NBA Slam Dunk Contest Participants Announced

Well, we might as well just give Blake Griffin the title now. While I'm not of the belief that his out-of-game dunks will be as cool as his in-game ones, when you look at the competition, it's tough to see anyone getting close to the former Oklahoma standout. Well, maybe Serge Ibaka can, but that's only because he plays in Oklahoma City, and Griffin is from Oklahoma City. Anyway, onto the contestants.

Blake Griffin
The odds of BG winning this contest have to be starting at 1:1. Maybe even less, if that’s possible. I mean, the man had a Top 10 of his dunks before we were even a month into the season! In fact, let’s view that video right now.




Serge Ibaka
Ibaka is quietly having a productive season for the Thunder. At 11 points and 7 rebounds a game, the second-year center is the type of guy to pull down a board and put it back up with a soft layup, or better yet, a thunderous jam. Tall players tend to fare poorly in the contest, however, so he will have his work cut out for him. Unless he can get someone to miss a shot, because his putbacks are pretty impressive.



Brandon Jennings
If this were a contest to see who has the best high-top fade (http://thestartingfive.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/brandon_jennings1.jpg), then Jennings wins in a landslide. Sadly, this is not a contest (at least not yet). I’m also fairly certain the best slam dunk Jennings has done is this ESPN commercial.



Javale McGee
Javale McGee is known by NBA pundits for three things:
1) Being a “does-everything-above-average-but-nothing-spectacular” guy in fantasy basketball (a typical night last year saw him get seven points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block).
2) Being cut from TEAM USA this past summer.
3) This video below.



Good luck, participants!

This Day in History
1920- Babe Ruth is purchased by the New York Yankees.

1933- Construction begins on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

1980- "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang becomes hip-hop's first Top 40 hit.

1998- Sonny Bono of Sonny and Cher is killed in a skiing accident.