novelhk Chapter 372 The Slam Dunk Contest Begins!
Chapter 372 The Slam Dunk Contest Begins!
After Yang Yi finished speaking, Wang Meng continued, "We see that the players in the first individual event have already started warming up. Sister Na, is there anything you'd like to say?"
The camera then focused on the female anchor who had been standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window for a long time.
Mina, wearing a Nets women's tight-fitting jersey, is also holding a sweatshirt in her hand.
"Today's special offer is this official Nets hoodie, size 12. It's Wang Xiaowang's hoodie, originally priced at 399, but today it's on sale for a limited time at only 199. Plus, you'll have a chance to win a signed copy from Wang Xiaowang himself..."
After a brief warm-up, the first skill challenge of the day quickly began.
In a match that lasted more than 40 minutes, the Utah Jazz, playing at home, ultimately won and took home the first title.
Although the skills competition was long and tedious, the home team won just like last year, which made it less agonizing for the fans in the stadium.
After the skills competition, it's time for the three-point shooting contest.
Today's three-point contest features eight players: Tatum, Huerter, Herro, Haliburton, Hield, Lillard, Randle, and Markkanen.
In fact, the league also invited Wang Xiucheng to participate in this individual event.
After all, Wang Xiucheng's three-point shooting percentage and number of three-pointers made are among the best in the league.
In particular, his 6.5 three-pointers made per game lead Curry by nearly two.
However, Wang Xiucheng still refused to participate in the three-point contest.
Wang Xiucheng's "Increased Three-Point Shooting Percentage" and "Guaranteed Three-Point Shooting Card" only take effect during the game.
This is why Wang Xiucheng's three-point shooting percentage is ridiculously low during pre-game warm-ups.
Many people thought that Wang Xiucheng's pre-game warm-up was just random shooting.
But that was actually his true hit rate.
So if Wang Xiucheng really agrees to the league's request and participates in the three-point contest, and ends up with only seven or eight points, it would be quite embarrassing.
The Three-Point Contest title was ultimately won by Lillard.
This is also the first time a Trail Blazers player has won the Three-Point Contest.
Lillard was very happy; he was still holding the trophy tightly during the interview.
Three-pointers are, after all, Lillard's biggest weapon for survival in this league, so he naturally wants to win this championship.
However, including this year, Lillard has participated in five three-point contests.
This year, I finally achieved my goal and won the championship.
With the Three-Point Contest over, the most important and anticipated event of the day, the Slam Dunk Contest, is about to begin.
Wang Xiucheng stood up from the crowd, bumped fists with Green Shenjing and the others next to him, and then went to the field to warm up.
Although the venue is still being prepared, it won't delay the three-point warm-up.
Not only Wang Xiucheng, but the other three participants in today's dunk contest also arrived at the venue one after another.
After finishing the interview, Lillard didn't immediately return to the players' area to sit down. Instead, he turned a corner and made a special trip to Wang Xiucheng's place.
"Hey Wang, go for it, win the dunk contest!"
Lillard, still holding his trophy, spoke to Wang Xiucheng.
"Hey, congratulations." Wang Xiucheng hugged Lillard.
The two didn't waste much time talking; Lillard quickly returned to the players' area and sat down to show off his trophy to the others.
Apart from Wang Xiucheng, no other Chinese players were present at today's match.
It's not that they don't want to come, and the league won't restrict any player from coming to the All-Star game, even if you're a two-way player.
Zeng Fanbo, Yu Jiahao, and Zhang Zhenlin have been recalled to the national team to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in the sixth window.
Li Kai'er was going on vacation with her family.
A few minutes later, the area had been cleaned up.
The judging panel for the slam dunk contest has already been brought up.
The lights on site quickly went out.
Wang Xiucheng and the others went to the players' tunnel to prepare for the entrance ceremony of the dunk contest.
Compared to last year's Cainiao season, Wang Xiucheng was much more composed on site this year.
Soon, the arena lights flashed, and the host began to introduce the players participating in today's dunk contest one by one.
The first player was Sims of the Knicks.
The second one is Murphy of the Pelicans.
The third is McLong, who was invited by the league's special card this year.
As soon as McCronl appeared on stage, all the light pillars in the stadium shone on him, and the fans gave him a warm round of applause.
McCronn raised his hand in response, somewhat flattered.
When did I become so famous?
Even O'Neal stood up and applauded him.
These people have only one wish: that McCronll can unleash his full potential.
Only in this way can we get Wang Xiucheng to take things a little more seriously.
Yes, nobody thought McCronl would win the championship.
But everyone at least hopes that McCroon can put some pressure on Wang Xiucheng.
Don't be like last year, easily taking the championship without even breaking a sweat.
The entrance ceremony continued, all the lights went out, and the host's voice rang out.
"Next up is our fourth contestant, last year's champion, number 12 from the Brooklyn Nets, Wang..."
The deep, resonant sound stretched out, and suddenly all the light beams shone on Wang Xiucheng on the sidelines.
Wang Xiucheng subconsciously shielded his eyes with his hand; the light was a bit dazzling.
Wang Xiucheng stretched out his hand and waved.
The applause was enthusiastic, but it was also mixed with screams and whistles.
In the stands, flashbulbs went off everywhere.
Immediately, all the lights in the stadium were turned on, illuminating the stadium as if it were daytime.
The four exchanged brief greetings and continued warming up.
The host continued his work, introducing today's judges.
The first judge was a heavyweight figure.
Dominique Wilkins, a two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion.
Interestingly, Dominique Wilkins was drafted by the Jazz.
But Wilkins was unwilling to come to the Jazz, and in the end, the Jazz had no choice but to trade Wilkins to the Hawks.
For Jazz fans, even though Wilkins is a Hall of Famer and a 75-level player, his public image in Utah is still not good.
So as soon as the host finished introducing Wilkins, some boos rang out in the audience.
Second place goes to Jamal Crawford, a three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner who just retired last year.
The third judge, Lisa Leslie, was inducted into the Hall of Fame a year earlier than Yao Ming.
Furthermore, Leslie was the first player to dunk in the WNBA.
The fourth judge was Harold Miner, a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion.
Miner joined the league in 92, and the following year, in 1993, he won his first Slam Dunk Contest at the All-Star Game in Salt Lake City.
So, Salt Lake City can be considered his lucky city.
The fifth guest must naturally be the most important one.
That was Karl Malone, the Utah Jazz legend, nicknamed "The Mailman".
When Karl Malone's name was called, everyone, including James and Curry on the sidelines, stood up and applauded him.
Karl Malone wasn't exactly a "one-city" player; in his final year in the league, he joined the Lakers to fulfill his championship dream.
Together with Gary Payton, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant, they formed the All-Star team, hoping to win a championship.
However, things didn't go as planned, and the 40-year-old Ma Long suffered the longest injury of his career.
Although the Lakers made it to the Finals that year, Malone was injured and his performance was poor, and the Lakers eventually lost to the Pistons in the Finals.
The following year, Ma Long, unable to continue, chose to retire.
And so, the postman retired!
The host's introduction wasn't over yet.
The camera quickly panned to someone on the other side, and the host introduced, "From today onwards, the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest trophy will be named the Julius Erving Trophy. Let's welcome Mr. Julius Erving and the trophy named after him!"