The NBA’s 2021 All-Star Game Slam Dunk Contest may have been strangely placed (in the middle of the main game) and somewhat lacking in star power, but Cassius Stanley, Obi Toppin and Anfernee Simons put on a show nonetheless. Simons looked fabulous with his Portland Trail Blazers logo and an Oregon T-shirt. He was ready to fly.
Stanley came first in the opening round and launched a windmill between his legs for an impressive score of 44 … four 9 and one 8. It was a big dunk; the judges were probably reserving space for later scores, if necessary.
Toppin was second, throwing the ball from the ground between his feet and then picking it up for a reverse jam on the other side of the hoop. He hit 48, three perfect 10’s and two 9’s.
Simons was the last in the order. An arena worker used a plastic circle to attach a ball to the top of the square on the table. Simons stood up and grabbed him with both hands, making the feat seem too easy. He won 46, with a perfect 10 and four 9’s.
The second dunk of the first round took place in the order of scoring of the first dunk.
Stanley threw the ball from the three-point hoop, caught it in the air and tried to spin it between his legs. He failed twice, then made two attempts to make the same move with a simpler catch and bury. Judges gave him 37, for a combined score of 81.
Simons wore a Tracy McGrady shirt to copy an old McGrady dunk, throwing the ball, catching it, bringing it down, turning 360 ° and then hitting hard. He scored 49 (four 10’s) for a combined score of 95, guaranteeing him a spot in the final.
Toppin brought Julius Randle and his own father, jumping on both of them (pushing Randle’s back) and spinning them home. That earned him 46 for a combined score of 94. He would face Simons in the finals.
The format of the final round changes this year. Each competitor would execute a single dunk and the judges, instead of scoring it, would simply choose a winner.
Toppin jumped about two feet into the foul line – impressive, but not revolutionary – then went to the middle of his legs for a simple blow. This left the door open for Simons.
Anfernee came sideways, skied high and did as if he were kissing the edge. He didn’t reach a foot with his lips, but he still completed the dunk with his forehead above the edge, although again diving very smoothly and without much force.
That dunk was enough to give Simons a nod over Toppin 3-2. This marked the first time that a Portland Trail Blazers player won the dunk contest.