Gordon Favored To Win Slam Dunk Contest, Jones Jr. Close Second

The NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest is the centerpiece event of All-Star Saturday, the lead-up to the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. The game returns to Chicago this year, the place where Michael Jordan gained immortality in the slam dunk contest and began to build his legend (he ended up winning it twice). One of the four players listed below won the dunk contest but will he win it again, or will one of the other three players on the board rise up to take the award? Let’s take a closer look at the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest odds.

AARON GORDON, ORLANDO MAGIC
ODDS: +125

This is going to be Gordon’s third dunk contest and he has had some special moments. He is best remembered for his epic dunk, jumping over a mascot and putting the ball under his legs before cramming the ball through the hoop, in the 2016 dunk contest. Gordon lost that dunk contest to Zach LaVine, but it is remembered as one of the very best two-man duels in the history of the dunk contest. Gordon is obviously a highly credentialed dunker and it is reasonable to say that he is the best dunker in the NBA who has not yet won the dunk contest. For that reason, he is priced in as the favorite, and he should be.

DERRICK JONES JR., MIAMI HEAT
ODDS: +200

This is the second dunk contest for Jones, which means that the occasion isn’t entirely new to him. He might be able to relax enough that he will improve upon his previous result in this event. Jones might fly under the radar given the quality of the competition here, which could settle him down and enable him to perform up to his own personal standards.

PAT CONNAUGHTON, MILWAUKEE BUCKS
ODDS: +400

This is the first dunk contest for Connaughton, who was not regarded as a high-flyer when he played college basketball at Notre Dame. Connaughton has been a moderately good role player in the NBA but hardly an overwhelmingly imposing player. His entry in this race seems odd, but maybe he will surprise everyone precisely because no one expects anything from him and he might have something to prove. Connaughton is the choice for anyone who likes to bet on athletes who might have a chip on their shoulder and a freewheeling approach to this kind of competition.

DWIGHT HOWARD, LOS ANGELES LAKERS
ODDS: +500

This is the fourth All-Star slam dunk event for the man who is the 2008 champion. Howard was a lot younger and more explosive back then, when he was coming into his own as a supreme force for the Orlando Magic, beginning to build what will eventually become a Hall of Fame career. Howard has been great for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, but mostly as a defender and a rebounder. Does he have the electric hops and the turbo-charged moves to create magic? Howard winning this event 12 years after his first championship would rate as a significant upset. Yet, Howard has already surprised to many people in and around the NBA with the quality of his season as a difference-making role player for the Lakers. Why should people write him off? He is capable of creating even more surprises in the dunk contest.

For the latest NBA basketball betting odds and props, follow BetOnline.ag on Twitter!

BetOnline.ag on Instagram–Follow for the latest odds, stats and information!