Here are five dunks Minnesota guard Zach LaVine should do in the 2016 NBA Dunk contest.
Remember Robert Pack or Jason Richardson? They were the premier high flyers of their respective generations. With a new wave of talent revolutionizing how the sport is played, Zach LaVine is the next dunking phenom. The Minnesota Timberwolves tabbed LaVine with the No. 13 pick in the 2014 NBA draft knowing of his rare athleticism and uncanny bounce.
If Zach LaVine wasn’t going to thrive in the league, he definitely would make the Timberwolves a bonafide League Pass option.
LaVine teases fans in games with his smooth dunking ability that’s on the verge of effortless. However, LaVine has transcended his initial projections coming out of UCLA. Averaging 12.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG and 3.2 APG, the 20-year-old combo guard isn’t just a flashy substance teaming with Andrew Wiggins in the backcourt.
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He’s started in just six games so far in the 2015-16 season, but has been one of the Timberwolves’ primary contributors off the bench with a 14.9 PER. LaVine is becoming a valuable high-end role player for Minnesota, but he’s more known for the event coming up Saturday.
In last year’s Sprite Slam Dunk contest, LaVine entered as the prohibitive favorite. Orlando’s Victor Oladipo, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antentokounmpo and Brooklyn’s Mason Plumlee came into the event with the intangibles and ability LaVine lacked. However, few in the league possessed the leaping ability, explosion and creativity when it comes to highflying for a slam dunk conversion.
LaVine didn’t just begin with an impressive showtime dunk or be coy with his first attempt last year. Stripping off his generic Timberwolves uniform for a retro Space Jam jersey of Michael Jordan, you know the rook was bringing it.
We’ll delve into the dunks in the slideshow, but LaVine overwhelmed the competition with numerous scores of 50. Returning as the reigning champ and favorite, LaVine could flash more dunks is what could be a deep arsenal.
Here are five of them that Zach LaVine could and should display Saturday night in Toronto.
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