Latest news with #DunkContest
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ja Morant's viral dunk in China reignites debate over his NBA Dunk Contest absence despite fan pressure
(Image Source - Getty Images) Ja Morant has been praised for his mind-blowing athleticism and gravity-defying dunks for a long time. His ability to leap high above the rim has made him one of the most thrilling players in the NBA , but it has also resulted in frequent injuries that have made him rethink his style of play. In a bid to protect his health, Morant once declared he would limit his dunking, which left fans feeling let down, especially those excited to see his explosive talent in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. However, on July 26, 2025, during his "Make Them Watch" tour with Nike in China, Morant executed a breathtaking reverse dunk that went viral, reigniting the ongoing conversation about his absence from the NBA's premier dunking showcase. Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant pulls off viral dunk that has the internet demanding Morant participated in one of Nike events which was played in China called the "Make Them Watch" tour, which was entirely concerned with the motivation of young athletes and better introduction of basketball to the world. During the event, Morant displayed an impressive performance to the amazement of the members of the audience. He would dribble and do a jump and touch the ball in air and make a reverse dunk using his head almost touching the top hole. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Thousands Are Quitting The Lottery for This New Draw Quality Time Undo The audience was ecstatic, people were screaming, "It is finished" and Morant himself was delighted with that effect. The dunk was recorded and it went viral on social media with NBACentral posting the video on X which had the caption, JA. MORANT. 😳🙈". Morant's dunk took the internet by storm, gathering thousands of views and reactions, showcasing his insane athleticism and reminding fans of what they've been missing in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. This moment "might have helped achieve something much more. A possible silhouette for the next generation to follow". It was more than just a highlight; it was proof of Morant's ability to mesmerize audiences, even from 7,000 miles away from the NBA stage. Fans believe Ja Morant's involvement could restore excitement to the Dunk Contest The viral dunk brought back discussions about Morant not being part of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, which has been having a hard time regaining its former shine. In the past ten years, the contest has often showcased less famous players, with Mac McClung from the Orlando Magic making a name for himself by winning three titles in a row from 2023 to 2025. Even though McClung's performances, like jumping over a Kia sedan in 2025, have been praised, fans are hoping to see big stars like Morant participate to bring back the event's prestige. Also Read: Los Angeles Lakers' star Bronny James might keep the summer heat going with a late Drew League appearance Ja Morant's viral dunk in China on July 26, 2025, lit up social media and brought back the buzz about him joining the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Fans are practically begging for him to show up, seeing his insane athleticism as a way to revive the event. While Morant's hinted at needing some big incentives to compete, his recent tease about joining if stars like Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon do too keeps hope alive. FAQs Has Ja Morant ever competed in the Dunk Contest? No, he has never participated in an NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Was his dunk in China dangerous? While thrilling, it echoed the high-flying risks he's tried to avoid in games. Was Morant injured during the China dunk? No, he appeared fully healthy while executing the move. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Matas Buzelis dazzles fans with Summer League slam dunk
The post Matas Buzelis dazzles fans with Summer League slam dunk appeared first on ClutchPoints. During the first week of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, one of the top human highlight reels has been Chicago Bulls' second-year wing Matas Buzelis and his dazzling dunks. Over the weekend, Matas Buzelis threw down a smooth slam after shooting out on the break during one of the Bulls' early summer league games. On Monday, Buzelis was at it again with another big slam dunk that wowed the fans in attendance. This time, Buzelis cut to the basket, grabbed a pass from Bulls rookie big man Lachlan Olbrich, and soared to the basket without any dribbles for the dunk. NBA fans aren't new to Buzelis' high flying exploits. As a rookie, he selected to participate in the NBA's Dunk Contest over All-Star Weekend, but he failed to advance to the final round. Buzelis was selected due to his penchant for dunking that had been on display during the regular season. As the Bulls continue to be a team that's stuck in 'no-man's land,' essentially not good enough to be a serious playoff threat but not bad enough to tank, Buzelis represents a bright spot for the organization. For the time being, the Bulls seem like a team locked in to the play-in range, but Buzelis' development will be something to watch for fans. This past season he appeared in 80 games as a rookie, including 31 starts, at a little over 18 minutes per game. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists with splits of 45.4 percent shooting from the field, 36.1 percent shooting from the three-point line and 81.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line. He was also selected to the All-Rookie Second Team and finished seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting. Buzelis was among the final group of players from the G League Ignite before the NBA decided to do away with the program. He was selected by the Bulls with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Related: Noa Essengue Bulls photo goes viral after getting posterized in Summer League Related: B/R's GOAT list features close Michael Jordan-LeBron James battle
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rounding up the draft grades for the Orlando Magic's selection of Jase Richardson
Most analysts are high on the Magic's selected of Richardson deep in the first round. We now know where Jase Richardson will be playing basketball next season. The Michigan State basketball star was selected deep in the first round by the Orlando Magic, going at No. 25 overall after being considered a potential lottery pick through the process. Personally, I think this was a great pick by Orlando, and I said as much in my piece analyzing the fit. I didn't give it a grade, but if I did, I'd give it an A. But how are other media outlets looking at the selection? Below, we rounded up several draft grades and analysis from around the NBA media landscape. USA TODAY Grade: B At one point during the draft process, Michigan State's Jase Richardson was a projected lottery pick and the Magic got him at No. 25. Yahoo! Sports Grade: A+ Richardson ends up with the same team his father, Jason Richardson, played a chunk of his career for. The younger Richardson is a skilled combo guard with a lethal midrange game and a poised pick-and-roll feel, looking like he downloaded the experience of his NBA veteran father. Jase didn't inherit his father's height or dunk contest athleticism, though, so his smaller stature could cap his upside. Bleacher Report Grade: A- The Magic waited way longer than necessary to address their obvious deep-range deficiencies, but maybe their patience will be rewarded. While they paid a premium to acquire Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies, he looks like a perfect fit for this roster. Jase Richardson looks like another need-filler and a legitimate bargain at this point of the draft. There are some questions about his physical tools, but those were accounted for and then some by getting him this far removed from the lottery. Richardson may not have the height (6'1") or anti-gravity bounce of his father, two-time Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson, but he shows the on-court awareness of the son of a former pro. He almost always plays hard and smart, and he showcases soft touch from everywhere. And the way he deftly handled a late-season expansion in his role suggests he has more creation and playmaking than he was able to show under Michigan State's notoriously youth-averse head coach, Tom Izzo. Richardson's lack of size could be an issue, though. He'll be targeted on the defensive end, and his ceiling will drop a bit if he can't harness the handles needed to operate as a primary playmaker at some point. NBC Sports Grade: A- This is a quality pick this late in the first round and a good fit with the roster. Jase is the son of 13-year NBA veteran Jason Richardson, but nobody is going to confuse the two on the court. Jase is a smaller point guard who plays with pace, has a great feel for the game and can get into the lane and break down defenses. He's undersized, which raises defensive concerns, but he can be a quality reserve guard for the Magic and potentially develop into more. CBS Sports Grade: B+ The Magic needed backcourt depth and floor spacing with shooting after the Desmond Bane trade. Richardson checks both boxes. He scores in many different spots and did so with efficiency. He even finished well at the rim despite his size. He can play on and off the ball and score at various levels, but he was smaller than expected at the combine. He's just under 6-1, so being a combo guard at that size is going to be tough at the NBA level. Can he develop into a point guard? The Athletic Grade: NA Richardson's size is a concern for somebody who won't be able to play point guard full time on offense, but this is a nearly perfect roster fit for him. Richardson can play off the ball in Orlando because Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero have the rock, and his ability to knock down shots will be a big help to an Orlando team that struggled mightily from outside a year ago. I had Richardson 14th on my board; he doesn't have enormous upside, but he might be able to play right away. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Some of those guys that think they are MJ? Bro, you would have come off our bench" - Kenny Smith humbles modern-day players about how they would've been "average" in his era
"Some of those guys that think they are MJ? Bro, you would have come off our bench" - Kenny Smith humbles modern-day players about how they would've been "average" in his era originally appeared on Basketball Network. There's long been a growing sentiment that players from the rough-and-tumble 1980s and '90s might struggle to adapt to today's NBA, where versatility and shooting are cornerstones of success. In contrast, others argue that modern stars - who thrive on pace-and-space offense, mid-range pull-ups, and deep threes would dominate if dropped into any past era. According to two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith, the reality is far more nuanced. Advertisement Moreover, "The Jet" believes while it's true that players in each era learned that game differently, not every modern-day hooper would've made the cut in the golden age of hard-nosed basketball. Smith confidently stated that many players today, especially those who tend to overthink their skill set and imagine themselves to be on Michael Jordan's level, would not even crack the starting lineup in the '80s and '90s. Smith laughs off at players who believe they could've been greater in past eras Back then, basketball was built on structure. Teams ran set plays religiously, designed in practice, and executed to perfection in games. Centers lived in the paint, and perimeter players earned every bucket by driving into traffic and absorbing contact. So for Smith, he admitted while speaking on "The Mark Jackson" s podcast, modern-day superstars like Kevin Durant, who boast elite shot-making and a deeper understanding of the game, could have thrived in his era, majority of others wouldn't have fared as well. Advertisement "Great players today, would've been great. Kevin Durant would've played in our era and been great. Go down the line, top five players. But then, it starts to get sticky. That's all I'm saying. It starts getting sticky because of the rule changes. Guys who are in the league now, would not be in the league. Even some of the guys we had wouldn't be in this league because they couldn't shoot. Some of those guys that think they are Michael Jordan? Bro, you would have come off our bench," the two-time Champ said. "You would've been an average back then if you are average now." Related: Luc Longley on why he and Michael Jordan couldn't get along: "Mike was doing what he did to rookies, what he was doing to me" Smith also fired shots at modern-day guards And while today's NBA is flooded with highlight-reel moments, where guards like Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant soaring over seven-footers, Smith takes issue with the assumption that today's players are more athletic. As a former Dunk Contest participant himself, he pushed back against the idea that modern guards are more explosive or skilled. He insists athleticism and talent were just as present in his day; they were simply displayed differently. Advertisement "Today's era of people, they always say, 'Oh, we more athletic,'" Smith once stated. "I don't believe that they are more athletic. How many point guards been in the Dunk Contest? I was in the Dunk Contest three times, I came in second once to the great Dominique Wilkins." Ultimately, the 60-year-old former Rockets guard admitted it is hard to predict how players from one generation would perform in another, given how dramatically the game has evolved. But one thing he's certain of — the true greats of today, with their elite feel for the game, adaptability, and constant adjustments, would have shined in any era. That level of basketball IQ and skill transcends eras, no matter the competition. Related: "One girl got smart and said, 'I want 10 thousand'" - Shaquille O'Neal explains why he loves to leave big tips This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch Shaedon Sharp throw down Dunk of the Year candidate on way to 36 points
Shaedon Sharp had himself a night. The third-year wing displayed his freak athleticism and threw down the kind of dunk we wish we had seen in the Dunk Contest. The kind that causes you to gasp watching the highlight alone at home. SHAEDON SHARPE MY GOODNESS — NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2025 Shape wasn't done, he went on to score a career-high 36 points off the bench, leading Portland to a 129-121 road win in Washington. A career-high 36 points and one of the dunks of the A NIGHT FOR SHAEDON SHARPE — NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2025 Jordan Poole led the Wizards with 24 in a game between teams headed to the lottery, but in Portland's case there are some players — like Sharpe — who give the team a clear path forward to respectability, at least.
