NBA All-Star Dunk Contest: NBA Will Let Paul George Fly In Orlando!

by Tom Lewis on Feb 16, 2012 10:30 AM EST in Indiana Pacers News

Let PG fly!

According to Marc Stein, Indiana Pacers guard Paul George will be one of four contestants to compete in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in Orlando.

Sources with knowledge of the league's plans told ESPN.com that Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert -- one of four dunk-contest entrants alongside Houston Rockets forward Chase Budinger, Indiana Pacers swingman Paul George and Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Derrick Williams -- will be enlisting Lin to "assist" him in a manner similar to the help 2011 champion Blake Griffin got from then-Los Angeles Clippers teammate Baron Davis.

PG is already slated to play in the Rising Star Challenge on Friday night with other rookies and second-year players, so he will have a busy weekend by stepping into the spotlight of the dunk contest. George was hoping to be selected and has been planning dunk options. Should be interesting to see if has Roy Hibbert give him an assist as a 7'2" prop to jump over.

Now let's hope PG and the Pacers celebrate his selection with a win tonight.

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Comments

So with Linsanity "assisting" Shumpert

that means Shumpert’s automatically at least in the final. Only reason Shumpert’s in it is so they could get Lin involved somehow. I think Budinger’ll surprise some people. PG really does seem like by far the most creative though, Williams is more of an explosion power guy.

"He's like Darth Vader." - Frank Vogel on Larry Bird

by IndyPacers on Feb 16, 2012 10:41 AM EST reply actions

Not only did they have to involve Shumpert to get Lin face time...

…They apparently had to cherry pick Lin into some other All-Star weekend BS festivity so he could “officially” assist Shumpert somehow. I didn’t know that was the case, but that’s how the ESPN article reads. If so, this is shameless. While I don’t put it past the NBA to rig stuff (they do that), I don’t think it’s ever been so obvious.

"You're hitting the wrong person. Don't you know you're hitting Ron Artest?"

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by LukeNukem on Feb 16, 2012 12:28 PM EST up reply actions

Shumpert is a great athlete

I know what you’re saying about the NBA marketing blah blah, and I’ve heard the same about Williams being more athletic. Let’s just hope P-Wing George gets up there and throws down with vengeance.

by hammond on Feb 16, 2012 4:44 PM EST up reply actions