Blazers Anfernee Simons Nearly Kisses Rim to Win 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Anfernee Simons did something that no other Portland Trail Blazer has ever done. He won the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest.
First, Simons had some props. He had an arena staffer put a suction cup-style stand on the backboard at the top of the painted square to hold the basketball 12-feet off the ground. Simons grabbed the ball and dunked it.
View this post on Instagram
Then, Simons broke out the old school Tracy McGrady Raptors jersey to pay homage to McGrady’s 2000 Slam Dunk Contest performance.
Anfernee Simons paid homage to T-Mac 🙌#ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/HKQO8ZygnZ
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 8, 2021
Finally, Simons nearly broke the internet. From the back, his dunk looked sort of pedestrian, but then the replay from the side showed he almost kissed the rim.
Anfernee Simons almost kissed the rim 😯#ATTSlamDunk pic.twitter.com/1BXYOP8cJS
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 8, 2021
The Slam Dunk Contest had new rules for selecting a winner after Dwyane Wade helped former Miami Heat and current Trail Blazer Derrick Jones Jr. win the contest last year over Aaron Gordon.
This year, the five judges watched both finalists — Obi Toppen and Simons — perform, and then after the dunks they all picked a winner.
Three of the five judges picked Simons, again the first ever Portland Trail Blazer to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Oh, and the Trail Blazers called it way back in 2019.
🐜🐜 Future @NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner, @anferneesimons? 🐜🐜 pic.twitter.com/IX3Z6GyyB5
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 24, 2019