Lake Show Life
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: Larry Nance Jr. to be in NBA Dunk Contest

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a dunk against the LA Clippers on December 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Larry Nance Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a dunk against the LA Clippers on December 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. will be participating in the 2018 Verizon Slam Dunk Contest.

The Los Angeles Lakers are co-hosting the NBA All-Star game this year with the Los Angeles Clippers. While the Clippers won’t have many representatives at the game, the Lakers will have more than enough to make up for their lack of participants.

In January, the members of the All-Star game were announced. While the Lakers didn’t have anyone named to the All-Star team, the future is bright given their representatives in the Rising Stars Game.

On Friday night in the MTN Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Game, the Lakers will have three players on Team USA. Rookies Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma will be on the squad along with Brandon Ingram. In addition to Friday night, the Lakers will be represented on Saturday night as well.

Saturday night of All-Star Weekend is a huge event. That is when the Verizon Slam Dunk Contest, JBL 3-Point Contest and Taco Bell Skills Challenge take place. This year, the Lakers will have someone in the dunk contest.

High-flying forward Larry Nance Jr. will represent the Lakers in the dunk contest. The news was shared on the Lakers official Twitter account with, none other, than some Nance Jr. dunks.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/959232465427558400

Nance Jr. is an excellent selection for the dunk contest. While he may not be a household name for the casual NBA fan, his dunk highlights have been prominent since he entered the league out of Wyoming in the 2015 NBA Draft.

His teammate, Brook Lopez, knows all too well about Nance Jr.’s ability to soar for monster dunks.

Nance Jr. will be joined by three more high-flyers in the contest. Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon and Dallas Mavericks rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. round out the field.

Nance Jr. will be the fifth Lakers play of All-Time to participate in the dunk contest. Michael Cooper was the first in 1984, the first year the contest was in existence in the NBA. Antonio Harvey took part in 1995, followed by Kobe Bryant in 1997. Shannon Brown was the last Lakers player to participate in 2010.

More from Lake Show Life

Bryant is the only one of those four to have won the contest. Nance Jr. will look to make it two next weekend.

While Nance Jr. has some big shoes to fill in terms of Lakers dunk contest history, he has some big shoes to fill in his own household. His father, Larry Nance, won the inaugural dunk contest in 1984. He participated a second time in 1985 but finished fifth.

In the 3-point contest will be Eric Gordon (Rockets), Klay Thompson (Warriors), Bradley Beal (Wizards), Paul George (Thunder), Kyle Lowry (Raptors), Devin Booker (Suns), Wayne Ellington (Heat), Tobias Harris (Clippers). Gordon is the defending champion.

Harris is the only Clippers player slated to be taking part in All-Star weekend. He is the fifth Western Conference participant because he was originally selected when with the Detroit Pistons before being apart of the trade for Blake Griffin.

Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History

Taking part in the skills competition is Spencer Dinwiddie (Nets), Joel Embiid (76ers), Al Horford (Celtics), Lauri Markkanen (Bulls), Donovan Mitchell (Jazz), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks) and Lou Williams (Clippers). Porzingis is the reigning champion.

Home/Lakers News