The NBA All-Star Weekend's slam dunk contest is about the only thing the Atlanta NBA fan really has to feel proud of. With Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb and Josh Smith all having been crowned winners, it's pretty much all we've got. There's an Atlanta connection again this time around, but it's not a Hawks player. Former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets star Iman Shumpert will compete, along with a presumed assist at some point from superstar teammate Jeremy Lin.
The entire field:
Just going up at ESPN online: Dunk contest field is Budinger, Paul George, Shumpert and Derrick Williams. And, yes, Jeremy Lin involved, too
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 16, 2012
Shumpert has been quite overshadowed by his new backcourt mate, but Knicks blog Posting and Toasting has made sure to acknowledge both guards have played a role in New York's surge.
Shump's an exciting player, and we'll root for him, but ... do any of us think of him as one of the NBA's best dunkers? I don't think that's quite the reputation that he has. But they found away to get Lin involved, so.
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