The 2015 all-star slam dunk contest featured four of the flashiest dunkers in the game: Brooklyn’s Mason Plumlee, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Orlando’s Victor Oladipo and Minnesota’s Zach LaVine.
But after the first round, it was clear there wasn’t much of a competition.
LaVine, 19, was arguably the most-hyped dunker coming into the competition, and he put on a show the minute he stepped on the court. It started with an intro by Quad City DJs and was followed by a monstrous, between-the-legs dunk — on his first try — for a perfect first-round score of 50.
He returned in the second round with a behind-the-back one-handed slam that brought down the house. Score: 50.
ICYMI: Zach LaVine’s second round dunk was as outrageous as his first. (via )
— CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA)
But just in case there were still doubters (not sure what they were watching), he threw down these in the championship round. All told, he earned 194 of 200 possible points in the contest.
Zach LaVine championship round dunk #1
— SportsBlogNewYork (@SportBlogNYC)
Zach Lavine off the stantion between the legs
— gifdsports (@gifdsports)
Oladipo, the closest competitor to LaVine, come out in a tuxedo shirt and top hat while (trying to) sing Frank Sinatra’s “New York.”
Thankfully, it got better.
He nailed a “360-plus” (some said it was a 420, some said it was a 540, no one really knew) on his final try in the opening round. Impressive. Not terribly graceful. The judges gave him a 50, but he likely wouldn’t have earned a perfect mark had LaVine gone before him.
Victor Oladipo sang Frank Sinatra, then busted out a 540 dunk:
— SB Nation NBA (@SBNationNBA)
Oladipo returned with an off-the-backboard, 360 over teammate Elfrid Payton in the second round, earning a score of 39.
Dunk #2 pushes Oladipo to the finals!
— BtownBanners (@BtownBanners)
For his championship-round dunks, he first tried to leap over Payton as he sat near the restricted area arc (Oladipo couldn’t get one to go down), and then finally got a one-handed dunk from behind the baseline to go in. Combined championship-round score: 73.
Victor Oladipo 2nd Dunk of the Championship RD
— FanSided GIF (@FanSidedGIF)
Antetokounmpo, better known as the “Greek Freak,” impressed with his length — which, in case you didn’t notice, is just absurd — but couldn’t make a single dunk in the first round and he earned a score of 30.
Giannis Antetokounmpo misses all 3 tries
— FanSided GIF (@FanSidedGIF)
And Plumlee, who was assisted by first Kyrie Irving and then his older brother Miles Plumlee, failed to generate much of an applause no matter what he tried.
Miles Plumlee helping out lil’ bro with his dunk.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness)
