2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest: Full highlights of each participant
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons on Sunday was crowned the NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner, narrowly beating New York Knicks rookie Obi Toppin in the process.
Simons and Toppin each moved onto the final round after Indiana Pacers rookie Cassius Stanley was eliminated following his first two dunks of the contest. Stanley entered the evening as the favorite to win but recorded the lowest score of the three contestants in the first round.
With Simons and Toppin in the final round, the two players each had the opportunity to throw down one last dunk. The judges, which included Dee Brown, Jason Richardson, Josh Smith, Spud Webb and Dominique Wilkins, then voted Simons the winner over Toppin by a final count of 3-2.
The abbreviated Slam Dunk Contest took place during halftime of the All-Star Game and featured some impressive high-flying acts by the three participants. With the event now over, Rookie Wire took a look at each of the dunks thrown down by the players involved.
Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers
AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Simons earned a score of 46 and 49 on his first two dunk attempts before advancing to face Toppin in the final. He then earned a final vote of 3-2 from the judges to win. https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1368760607701413893?s=20
Cassius Stanley, Indiana Pacers
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Stanley only lasted two dunks before getting eliminated after posting the lowest score in the first round. He got things started off with a bang, although the judges only gave him a score of 44. https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/1368754115812147202?s=20 Stanley returned for his second dunk, but only earned a 37 from the judges. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-zhtBVcb4g
Obi Toppin, New York Knicks
AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
The Knicks rookie used some real-life props on Sunday, bringing out his father and teammate, Julius Randle. He managed to advance to the final round but ultimately came up just short. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahmWFI8lKLQ
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