The Houston Rockets and Jaylen Green haven't had much good news for most of the season. Green is still in the doldrums, and the Rockets' current record is the worst in the league. As most of us know, the goal of this year's Rockets is not to compete for the championship, but to cultivate their own new strength in the rebuild.
Maybe today Jaylen Green's announcement of the 2022 NBA Dunk Contest is their headlines this season.
According to Shams Charania, a reporter for The Athletic, Houston Rockets rookie Jaylen Green will join Orlando Magic's Cole Anthony, Golden State Warriors' Juan Toscano-Anderson and New York Knicks' Obi Topin for the NBA 2022 Dunks Game at All-Star Weekend in Cleveland on Feb. 19.
Green, the second pick in last year's draft, has extraordinary athleticism. He was the first Houston player to play a dunk game since Chase Badinger in 2012. Steve Francis competed in two dunk contests in the early 2000s, before Kenny Smith competed in the dunk contests of the 1990–91 and 92–93 seasons, while the Rockets were the first to play in the dunk contest in 1983–1984 by Ralph Sampson. Sadly, the Rockets' players have never won this big game.
Of the 4 players who have played in the dunk contest this season, only Topin has experience in dunk competitions, and he has shown his height in dunk competitions last season. Although he eventually lost to Portland Trail Blazers Anfenni Simmons, his performance of leaping teammate Julius Randall in the dunk contest still impressed many, with many New York fans eager to see their dunk again.
While Topping is an experienced man, all eyes are on Rockets rookie Green. As a 198cm tall point guard, he often showed his potential during his rookie season. Green has averaged 14.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in 30.1 minutes this season. He missed nearly a month from a hamstring injury from the end of November to the end of December, but he appears to have made a full recovery, as evidenced by his choice to participate in this dunk contest.
Green's biggest rival in this dunk contest may be Juan Toscano Anderson from the Golden State Warriors.
In addition, Green and rookie Shin Kyung, as well as sophomore Tate, will appear in the Nova game, and despite the poor record, they still offered the Rockets three All-Star Weekend tickets.
While the days when big-name stars competed in the dunk contest seem to be long gone, the days when Michael Jordan competed with Dominic Wilkins for Grand Slams or stars like Vince Carter were a long time ago. Still, players like Simmons, Derek Jones Jr. and Hamidu Diallo have performed dazzlingly in recent years, even if they don't have the fame of the big names of the past.
All in all, the pitch this season is still very attractive because all four players are very energetic, and as rising stars, all four players want to make a name for themselves on the big stage in the league. This dunk contest will depend on the creativity and execution of the dunk, and the dunk jun believes that this will still be a wonderful dunk feast!
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