The judges for this year’s National Basketball Association (NBA) Sprite Slam Dunk Contest have been named. NBA.com is reporting that Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dominique Wilkens, Kobe Bryant, and Julius “Dr. J” Erving. This group will be one of most star studded judging panel to even take part in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
NBA.com announced earlier in the day the participants for the NBA Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. The participants will include Nate Robinson of the New York Kicks defending his title. The other three participants will all compete in the competition for the first time ever. Gerald Green of the Boston Celtics, Tyrus Thomas of the Chicago Bulls, and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic represent those players.
Michael Jordan has been called one of the greatest NBA players of all time, if not perhaps the greatest. He has appeared in the NBA all star game 14 times and won the dunk contest in 1987 and 1988. The dunk contest helped showcase Jordan’s athletic ability on one of the greatest stages of all time. It was at those events that he showcased a dunk from the foul line that helped bring more attention to the NBA dunk competition.
Dominique Wilkens is also a former two time slam dunk champion. His battles with Michael Jordan in the contests over the years became legends that many people still speak of today. He has also appeared in the NBA all star game several times and brings his experience to the judging booth at the annual event.
Eleven time NBA all star and Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee Julius “Dr.J” Erving will also be judging the event. He has participated in the judging the past few years and always enjoys the showcase. Julius Erving helped pave the way for big men in the dunk competition. Big men were once known simply as power dunker’s, but Erving showed the world that big men could move as well as the small guys.
Rounding out the judging panel will be current NBA players Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter. Both are known around the league as some of the best dunker’s of our current generation. Each have one the dunk contest once and refused to participate again. A lot of fans were upset with their decision, but understood it would be hard for them to live up to the hype once again.
This year’s NBA Sprite Slam Dunk Contest is going to draw more attention than ever. The reason this will happen is because of the celebrity panel of former NBA players. Many people will tune in to see how the judges rate the dunks and react to the dunks. They will bring another element to the event that is sure to make it one to remember.
