Rockets small forward Kenyon Martin Jr. has committed to take part in the 2023 Slam Dunk Contest, sources inform Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). He will join previously announced rookie Trail Blazers shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe in the competition.
Martin, 22, has been enjoying a solid third NBA season with the 10-29 Rockets, as Charania notes. The 6’7″ swingman is averaging 10.4 PPG on .550/.317/.651 shooting splits, along with 4.8 RPG, 1.4 APG and 0.5 SPG.
Kelly Iko of The Athletic tweets that second-year Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green was also invited to participate in this year’s Slam Dunk Contest, but he turned down league overtures.
This year’s dunk contest will take place on Saturday, February 18, as part of the All-Star Weekend festivities in Utah.
Honestly been waiting on him participating since his rookie year
I’m signed up for the SLAM DRUNK contest.
Even Jalen Green turned them down and he’s not even close to all star level.
The only chance at hardware for HTown through 2050…. Good luck chief
At this point in time the NBA would be best to try and encourage pro dunkers to take part…
But first they’d have to clean up the judging to encourage the best to show up…
No NBA star player is going to bother with a rigged event that they could injure themselves preparing for…
It’s time to sunset the dunk comp in lieu of something else….excitement gone for it. The 3 point and skill way more must see. I’d rather have an 8 man pig tourney – allow dunks in that for duplication if desired.