Shannon Brown Leading Favorite In 2010 NBA Slam Dunk Competition

Sports News - February 12th, 2010 - Written By Bryan

Prepare for lift-off as the 2010 NBA Slam Dunk competition gets underway for All-Star weekend. Plenty of spins, windmills, between the legs, and imagery we have yet to see will be put on display, as five of the NBA's best compete for the altitude award.

L.A Laker guard Shannon Brown leads the field among betting lines according to BetUs sportsbook. Brown has been installed as a +110 favorite to take the title. Throughout the course of his career, Brown has been know for his dunking abilities, frequently putting them on display. The 6' 4" player out of Michigan state has been in the league for three seasons, and has developed a reputation for achieving vertical limits.

Following Brown in the list of favorites is New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson. Despite being on 5' 9" tall, Robinson is renowned for his creative dunking skill-set. He is a highlight reel all himself. Robinson has a vertical leap of 43.5 inches. He won the slam dunk competition back in 2006. Robinson has been established as a +200 favorite to win again.

Charlotte Bobcat forward Gerald Wallace was elected to the 2010 All-Star team in addition to competing in this year's Slam Dunk competition. Wallace finished runner-up in 2002, his second season in the NBA. He is averaging over 18 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. Wallace has been set at +300 to win the competition.

DeMar DeRozan was the ninth overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. DeRozan played college basketball for USC where he became known for his high-flying dunks. This has carried over to the NBA where DeRozan shines for the Raptors. Oddsmakers have set him as a +550 shot to win the Slam Dunk Contest, according to NBA Betting Odds.

Rounding out the contestants is L.A Clippers guard Eric Gordon. Gordon played at Indiana prior to NBA where he was the seventh pick in the 2008 draft. Gordon is second on the Clippers in scoring, averaging over 17 points per game. He is an outside chance to win the competition, sporting odds of +900.

The 2010 NBA Slam Dunk contest will be held on Saturday, February 13th. Coverage of the event will begin at 8pm Est and can be seen on TNT.