2023 NBA All-Star: Who will participate in the Slam Dunk Contest?
With the NBA Slam Dunk Contest taking place on Sunday, Feb. 19 here are the 2023 NBA All-Star predictions. This will be the third event of the All-Star break and will feature four of the league's best rim rockers.
While the dunking competition has had many ups and downs, basketball fans are hoping to see an amazing show this year. Considering that this will be the main event on Saturday night, participants will be able to gain millions of new fans if they come up with fantastic dunks.
This year's NBA Slam Dunk Contest will feature a G League player for the first time. The other three participants will all be amazing high-flyers from the NBA.
2023 NBA All-Star predictions & nominations
Mac McClung will be the first G League player to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. McClung will have a fantastic chance to show off his high-flying skills against NBA players.
The 6-foot-2 guard plays for the Delaware Blue Coats. He's played for the LA Lakers and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA and was also with the Golden State Warriors during the Summer League.
The 24-year-old guard has only appeared in two NBA games, averaging 4.0 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.
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Fans may remember McClung from his college days with Georgetown and Texas Tech. The guard spent three years in college and had some fantastic dunks, which fans are hoping to see again in the Slam Dunk Contest.
Other Slam Dunk Contest participants
Jericho Sims, a 6-foot-10 forward who plays for the New York Knicks, will be another participant. Sims replaced Shaedon Sharpe, who decided to focus on his season with the Portland Trail Blazers instead.
More than 70% of Sims' field goals have come from dunks as he's rocked the rim more than 50 times this season.
Kenyon Martin Jr., another young star, will also participate. The 6-foot-6 forward is having the best season of his three-year career with the Houston Rockets.
Martin has played in all 50 games for the Rockets, averaging a career-high 11.2 ppg. He's also been very efficient, shooting 55.6%. The forward has scored 562 points this season, yet 214 of them have come from dunks.
The final participant in the Slam Dunk Contest is Trey Murphy III.
The second-year player is having a breakout season with the pelicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-is-sponsored="false">New Orleans Pelicans, averaging career highs in every statistical category.
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Standing at 6-foot-9 as well as being very athletic, Murphy is a nightmare for every defender who finds himself in his way while going up for a dunk. The Pelicans forward has made 54 dunks this season.