The Slam Dunk Contest used to be the headliner of All-Star Saturday Night, but interest has diminished recently.
G League star and reigning champion Mac McClung did his best to save the Dunk Contest last year, pulling out a few original dunks that sparked life into All-Star Saturday Night's main event. He'll be back to defend his crown in Indianapolis, going up against a mixed field of participants.
Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown is looking to lead a charge and bring star power back to the Slam Dunk Contest. Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. might not look like a highflyer, but the 2023 first-round pick has a sneaky collection of posters to his name. Knicks G Leaguer Jacob Toppin has hops in his genes as his brother has won the All-Star Weekend event before.
As the 2024 Slam Dunk Contest approaches, you can get to know more about each participant below.
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Meet the 2024 NBA Slam Dunk Contest participants
Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Brown is trying to start a movement for the NBA, injecting the Slam Dunk Contest with a little bit of star power. He is the first All-Star to participate in the Dunk Contest since Victor Oladipo in 2018, giving the event a headliner it hasn't had in over five years.
Brown might not get a ton of credit for it, but he is one of the best in-game dunkers in the NBA. Who else can say they've postered Giannis Antetokounmpo (multiple times), Joel Embiid (multiple times), Rudy Gobert, LeBron James and Pau Gasol? The list extends long beyond that group of future Hall of Famers, too.
Brown will challenge any defensive anchor and stuff them in the rim. When he gets a runway in transition, he throws it down like he's trying to break the backboard. It will be interesting to see if he can get creative enough to win the Slam Dunk Contest, but his combination of athleticism and power is sure to entertain regardless.
Mac McClung, Osceola Magic (G League)
McClung is a professional dunker. Don't let his 6-2 frame fool you — his reported max vertical of 43.5 inches gives him plenty of air time to flex his creative muscles once he takes off.
McClung has been producing viral dunking highlights since he was in high school and, as he showed in the 2023 Slam Dunk Contest, he's always working on never-before-seen tricks.
Last year, he pulled out a double-clutch reverse jam after jumping over one of his friends. His 360 two-handed windmill shut down the Dunk Contest, getting the classic, "It's over!" call from Kenny "The Jet" Smith.
Topping last year's Slam Dunk Contest-reviving performance won't be easy, but it's safe to assume that McClung has been preparing for this moment ever since he raised the trophy in Salt Lake City.
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Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat
Jaquez is another participant who may not constantly produce high-flying highlights, but he's not afraid to challenge someone at the rim. In fact, one of Jaquez's first viral NBA moments was a thunderous poster dunk all over Lakers rookie Colin Castleton in his Summer League debut.
Jaquez isn't known for his athleticism but he did record one of the highest max vertical leaps in the 2023 NBA Draft Class, topping out at 39 inches. He has previous Slam Dunk Contest experience, too.
A California native, Jaquez once competed in a high school dunk contest against explosive athletes like 76ers forward Kenyon Martin Jr. and Falcons wide receiver Drake London — and won. Bulls legend Scottie Pippen looked on as one of the judges, rewarding Jaquez for bringing out all the stops to set the Sierra Canyon gym on fire.
Jaime Jaquez Jr winning a high school dunk contest against KJ Martin and NFL player Drake London pic.twitter.com/EDjhXFu4vP
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 4, 2023
Jacob Toppin, Westchester Knicks (G League)
Toppin is the lesser-known of the four dunkers, but as you might assume, he is the brother of Pacers forward Obi Toppin.
The Westchester Knicks rookie played three years at Kentucky in college. He recorded a ridiculous 42.5-inch max vertical at Kentucky's pro day and showed off the springs in his shoes during the Big Blue Nation "midnight madness" season-opening kickoff event ahead of his senior year.
Toppin has turned the G League into his personal dunk contest, throwing down 360s, sky-scraping alley-oops and rim-rattling tomahawks.
Don't sleep on the 6-8 forward — he's a legitimate threat to surprise everyone and win the whole thing on Saturday.
All-Star Saturday Night schedule
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 17
- Time: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT
- Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
All-Star Saturday Night tips off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 17 from Lucas Oil Stadium.
The night will begin with the Skills Challenge, followed by the 3-Point Contest. There will then be a 3-Point Challenge between NBA star Stephen Curry and WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu before the Dunk Contest, the final event of the night.
