NBA All-Star weekend has taken some hits in its popularity and enjoyment over the years.
Gone are the days when the Saturday night events were must-see TV, but maybe things change this year in Los Angeles.
The Slam Dunk contest used to be the signature event, but we are 10 years removed from the last memorable night of aerial feats.
This year, we have all first-time participants with three-time winner Mac McLung declining to defend his title.
Spurs forward Carter Bryant is the favorite to win the dunk contest with +180 odds at bet365. Lakers center Jaxson Hayes sits at +250, Heat forward Keshad Johnson owns +325 odds and Magic guard Jase Richardson, son of two-time Slam Dunk winner Jason Richardson, is the long shot at +425.
NBA Slam Dunk odds
| Player | Betting odds |
|---|---|
| Carter Bryant | +180 |
| Jaxson Hayes | +250 |
| Keshad Johnson | +320 |
| Jase Richardson | +350 |
Handicapping a dunk contest can be tricky.
There’s a difference between good in-game dunking and contest dunking, but with all new competitors, we have to lean on the data we have.
The NBA rates every dunk that happens in a game and assigns an overall score based on several factors — vertical leap height, hang time, take-off distance etc.
Within that overall score is a jump score, power score and style score, the latter gives us the best idea of a player’s creativity.
Bryant’s highest style score was a 67.2 and I’m not sure why he’s the favorite here.
Richardson has three total dunks this season and his best style score was a 25. Jaxson Hayes is one of five players with a 100 style score this season for a between-the-legs dunk on a fast break.
My bet, however, is Johnson to make the final.
For one, big men tend to have less of a bag in these competitions and you don’t get extra credit for being tall. I’m almost certain Hayes will go between the legs, but beyond that I’m skeptical that he has anything else.
Betting on the NBA?
Johnson has just nine dunks this season, but two of them have a score above 80 and he has the farthest take-off distance on a dunk of anyone in the field.
He’s 6-foot-6, which makes him tall enough to soar above the rim but not too tall to make it look easy.
The lack of tape on him also makes me question if he has enough tricks to pull off four great dunks, but I think he has enough to get to the final round.
The Pick: Keshad Johnson to make the final (+125, bet365)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.