Sites for betting like MyBookie sportsbook are offering proposition bets on the NBA All Star Taco Bell skills challenge, the JBL 3-point contest, and the Verizon slam dunk contest – all of three of which are scheduled to take place on Saturday, 18th February.
The participants in the skills challenge will be Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, New Orleans Pelicans forward/center Anthony Davis, New York Knicks forward/center Kristaps Porziņģis, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, Washington Wizards guard John Wall, and Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas. Thomas was actually last year’s runner up, defeating Emmanuel Mudiay in the quarterfinals and CJ McCollum in the semis, but losing to Karl-Anthony Towns in the finals. Cousins eliminated Davis in the first round but lost to Towns in the semifinals. This Saturday will mark Wall’s fourth appearance in the event, Thomas’s third, and Davis’s, and Cousins’s second. Embiid, Porziņģis, Hayward, and Booker will be making their debut in the skills challenge. This will be the third year that the event will be contested under a tournament format.
Sites for betting list reigning champion Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson as the favorite to win the three-point contest. In 2016 Thompson beat teammate Stephen Curry and Devin Booker with 27 points in the final round to Curry’s 23 and Booker’s 16. The toughest threat to Thompson’s crown is expected to be Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, in a microcosm of the Warriors-Cavs rivalry. Thompson is 175 of 419 from the three-point line for 41.8% this season, while Irving is 113 of 286 for 39.5 three-point percentage. Irving won the contest in 2013. The rest of the field is comprised of Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry – who was eliminated in the first round last year with 15 points but will try his luck once again –, Portland guard Trail Blazers C. J. McCollum, Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon, Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker, Los Angeles Lakers G/F Nick Young, and Dallas Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews.
Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon and Minnesota Timberwolves Tyler LaVine engaged in an epic battle in the 2016 slam dunk contest, which ended in the latter winning his second crown in a row with four consecutive perfect scores in the final round. In spite of the loss, Gordon appeared to be well at ease on that occasion, and can be expected to be even more comfortable this weekend. It will be hard for him to top himself, but then again it will also be hard for the three other guys to top him as well. Phoenix Suns forward Derrick Jones could give him a run for his money, though. NBA.com called the rookie “the best dunker you’ve never seen.” And they weren’t talking about donuts either. The other two contestants will be Indiana Pacers guard Glenn Robinson III and LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. Without LaVine in the field, though, sites for betting list Gordon as the favorite to win the 2017 slam dunk contest.
