NBA All-Star 2021 will officially take place on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
In a year unlike no other, all major competitions will take place on one day, with the Skills Challenge and 3-point Contest coming prior to the game and the Dunk Contest coming at halftime of the All-Star Game.
As the Dunk Contest is often the highlight of what is usually All-Star Saturday Night, our NBA.com Staff weighs in on who they'd like to see compete for the crown.
MORE: NBA announces date, format for All-Star 2021
Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21): Since Cassius Stanley and Rayjon Tucker – the two bounciest players that immediately come to my mind – are currently both on two-way contracts, I'll stick with the idea of going with a young player and say I'd like to see New York Knicks rookie Obi Toppin take centre stage.
Toppin, the No. 8 overall pick in the past draft, hasn't exactly had the most memorable start to his first campaign in the NBA. Is there a better way to build momentum than by showing out on the dunk contest stage?
As someone that likes to think I've watched a lot of basketball, I can confidently say that I had never seen anyone do some of the things that Toppin did during his final season at Dayton. And that was in-game.
Just Obi Toppin casually throwing down a between-the-legs dunk in a game (via @DaytonMBB)pic.twitter.com/gvaIM1g2dQ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 8, 2020
Obi Toppin with an and-1 windmill on his brother. The audacity 🤒
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 12, 2020
(via @CBSSportsNet)pic.twitter.com/haDHxDO1Zb
If given a runway on a dunk contest stage, I think Toppin would put forth a contest performance to remember.
Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles): We need to get Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges back in the dunk contest.
Look, I get it, the first time he was in the competition was ... a bit of a letdown. But for my money, he's the most underrated dunker in the league right now, and he deserves a shot at redemption.
I mean, look at this:
And this:
And this:
There's a chance that Bridges is simply a better in-game dunker, but there's only one way to know for sure, and that's to see him in another dunk contest. Let's make it happen.
Carlan Gay (@TheCarlanGay): I'm going with New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson.
Let's not forget how this dude came into the mainstream. Let's just say it wasn't his elite jump-shooting.
Zion was a mixtape superstar in high school, he gave us incredible highlight-reel moments in college and now it's time to see what he's got on the biggest stage — the dunk contest.
His performance at the McDonald's All-American high school dunk contest was special. He had the entire gym in buzz and even his misses looked spectacular. If he entered this year's dunk contest, even the empty arena would have a buzz with Zion in the field. And win, lose or draw, it would be an all-time day on social media.
Kyle Irving (@KyleIrv_): Kind of like Scott said with Miles Bridges, I know this player's first go around in the dunk contest wasn't great, but I have faith in Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins to redeem himself in his team's city if given the opportunity.
Collins can fly, and he's also one of the most powerful dunkers in the NBA today. He's already thrown down one of the best poster dunks of this season when he jammed on known rim protector Jarrett Allen.
BRUHHHHH 🥴 pic.twitter.com/IsaAqcX5P8
It would only be right that he gets another shot to showcase his explosive athleticism in the dunk contest in Atlanta.
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