By the time the 2017 NBA All-Star Dunk Contest finishes, there will be a new Dunk King in the league.
Zach LaVine revealed today that he will not be participating in the competition to defend his back-to-back crown and go for three straight. He’s hanging up his hat to focus more on the Minnesota Timberwolves this season, than trying to set the bar again.
“I feel like I’ve accomplished everything I could in the dunk contest. It would be hard for me to go back and outdo myself. I’m never saying I won’t ever do it again, but I’m focused on this year. We’re getting close to being able to make the playoffs and we have that in our mind. Getting the rest and just focusing more on just the game is the main thing.”
Last year’s Dunk Contest was pure madness, but there will be no rematch.
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It’s Aaron Gordon‘s title to lose now.
Zach is focusing on this season and the young Wolves squad making the playoffs. At 17-28, Minnesota currently sits at 12th in the Western Conference, although they’re only two games behind the 8th seeded Denver Nuggets. Coach Thibodeau will surely appreciate LaVine being more rested than previous years, especially as they make this push towards the postseason.
Other players like Boston Celtics rookie Jaylen Brown also turned down the opportunity to compete at this year’s All-Star Saturday Night. As far as someone who may just join the competition? The San Antonio Spurs‘ electric Jonathon Simmons.
Indiana's Glenn Robinson III (@GRIII) will participate in the Slam Dunk contest on All-Star weekend, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) January 25, 2017
The 2017 All-Star Dunk Contest will go down on February 18 at Smoothie King Arena in New Orleans.