Who Wins The Dunk Contest: Rudy Gay, Gerald Green, Dwight Howard, Or Jamario Moon?

January 23 08

My AM Take: It’s official. Yesterday, the NBA announced Rudy Gay, Dwight Howard, and Jamario Moon will challenge defending champ Gerald Green at this year’s Slam Dunk Contest in New Orleans.

This event is still historic. Larry Nance originally set things off, winning the very first competition. Then old school heads like Michael Jordan, Dr. J, and Dominique Wilkins used their aerial antics to turn the dunk contest into All-Star weekend’s flagship event.

Recently, the competition fell on hard times, but never fell off. In fact, this year’s crew will continue to restore the Dunk Contest to past glory.

Here’s where you come in. Below is a preview of all four contestants doing their thing above the rim. Read the post, watch the clip, form an opinion, and get at us in the comment box with your favorite to win the Slam Dunk Contest.

Challenger #1: Rudy Gay, Memphis.

The Skinny: The second year pro can fly. Coming out of college he was dubbed the most athletic player in the draft and he hasn’t disappointed.

Video Evidence: The look out below Yi.

Defending Champion: Gerald Green, Minnesota.

The Skinny: The defending champ will be well-rested after collecting his fair share of DNPs-CD in Minnesota.

Video Evidence: A little video from high school, summer league, and the pros. Add in some U2 elevation for good measure.

Challenger #3: Dwight Howard, Orlando.

The Skinny: The second-coming of Shaquille O’Neal possesses athleticism, quickness, size, and power. However, being a ‘big’ has its drawbacks in a dunk contest.

Video Evidence: The slept-on sticker-jam at last year’s competition.

Challenger#4: Jamario Moon, Toronto.

The Skinny: From free agent walk-on to regular season starter to participating in the dunk contest. Not a bad few months for Moon. The pogo-stick forward is hoping to write another chapter to his Cinderella fairy tale with a victory in New Orleans.

Video Evidence: The north of the border montage.

Winner: Gerald Green.

Why:

.His athleticism, length, and experience gives him the edge. Look for Green to repeat.

Will Green win back-to-back Slam Dunk Contests? If not Green, then who wins? Vote in the comment box below.

The AM Take is Oly’s morning thoughts on the NBA, appearing Sunday through Friday on HoopsVibe.com. Errors can be attributed to the time and his need for another coffee. Click here to get his AM Take and subscribe to his blog.

19 Comments: Who Wins The Dunk Contest: Rudy Gay, Gerald Green, Dwight Howard, (...)

Posted by
Slam Dunk Sunk to new lows
on 02.17.2008

That was the worst slam-dunk competition I have seen in my years of watching it. Yes, it has been going downhill since the Y2K bug was all the rage, but yesterday’s showing was so pathetic it has moved me to post here.A cape? A cup cake? You must be joking? Unfortunately not! Next time I want to see a cup cake or a cape, I will try Food Network or Boomerang - not a damn NBA slam-dunk comp!Since Howard was the champ, I would like to critique two of his dunks. Firstly, when a guy puts on a cape and tries to dunk a ball in this "great flight" episode, I want him to be able to actually reach the rim and not have to throw it in from 4 feet away! We can all get into the semantics of that not even being a "dunk" technically, but who cares? It was so damn cheesy it had me laughing out loud, not screaming in excitement.Second, the basketball prop on the glass. What’s the difference to somebody holding the ball up their with their hands? What in the world is so hard in grabbing a stationary ball right in front of your face as one goes up to dunk?Please. Just pathetic. And TNT’s coverage sorely lacked as well. I think I will tune out next year. And people, out of respect for the game, do not boo Dr. J or make snoring sounds in talking’s midst. .

Posted by
rock guy filip.f1@gmail.com
on 01.29.2008

Gerald Green???He is just a damn jackass.Howard has amazing season and someone go for him i like just 1 dunk for him and that was the dunk with the stick.The creativity of these two is not very good meaby they are great athletics but i go for moon and gay.This year there on the slam dunk shlould be o Bryant or LeBron. .

Posted by
C.S
on 01.28.2008

gerald green, are u kidding me? last years dunk contest was the most boring dunk contest ive ever watched, gerald green is atheltic, but he had no creativity. Same goes for Dwight howard, why him again? the only dunk i liked from dwight howard was the sticker, but other than that he was also boring. he lost and should accept that. W/e im looking forward to jamario moon and rudy gay, those two look like they can create something entertaining. Oh and 1 more thing, andre iguodala shouldve been coming back to the dunk contest, he was robbed by nate and every1 knows that. .

Posted by

on 01.25.2008

I want the final to be very GREEN and very GAY. Like Kermit the frog and a dude! .

Posted by
G-Money
on 01.25.2008

Gerald Green is going to take it. His has the hops to do any dunk made and then some. I just wish the Twolves would give him more playing time. He should with boston. Hey Gerald if you are reading you still have a home here .

Posted by
blah!
on 01.24.2008

YEAH EXACTLY, it has to be mentioned that moon was a globetrotter. keep that in mind. .

Posted by
A.D
on 01.24.2008

Rudy g--Hands down. I think Gerald Wallece shud b in it 2. .

Posted by

on 01.24.2008

yea seriously, but I also think Dwight should win this, cuz he got robbed last year .

Posted by

on 01.24.2008

LBJ 23 should be in this contest...then the others wouldn’t stand a chance...Dhoward for this one tho. .

Posted by
Tj
on 01.24.2008

Gerald Green ALL THHE WAY! .

Posted by

on 01.24.2008

Gerald green will obviously win!! cuz they were talkin about him before and he is close to doing between the legs twice too! that would be crazy if somebody did that though!! .

Posted by
Green’s 2 Lose
on 01.23.2008

I like Green to win it! The kid is one of the best dunkers in the league. .

Posted by

on 01.23.2008

think moon will win this. he has some tricks up his sleeves, don’t forget he played for the globetrotters so he probably gotta some nice dunks. .

Posted by
bayboi
on 01.23.2008

lebron james rudy g--james white the air up there aka mr 720 springs deron washington patrick ewing jr special fx who wins?but i say gerald green repeats .

Posted by

on 01.23.2008

The reason the dunk contest is going down hill is because the best dunkers aren’t in the nba. Someone needs to sign James White so he can do a btl from the free throw line. .

Posted by
look again
on 01.23.2008

that Yi not Yao! stupid! .

Posted by

on 01.23.2008

Mr. Gay’s dunk was actually on Yi (don’t be fooled by the #11, Yi was wearing it while playing for the Chinese Nat’l team in the summer league this year). g--runs away with it... .

Posted by

on 01.23.2008

Moon beam will win .

Posted by

on 01.23.2008

I’ve got Rudy Gay. I love his dunk on Yao!!!! He will win .

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	About Oly Sandor
Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

Who Wins The Dunk Contest: Rudy Gay, Gerald Green, Dwight Howard, Or Jamario Moon?

Challenger #1: Rudy Gay, Memphis.

Defending Champion: Gerald Green, Minnesota.

Challenger #3: Dwight Howard, Orlando.

Challenger#4: Jamario Moon, Toronto.

AboutOly Sandor

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