Who Should be in the NBA’s 3-Point and Slam Dunk Contests

Make sure to check out Part One below. I pick the contestants for the Shooting Stars and Skills Challenge.

Foot Locker Three-Point Contest

My favorite event of All-Star Saturday, probably because I like shooting 3’s. (I can’t lie, that is the reason it’s my favorite event.) Here’s who I’d like to see in the Three-Point Contest:

Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic. Most obvious pick because he’s from the hometown team, he’s shooting 43 percent from three and he has made 15 more 3-pointers than anyone else in the league!! It’s been a breakout year for Anderson, so he deserves a chance to shine on All-Star Weekend.

Kyle Korver, Chicago Bulls. The only reason Kyle Korver gets any playing time for one of the top teams in the NBA is because he can shoot 3’s, making him a natural fit for the 3-point contest.

Daequan Cook, Oklahoma City Thunder. In case you forgot, Cook won this competition in 2009. And Cook is shooting better this year, than he did in ’09. Cook shot 38.7 percent from 3 in the 2008-09 season, while he’s shooting 41.5 percent this year. Twenty-five games is a small sample size, but he looks great this year. Every time he shoots a 3, I expect it to go in.

Jimmer Fredette, Sacramento Kings. Despite a rough start to the his rookie campaign, a 3-point contest without the Jimmer just doesn’t seem right. On a side note, I think he looked really good against the Thunder last night. People always talk about his shooting, but I had forgotten how good a passer he was at BYU. Fredette had some fantastic passes last night including a one-handed, no-look pass from the top of the 3-point line to Chuck Hayes under the basket.

Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns. One of the most underrated shooters ever. Every one raves about his passing, but people don’t realize how good of a shooter he is. Nash is shooting 57.1 percent from the field (the best of his career) and he’s shooting 45.5 percent from three. Nash’s career 3-point percentage is an astonishing 43 percent. No wonder ESPN’s John Hollinger called Nash the best shooter of all time.

Ray Allen, Boston Celtics. While Nash may be the best overall shooter, Allen is the best 3-point shooter ever. And he’s shooting 51.5 percent from three this year, the best percentage in his career.

My Pick: Cook beats Anderson in the finals.

Sprite Slam Dunk Contest

The most glamorous (and most over-hyped?) event of All-Star Saturday, here’s my picks for the Slam Dunk Contest:

Jeremy Evans, Utah Jazz. Even though it didn’t count, this dunk was impressive. I’m not sure what I was more surprised about in this dunk: The fact that Evans dunked over 6-foot-1 Earl Watson, or that Earl Watson is still in the league. #LetJeremyDunk

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook has that rare combination of speed and power in his dunks. He gets to the rim so quick, and then his dunks remind me of Blake Griffin. Check out this one from last night. I love Kevin Harlan, Chris Webber and Reggie Miller’s reactions. And who can forget this one from when Westbrook was at UCLA.

Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers. Whether it’s destroying centers or jumping over Kia’s (Listen to Charles critique the dunk at the end of the video) Griffin is the best dunker in the game. I love all his dunks, I just wish he sold them more. He doesn’t even smile anymore when he dunks. The dunk contest is a show, so please try to act a little more excited this time.

LeBron James, Miami Heat. He said he would do it, but he still hasn’t. If he ever does decide to participate, we are in for a treat. Come on LeBron!!! Stand by your words!

Pick: James over Griffin in the finals.