It might be a little early to start rallying up support for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, but that’s not stopping Raptors Republic alumni William Lou. Over on Will’s Medium page, which you should be following regularly, Will lays out a convincing case to get Norman Powell in this year’s Slam Dunk Contest.
The case is pretty clear – Powell has a history of strong dunking performances, whether it be in official contests, warmups, or during games. Blessed with crazy hops and a seamless hangtime, Powell actually wanted to participate in the 2016 contest, which would have made a ton of sense since it was here in Toronto. But Powell was a rookie who had barely played at that point, and it’s tough to argue with the outcome, perhaps the greatest dunk contest since the Vince Carter years.
But Powell should get the shot this year. He’d follow a long line of Raptors dunkers and would be in a position to do pretty damn well, one would think. He does have two former competitors (and a champion) on the team to help him brainstorm, plus D-League dunk champion John Jordan in Mississauga if he needs additional tips. And, as Will outlines, Powell’s case is multi-faceted:
I’ve never heard any arena as loud as the ACC that night. My ears popped. I was 14 rows back in section 110 that night courtesy of a sweet connect through a longtime friend. I saw the steal, I saw Powell pull away as Paul George gave up on the play, and like 15,000 others in the the stands wearing cartoon beaver shirts, I lost my mind when he threw it down.
…Before Vince Carter, the Raptors didn’t have culture or direction. That’s why it’s nearly impossible to dethrone him as the most important Raptor of all- time. Carter was the first to define what it meant to be a Raptor.
Carter’s signature move was the dunk, and so it became a Raptors tradition.
You should go read Will’s piece, which lays out a ton of great reasons for Powell to get in the contest. The best might be that he could be there, anyway, as part of whatever they’ll call the Rookie-Sophomore game this year, if he can pick up where his 2015-16 left off.
So, as Will is begging, #LetNormDunk, and start the campaign early. Like, crazy early.
