My Legs Are Back, Says Zach Lavine Regarding The Slam Dunk Contest

Photo Credit – NBA

Seattle, Washingon area has been a pipeline for the National Basketball Association, with names such as Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Isaiah Thomas, Rodney Stuckey, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Doug Christie, Aaron Brooks, Tony Wroten, Marvin Williams, Terrence Williams, Martell Webster, Brian Scalabrine, Michael Porter Jr., Avery Bradley, and Zach Lavine to name a few.

It has also helped mold an NBA Champion in Jason Terry, and multiple Slam Dunk Champions in Nate Robinson and Zach Lavine.

Speaking of Lavine, he is only two years removed from capturing his second Slam Dunk Championship. So, it would be only natural to ask him if he is still interested in competing in the event. Lavine missed last year’s event due to injury, but during the contest, he was Mic’d up answering questions from the TNT crew. Chris Webber asked him if he could see himself competing in the contest again? Lavine responded with “I’m going to let my legs get back into it, but I always have tricks up my sleeve.”

Well, last week I decided to ask a follow-up question regarding this year’s contest in February since the Chicago Bulls were in town to face the Dallas Mavericks.

“Man I don’t know my knees get tired sometimes,” Lavine told me. He then proceeded to reference the double pump dunk that he put on display at the end of the 3rd quarter with 44 seconds remaining.

He added:

“My legs are back; you guys can see that.”

Last year’s contest winner Donovan Mitchell still sees Lavine one of his four best active dunkers in the NBA along with Dennis Smith Jr. DJ Stephen, and Derrick Jones Jr.

Before the season Dennis Smith stated that he would not be participating in this year’s event.

“I won’t be participating in the dunk contest,” Smith told me. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon would ask a follow-up question of why he didn’t want to participate “the gimmicks that come with the event is not for me.”

Dennis Smith Jr. “I’m not doing the dunk contest this year.” He adds that “the gimmicks and everything that go with it, I’m not with it.”

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) September 21, 2018

Naaaaaaa bro you got to!!! @Dennis1SmithJr https://t.co/lc9H4MvOyH

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) September 21, 2018

The Maverick’s preseason game against the Beijing Ducks, I asked Smith if he stood by his comments regarding the Slam Dunk Contest with All-Star Weekend being in Charlotte, North Carolina this year and he is from Fayetteville, NC.

“I won’t be participating in the dunk contest the gimmicks that come with the event is not for me,” said Smith. He added that he will be watching though because there is always a good contest.”

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Tags: Aaron Brooks, Avery Bradley, Beijing Ducks, Brandon Roy, Brian Scalabrine, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Dennis Smith Jr., Derrick Jones Jr, DJ Stephen, Donovan Mitchell, Doug Christie, Fayetteville, Isaiah Thomas, Jamal Crawford, Jason Terry, Landon Buford, Martell Webster, Marvin Williams, Michael Porter Jr., Nate Robinson, North Carolina, Rodney Stuckey, Terrence Williams, The Hype Magazine, Tim MacMahon, Tony Wroten, Utah Jazz, Zach Lavine

About the Author

Landon Buford Washington State Graduate Past Interviews include Grammy Award Winner Kenny G, David Banner, WNBA President Lisa Borders, What's Trending's CEO Shira Lazar, Ice Cube, NBC's Chicago PD LaRoyce Hawkins, Family Matters Darius McCrary, En Vogues Maxine Jones, Team USA Track & Field Member Norris Frederick, James Kyson, WNBA Great Lauren Jackson, and more.