With the tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti still lingering and NBA's All-Star weekend right around the corner, Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O'neal came up with the idea of having a star-studded Slam Dunk Contest, with a big money prize and half the proceeds going to the Haiti relief foundation. Shaq's idea of a star-studded lineup would include such players as: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Vince Carter and one other big named player. All of which are former dunk contest winners (with the exception of teammate LeBron James). When asked about it prior to Thursday's Lakers-Cavs game, Kobe laughed and said the chances of that happening are zero, considering his age and aching injuries he's suffered this season to both his back and finger.
As good of an idea Shaq's dunk contest proposal was, Vince Carter and Kobe aren't the type of players that make it on Sports Center's Top 10 anymore with slam dunk's as those days are behind them. However, one player that will be participating in this year's Sprite Slam Dunk Contest is -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown. Brown has become somewhat of a human highlight reel for dunk's this season, resulting in an online phenomenon called 'LetShannonDunk.com' hoping to help Brown's campaign. & What do ya know, the league got the message. For someone as explosive as Brown is for his size (6" ft 4' in), it'll be interesting to see what he comes up with. Brown's breakthrough year this season has fans thinking nothing less than a dunk every time he steps foot on the hardwood, but he's stepped his jump shooting ability up a bit as well.
If you've been yet to see his hop's, you'll see them in this year's dunk contest as he competes against Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats, 2-time slam dunk winner Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks and the winner of NBA's All-Star Dunk-In held at halftime of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, the night prior to the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. The two players competing in the Dunk-In will be DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors and Eric Gordon of the Los Angeles Clippers. The Dunk-In wouldn't be necessary if LeBron James would have lived up to his word after announcing last year he was going to participate in the dunk contest. Instead LeBron draws his name out of the hat as if he's got something better to do. Aww is Prince James scurrrrd?
Personally, I think Nate Robinson should give it up and make room for both Gordon and DeRozan since neither of them have participated in the contest before. Instead, Nate Robinson will be making his third Sprite Slam Dunk appearance and will try to become the first ever 3-time winner. No disrespect to the 5-foot 9-inch Robinson, but I think it's time to give someone else a try. Regardless of what I think, Robinson will try to defend his tittle on February 13th at American Airlines Center in Dallas. You can catch the game at 5 p.m. PT on TNT. Get'cho pop-corn ready because it's gonna be a show!
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