CHARLOTTE -- This year's dunk competition, once the centerpiece of All-Star Saturday night, didn't exactly evoke memories of the glory years when Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins and Vince Carter reigned, but Hamidou Diallo provided enough highlights to make the event a must-see showcase at the Spectrum Center.
Wearing a Superman t-shirt beneath his Oklahoma City Thunder jersey, the 6-foot-3 Diallo channeled his inner super hero and leapt over 7-foot-1 center Shaquille O'Neal on the way to the title, outlasting Dennis Smith Jr of the New York Knicks in the final.
Smith had his moments, too. He dunked over rapper J Cole and scored 50 in the final round on a slam where D-Wade of the Miami Heat was a prop and Steph Curry aided with a lob. But it wasn't enough.
"It was great being out there, great competing with those guys. all those guys are great dunkers. Just had a nice time out there," Diallo said.
Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets and John Collins of the Atlanta Haws rounded up the competition. Both, however, did not survive the opening round. (AR)
Comments
Share your thoughts on the above article by Anthony Rozic.