBA G League‘s Utah Jazz.
He wowed the judges and fans with his athleticism and creativity, including a 360 degree windmill dunk and a two-handed reverse jam grabbed out of the hands of an assistant.
Now with the Osceola Magic, McClung enters as the favorite to win again.
His ability to complete difficult dunks seamlessly gives him an edge. However, he’ll face stiffer competition this time around in Brown.
Jaylen Brown Brings Star Power
The Boston Celtics have returned to prominence this season behind the play of All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Brown. The high-flying Brown adds much-needed marquee value to a contest that has featured mostly role players in recent years.
As a skilled finisher and athlete, Brown has an impressive highlight reel of dunks.
He will likely unveil some new showstoppers for his first appearance. His participation reflects a growing desire among the league’s stars to be involved in All-Star weekend festivities.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Ready To Make A Splash
Although just a rookie, Jaquez gained attention for his acrobatic jams in college at UCLA.
The bouncy wing has brought excitement to Miami with several sensational dunks already, including vicious one-handed alley-oops.
Jaquez‘s athleticism and hang time make him an intriguing dark horse pick to win it all. He is known for having some tricks up his sleeve, which will come in handy during the pressure-packed contest.
Jacob Toppin Seeks Family Redemption
Jacob Toppin, twin brother of recent Slam Dunk champion Obi Toppin, is no stranger to throwing down thunderous slams.
Although having seen limited NBA minutes so far, Jacob unleashed some rim-rattling jams while starring for the Westchester Knicks in the G League.
The high-flying forward will be motivated even more by his brother’s title two years ago. If Obi can win it all, why can’t Jacob?
The contest generally favors unheralded names looking to make their mark.
Keys To Victory
Successfully defending a Slam Dunk title is an elusive feat.
Nate Robinson was the last to accomplish it in 2009-10. For McClung to repeat, he will likely need to continue displaying unique moves others cannot duplicate.
Brown‘s path to victory involves unleashing power jams few can match athletically.
Jaquez must break out special dunks he’s been saving for this moment.
And Toppin needs to channel his inner Vince Carter to pull off something truly legendary.
Here are the keys to victory for each participant:
- McClung – Flashy ball handling and acrobatic 360’s
- Brown – Incredible leaping ability and force
- Jaquez – Array of smooth, fundamentally sound dunks
- Toppin – Tap into unlimited potential with aggressive slams
Predictions
This figures to be one of the more entertaining fields in recent memory. While McClung is favored to repeat, the three up-and-coming challengers won’t make it easy.
In the end, the pick is Jaylen Brown to flex his superstar muscle with a display of ferocity never before seen in the contest. His All-Star pedigree and relentlessness will power him to the title.
Jaquez‘s flair for the dramatic earns him second place. McClung shows out but cannot quite recapture the magic of his 2023 performance to finish third.
As for Toppin, his athleticism alone makes him formidable. But the lack of exposure and degree of difficulty advantages the others.
How To Watch
The 2024 Slam Dunk Contest takes place on Saturday, February 17th at 8 PM EST as part of All-Star Saturday Night. It will be held at the home of the Indiana Pacers, Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Viewers can tune into TNT to watch the high-flying action unfold. For those unable to view live, the contest will be available to stream the next day on the NBA app and NBA.com.
This year’s dunk contest figures to produce some magical moments that will be engrained as classics for years to come. Don’t miss out on the elevating excitement!
Sources:
bleacherreport.com/articles/10108521-jaylen-brown-and-all-participants-revealed-for-2024-nba-slam-dunk-contest
www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/jaylen-brown-mac-mcclung-headline-nba-slam-dunk-contest-participants
www.basketballinsiders.com/news/nba-slam-dunk-contest-odds-who-is-the-favorite-to-win-the-nba-dunk-contest/
