Gaming

New York Knicks Heart Jericho Sims Favored in Slam Dunk Contest

Posted on: February 16, 2023, 11:34h. 

Final up to date on: February 16, 2023, 11:35h.

Extra excellent news for the New York Knicks after they went into the All-Star break with a 21-point Win in Atlanta. That moved them into sixth place within the East, exterior of the Play-in bracket.

Heart Jericho Sims, the 58th choose of the 2021 draft, has been listed because the +250 favourite to Win the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend.

The dangerous information for New Yorkers? This wager is simply obtainable throughout state strains, as a result of it’s being judged by people (well-known ones), and something voted on by people is prohibited beneath New York’s flawed sports activities playing legal guidelines. So, sure, this can be a cross-border journey for anybody who desires to put cash on the one Knicks consultant who might be in attendance at Vivent Area in Salt Lake Metropolis (a lot to the dismay of Jalen Brunson).

And sure, the child can dunk. He can get his complete head above the rim. And Knicks have gained this factor earlier than.

For The First Time, A G-League Participant is Competing

However there might be some attention-grabbing competitors, together with a man from the G-League, Mac McClung, who’s assured to be trending closely on Twitter on Saturday evening. He performs for the Delaware Blue Coats, he has spent a grand complete of 25 minutes taking part in in NBA video games, and he turned down a profitable provide from Fenerbahçe in Turkey to pursue his NBA dream popping out of Texas Tech.

The truth that he’s a white man might be a subject of debate, too, as a result of exterior of Brent Barry and Rex Chapman, there haven’t been quite a lot of white guys within the dunk contest. Again in 1996, when Barry of the Clippers gained the competition, the Related Press had some enjoyable with the subject by channeling Woody Harrelson character from the 1992 film “White Males Can’t Bounce” about two streetball hustlers, and reporting in its lead paragraph “Seems white males CAN soar.”

However light-hearted racial references have been way more frequent within the Nineties than they’re at present, so that is going to be a sensitive topic that nonetheless might be a subject of nationwide dialogue. And the actual fact of the matter is that McClung can certainly soar … and dunk. This one is fairly sick, having occurred in an precise sport.

What Ought to We Know About Matt McClung?

McClung is the +350 second selection at Unibet, which is on the market in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and 4 different states, none of which border New York. At BarstoolSports, additionally obtainable in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Sims’ odds are simply +150, Kenyon Martin Jr. of the Houston Rockets is +200, McClung is +250, and Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans is +275.

So procuring round is essential if you wish to wager this one. There are practically two dozen authorized sportsbooks in New Jersey, and the one ebook that operates in Connecticut, however not New York, Play Sugarhouse, has not but listed All-Star odds.

McClung has 821K Instagram followers, and in case you type your YouTube search outcomes for Mac McClung by view rely, you will see 22 totally different movies with no less than a million views. The second-most in style video has been watched 3.5 million occasions on the “Ballislife” channel and options the blonde-haired McClung at their All-American dunk contest in 2018.

Permitting McClung into the competition is a leap of religion for the NBA, which has tried for years to drum up curiosity within the dunk contest with quite a lot of alterations. The thought of permitting a G-League participant has been floated earlier than, however was rejected as a result of the assumption within the league workplace was that NBA gamers shedding to a minor league participant would look dangerous for the league.

However it’s taking place this yr, and it could not be a shock if in future years rivals are allowed in from the NBA-affiliated Basketball Africa League, which is ready to kick off its third season. However for now, it’s a four-man subject, with the competition starting very late Saturday evening after the abilities competitors and the 3-point contest (which we handicapped yesterday) are accomplished.

The judges are Lisa Leslie, Harold Miner, Dominique Wilkins, Jamal Crawford and this man, who did nice issues in Utah as soon as upon a time, however has been off the grid for 19 years:

Ought to We Anticipate Anti-McClung Bias?

These contests are very a lot on the mercy of the judges, and one “8” when everybody else is giving a “9” or a “10” can alter the sphere previous to the ultimate dunk-off, and even throughout it. To be truthful, one of the best wager on this one is over who should buys the subsequent spherical of drinks as you watch whereas the clock is ticking towards midnight. However we’ll go a step additional.

Obi Toppin of the Knicks gained it final yr, marking the fourth time a Knick has gained (Nate Robinson did it 3 times, and Kenny Walker gained in 1989). No one from the Rockets, Pelicans, or 76ers has ever gained … and which may be why Sims is favored. Oddsmakers need to depend on one thing when setting these strains, and previous historical past appears to be in Play right here.

However bear in mind: aptitude and showmanship are the qualities that get the gang riled up and affect the numbers the judges put up. If the gang loves McClung, he’ll Win it if the judges don’t present an anti-G-League bias. Why? As a result of his dunks are out of this world. And if he wins it, it won’t be the final we’ll hear a couple of man who may conceivably be taking part in playoff ball for the Sixers this spring.

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