The Slam Dunk Contest is a dunk contest held by the NBA during All-Star Weekend. Competitors are trying to accomplish their best dunks. In this competition, each try is scored from 6 to 10 by five judges (who are most often former players). This evaluation is made according to the effectiveness, originality, and spectacular.
Nate Robinson is the only player to have won this contest three times. Five players have won the title twice: Michael Jordan, Harold Miner, Jason Richardson, Dominique Wilkins, and Zach LaVine.
This competition is declining, and there are many reasons for this phenomenon. It no longer attracts stars; there is a more straightforward explanation: dunks are no longer fresh.
We've seen every dunk at this point—every corner of the panel, every variation of cross-the-legs, every imaginable accessory. The limits of human ingenuity have been reached in the field of dunk. Asking a player to impress a crowd four times in these circumstances successfully is unfair and unrealistic.
It is the first Cassius Stanley who opens the ball in this contest. On the first attempt, the Pacers player succeeds his rider and inherits a 44.
In the aftermath, and always from his first attempt, his counterpart of the Knicks, Obi Toppin, does better, getting a 48 after rewarding us with a sublime dunk back with both hands, having bounced the ball between his legs.
The flawless run continues as it is the turn of Anfernee Simons not to miss his first attempt, thanks to a superb two-handed dunk after he went to get the ball on the board at the level of the small white square. This allowed us to admire the Blazers' point guard's incredible vertical jump. He will get a score of 46.
Then comes Hector. It's not a lie to say he doesn't have the pressure. Like free throws in the middle of a game, this is the only time everyone is focused on one player. It's no coincidence that a player who could improve at free throws succeeds in practice but not in games. The situation is different because the public is putting pressure on it. It is the same here.
The whole world except Mexico and Sacramento sees him lose, his candidacy has intrigue, and here he is as an underdog.
The whole room is puzzled, but Hector, dressed in his Sacramento Kings jersey, must bring his team back to the top. And puts a blindfold on his face. The public is starting to go up in flames; so far, no dunk has been missed, and they don't want Hector to miss his attempt.
Hector stands from the logo in the middle of the field. After a long breath, he rushed at full speed. His speed surprised everyone, and he jumped from the free throw line, with his jumping reach making a windmill that would crash into the basket.
The room was shocked. Apart from those who defend against him in games, Hector's athleticism is relatively unknown in the NBA. Combine scouting means only some things; what worries the most is that its size precisely makes it unique.
De'Aaron Fox came to cheer on his teammate and could not believe his eyes. To them, he looked like a lesser version of Jokic. To see him dunk is to see a unicorn. But what a beautiful unicorn. It's the same for everyone.
Hector tied for a 48 with Toppin. Competitors know it won't be fun.
Come the second round. At this point, the two places in the finals will be played. The top two scores will compete on a single dunk. Hector will also be the one who comes last.
Cassius Stanley failed several times on his second attempt and eventually had to alter his plans. So he settled for a reasonably simple dunk, with support after the free throw line. Its realization earns him a score of 37. In other words, it's over for him.
Wearing a Tracy McGrady-era Raptors jersey, Anfernee Simons raises the score by converting his 360° with both hands on the first shot. Note that his choice of jersey is justified because it is precisely the same as the "T-Mac" during the "Slam Dunk Contest" of 2020. Enough to inherit a 49.
Obi Toppin jumped over two people, including his teammate, Julius Randle. To make this dunk and benefit from a 46, the rookie of the Knicks had to do it twice. But it will end up here for him because Hector will do better.
Belinda wearing a Kings jersey flocked "Herrera 26," and Hector wearing a Stanford Cardinals jersey with Belinda's number 6, took off. Belinda got into the stands and threw a lob for Hector, who, in full swing from the corner, will conclude the alley-oop with a big tomahawk.
This dunk had its risks, but several factors made it successful. It took an exceptional passer to calculate or deposit the ball with enough precision. Then Hector had to figure out when to jump and take the ball with one hand with enough power. If the dunk is not successful the first time, it is a total flop but succeeds, it is a 50. Hector logically qualifies for the final, along with Simons.
This final will be played on a single dunk without a score being assigned. Anfernee Simons allows himself to take off and gaze at the level of the circle while mimicking a kiss to slam a dunk with one hand, after a rebound, always on his first attempt.
Finally, Hector concludes this slam dunk contest with what could be considered an urban legend among basketball players. No one expected this dunk to come from him, with a Mexico jersey that he will represent during the qualifications for the Olympic Games.
The 720° dunk is a double of a 360° dunk, i.e., the player must make two complete turns on himself before performing his dunk. A highly complex action to realize that Taurian Fontenette, aka "Air Up There," and Jordan Kilganon succeeded in the early 2000s. Both are famous street ballers in the world. Seeing a guy of 2m18 do the same thing as them is absurd to the point. The irony is that Simons performed a 360°; should we consider that Hector has reached a 720° like his father?
The room is turned over, the winner is not debated, and the judges declare Hector the winner after a short deliberation. After obtaining the 5 votes of the judges, the Kings' center succeeds Derrick Jones Jr., crowned in 2020.