When the 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is held on Feb. 16 (AEDT) at the United Center, Los Angeles Lakers centre Dwight Howard will reportedly be among the participants.
Vote for your 2020 NBA All-Stars here!
According to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic, Howard is set to return to the Dunk Contest field for the first time in over 10 years.
Superman is back: Lakers center Dwight Howard will participate in the NBA Slam Dunk contest at All-Star Weekend in Chicago, per sources. Story on @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/tox8RX7n3x
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 6, 2020
Howard, 34, participated in three consecutive dunk contests from 2007-2009, winning in 2008 with a signature Superman dunk.
The 16-year-veteran is enjoying a career resurgence during his second stint with the Lakers, averaging 7.1 points and 6.8 rebounds through the first 36 games of the season in a reserve role.
Howard has also spent plenty of time above the rim this season as he's dunked the ball 63 times in 36 games, meaning he's on pace to dunk between 140 and 150 times by season's end.
Who else will join Howard? According to a report from Yahoo's Chris Haynes, Memphis Grizzlies highflying rookie Ja Morant is "mulling" over an invite to participate in this year's event.
Yahoo Sources: Memphis Grizzlies standout rookie Ja Morant mulling league’s invitation to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest. https://t.co/JRuQLl70T0 pic.twitter.com/CX3b9YJ1ZM
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 6, 2020
Per ESPN's Eric Woodyard, two-time dunk contest champion Zach Lavine has also received an invite and is "more likely to participate" if he's selected to play in the 2020 All-Star Game.
Zach LaVine has been invited to participate in this year’s dunk contest in Chicago, but hasn't made a decision, per sources. He is more likely to participate if he makes the ASG. He was 5th for guards on East's first fan voting with a career-best 23.8 ppg and 39.8% from 3.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) January 6, 2020
More to come.
