NBA Dunk Contest brings flashbacks of Hamidou Diallo soaring over Shaquille O'Neal
When Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. leapt over Shaquille O’Neal in the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday, I immediately thought of Hamidou Diallo. Then, back-to-back dunk champion Mac McClung also slammed one over Shaq. More Diallo deja vu!
Diallo played parts of three seasons in Oklahoma City (2018-21), but the highlight of his Thunder career came during NBA All-Star Weekend 2019, in Diallo’s rookie season.
Diallo’s defining dunk that night in Charlotte was a theatrical ascent atop Mount Shaq. Wearing the Thunder’s Native-inspired city uniform, Diallo soared over Shaq, so high that Diallo put his elbow in the rim on the dunk. He hung from the hoop, tearing open his jersey to reveal a Superman logo underneath.
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Diallo’s Vince Carter-esque dunk, over Shaq no less, was far flashier than the Shaq-inspired dunks we saw from Jaquez and McClung. No offense to those fellas.
Diallo took home the 2019 dunk trophy, defeating John Collins, Miles Bridges and Dennis Smith Jr.
Diallo is the only Thunder player to have won the dunk contest.
The Thunder traded Diallo to Detroit in 2021 for Svi Mykhailiuk and a second-round pick. Diallo played for the Pistons through last season. He signed a 10-day contract with the Wizards in January and appeared in two games.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA Dunk Contest sparks memories of Hamidou Diallo soaring over Shaq
