The NBA Dunk Contest is a young man’s game. Two rookies and two second-year players will be out to wow a packed house in Charlotte at this year’s edition of the most anticipated event of All-Star Weekend. Michigan State product Miles Bridges and former Kentucky star Hamidou Diallo will be representing the rookies, while the sophomores will be led by John Collins and Dennis Smith Jr. Smith is the favorite due to his prior experience in the dunk contest, but is there value in him at this price? Let’s dig in.
Who Will Win the 2019 NBA Dunk Contest?
Dennis Smith Jr. +175
John Collins +200
Miles Bridges +250
Hamidou Diallo +300
Smith is out to atone for a mediocre performance at the Dunk Contest last year. Even though one of his dunks scored one of just two perfect 50s in the first round, his second dunk was only worth 39 points. That left him on the outside of the finals while Donovan Mitchell and Larry Nance Jr. went on to battle for the title.
Even though he has the experience, I don’t like his chances here. He is just 6’3, and it’s hard to imagine that he has spent a lot of time adding more creativity to his repertoire. Smith is the biggest name here, and that’s likely what is drawing the action on him, but stay away from him at these odds.
I don’t like John Collins’ chances either. Collins is the tallest participant in this year’s contest, and that usually doesn’t equate to success. While he will have no problem getting the elevation he needs, it seems as if taller players are punished if you look at past results. The last big man to win the contest was Blake Griffin back in 2011, and he had to jump over a Kia to win the crown.
The two longshots are my two favorite plays here. Hamidou Diallo is a lightly used reserve, but he is known for his ability to throw down. If it wasn’t for Zion Williamson, Diallo would have won the Elite 24 Dunk Contest back in 2016, and he has been vocal about his plans for this year’s contest. He has not given indication to what he is planning, but it sounds like he’s been spending some time on new dunks and he has been creative in the past.
There is good value in Miles Bridges too. Bridges was the first-round pick of the Charlotte Hornets earlier this year, and the hometown crowd will be vocal in their support of him. He is probably the most athletic player in this year’s contest, and he has the right size and hang time to win it all. Bridges was known for his ability to sky and grab rebounds at Michigan State, and that will come in handy here.
My pick to win it all is the longshot, Diallo. He seems to have put some real thought into what he is planning, and that creativity makes him a great value at this price.
