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LaVine, Drummond, Gordon, Barton in Dunk Contest

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Updated2 hours ago on April 19, 2024

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The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Zach LaVine will defend his title in 2016 Verizon Slam Dunk at Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Saturday, Feb. 13.  LaVine, who won the NBA’s signature above-the-rim showcase in spectacular fashion as a 19-year-old rookie last year, is joined by three first-time competitors: Will Barton of the Denver Nuggets, 2016 NBA All-Star Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons and Aaron Gordon of the Orlando Magic.

Verizon Slam Dunk is part of State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, which will be exclusively televised by TNT in the U.S. at 7:30 p.m. ET.  This marks Turner Sports’ 31st year of NBA All-Star coverage.  Sportsnet and TSN will simulcast Verizon Slam Dunk in Canada.

LaVine is seeking to join Michael Jordan (1987-88), Jason Richardson (2002-03) and Nate Robinson (2009-10) as the only solo back-to-back winners of the dunk contest.

The field was first reported by Chris Haynes of cleveland.com and later confirmed by an NBA press release.