All-Star Roundtable: Predicting the Winners of All-Star Weekend

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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 16: Dennis Smith Jr. #1 of the USA Team goes up for a dunk against the World Team during the Mountain Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Game during All-Star Friday Night as part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at the STAPLES Center on February 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Dunk Contest

The competitors in the Dunk Contest are Dennis Smith Jr., Victor Oladipo, Larry Nance Jr., and Donovan Mitchell. Here are the staff picks for the high-riser of the night.

Dennis Smith Jr.

“As the Mavericks only representative at the All-Star Weekend, this pick is an absolute no-brainer. I eagerly await what the youngster has in store for us.” –Paul Wang

“Few rookies in recent memory have excited NBA fans the way Dennis Smith Jr. can. The uber-athletic point guard is enjoying a strong rookie season and will only impress more at the dunk contest. Fans have consistently seen his ability to play above the rim and will out-dunk Larry Nance Jr., Victor Oladipo, and Donovan Mitchell. While Mitchell seems to be in the lead for Rookie of the Year, Smith will take this one from him.” –Evan Siegel

“Call me a homer if you want; I can live with that. I just think Smith looks like the overall best dunker in this group. His dunking skillset is diverse. He can alley-oop, he can go 360 and slam it down, and he can be aggressive and dunk with authority. In a way, he has a mishmash of the other contestants skill sets. I think Dennis Smith Jr. will be the biggest surprise of the 2018 All-Star weekend.” –Dusty Bryan

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the USA Team goes up for the dunk against the World Team during the Mountain Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Game during All-Star Friday Night as part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at the STAPLES Center on February 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

“We all know the correct answer here. Dennis Smith Jr. We’ve seen flashes of what he can do during games so there’s no telling what he’ll be able to do in the dunk contest. The thought of DSJ and Donovan Mitchell going head-to-head in the final is ideal for all fans and the league as a whole.” –Michael Mulford

“Shocking for me to stay on par with the rest of the staff, but Dennis Smith Jr. is not human and it will show tonight at the dunk contest. Look for Oladipo to turn some heads and Nance to throw down a heavy jam, but all eyes will be on the rookies in this one.” –Kohl Rast

Victor Oladipo

“It was a struggle picking against Dennis Smith Jr. but in the end, experience prevailed as the determining factor. Unlike his three opponents, Victor Oladipo (2015) knows what it takes to be successful in this competition. I feel the bright lights and high expectations will thwart the first-time participants.” –Emmanuel Dixon

Next: All-Star Game

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