Jamie Mottram's Sports Blog - www.misterirrelevant.com

The All-Star Dunk Contest hit an all-time low last year when LeBron bowed out and the NBA fielded four two-name competitors: Ricky Davis, Chris Anderson, Fred Jones and Jason Richardson. That's not to say they can't dunk (although Jones did win despite missing his final attempt) or aren't entertaining (Davis = headcase, Anderson = zany white guy and Richardson = two-time champ), but where were the stars? I know, the Dunk Contest jumped the shark after the MJ-and-'Nique salad days, but as recently as 2000 Vinsanity beat out Stevie Franchise and T-Mac. And in '97 a teenage (not yet evil) Kobe beat out Ray Allen and Michael Finley.

There's no word on who'll (try to) throw down in '05, but I'm hoping Josh Smith gets the invite and actually shows up. The 19 year-old has already ooped on LeBron and I saw one photo (#7 on this page) where his forearm is resting on the backboard pad so he wouldn't bust his melon on the rim, shot clock, rafters, etc. A tip o' the mouse to AOL Sports brethren Tucker and Williams who included Smith in their list of the NBA's top 10 dunkers (41% of fans say LeBron is the best; 2% say Smith):

 Josh Smith makes the list.

· LeBron
· Kobe
· Dwyane Wade
· Richardson
· McGrady
· Vince
· Carmelo
· Josh Smith
· Amare Stoudemire
· J.R. Smith

Who's on your list?

1/20 update: Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Josh Smith is hesitant about the dunk contest: "I'm really a game dunker. I don't really have stuff like Richard Jefferson and all those other people."

|  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this

• #3 Comment from kgraceandmercy 
  4/22/05 8:02 PM | Permalink

  Vince Carter
• #2 Comment from abwilliams2k5 
  2/25/05 11:03 PM | Permalink

  Josh Smith,Lebron James
  
• #1 Comment from xvr701 
  2/2/05 6:10 PM | Permalink

  josh smith is the best dunker