Well the 2012 Slam Dunk Contest participants were announced.
Defending champion Blake Griffin passed on returning, leaving a lackluster field of New York’s Iman Shumpert, Paul George of Indiana, rookie Derrick Williams of Minnesota and Houston’s Chase Budinger.
The league announced Thursday that there no longer will be judges in the event, which also will be reduced to one round. Each contestant will execute three dunks. Fans will determine the champion by voting on NBA.com, Twitter or through text messaging.
The format in recent years was two rounds, with a panel of judges voting on the first round before fan voting in the second.
So in honor of Chase Budinger, I bring to you the all-time slam dunk contest whiteys! BTW I know guys like Doug Christie were in it, just going to put full 100% white guys in here, mixed fellows are going to fall under the black dunker category.
First my mission is to find the first white guy to ever participate. Hellooo Wikipedia. The most difficult part of this is the names I don’t know…is it racist to go through the process of saying, “Well, that name sounds white” and google-ing it? Yes, it probably is. Wiki keep things in alphabetical order on the list so will I, starting with Chris Anderson!
Chris was in it 04 and 05. In 2004 Chris put on a show, a nice tribute to white dunkers everwhere, all while looking like mad max. In 2005 the man formally known as Christ Anderson, now Birdman fell quite short. Taking numerous attempts to just dunk the basketball, Anderson was never seen or heard from again.
Next! Ladies and Gentlemen I give to you: Mr. Brent Barry! Warm up jacket and all, Barry dominated the 1996 dunk contest, winning it all
Now back to 1987 and Tom Chambers, here’s a video of Chambers posterizing Mark Jackson. Sadly Chambers was up against Jordan that year….
Here’s Rex Chapman who was in it 1990 and 1991. Not bad at all.
For a more recent participant, look no further than Rudy Fernandez in 2009. Not technically white but i’m counting it.
After going through many names..I finally reach Bob Sura! 1997 slam dunk participant! Sura finished 5th, but bleached hair and all lost to Kobe, skip to 1:40 in the video to watch Sura.
And that’s the list! Now here’s Chase Budinger with his dunks, enjoy!
By Ben Simpson