Portland Trail Blazers owner Anfernee Simons and Indiana Pacers rookie Cassius Stanley are expected to join New York Knicks rookie Obi Toppin in the dunk competition, ESPN sources Adrian Wojnarowski said on Sunday.
The NBA continues a recent trend to highlight some of the league’s youngest players in the competition, with 21-year-old Simons competing alongside two newcomers. This year’s dunk contest will take place during the All-Star Game break on March 7.
Toppin was chosen with the eighth overall choice in the 2020 NBA draft, while Stanley was chosen for Duke in the second round. While neither newcomer has yet to make his mark as an NBA dunker this season, the two feature impressive rollers highlighting their college days.
Toppin played limited minutes with the Knicks this season. Stanley averages 12.4 points in nine games for Pacers’ G League affiliate Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Simons is in his third season with the Blazers, averaging 8.5 points at 17.5 minutes per game this season.