Superman won’t be flying again this year.
The NBA released the list of players participating in the 2020 Slam Dunk contest on Tuesday afternoon and the reigning champion, Hamidou Diallo, is not among them.
The #ATTSlamDunk field at #NBAAllStar #StateFarmSaturday!
@pconnaughton@Double0AG@DwightHoward@TheRea1DJones pic.twitter.com/XOwTGNccsl— NBA (@NBA) February 4, 2020
Diallo won the Slam Dunk contest as a rookie in 2019, earning a perfect score for his dunk where he hurdled Shaquille O’Neal and then hung on the rim by his right elbow.
It’s that right elbow that has been an issue for Diallo this season.
The second-year guard had recently acknowledged that he’d like to defend his title but said that it depended on his health.
Diallo missed 17 games earlier this year after suffering a hyperextension injury to his right elbow during a loss to the Lakers in late November. He returned Dec. 31 against the Dallas Mavericks.
In 30 games this year, Diallo is averaging 6.6 points and shooting 44.4% from the field.
Though he’s not going to participate in the contest this year, Diallo can still throw it down.
Hami 1 :: Rim 0
😤 @hamidoudiallo 😤 pic.twitter.com/uANXfHeQaD
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 5, 2020
"Did somebody say 'dunks'?" – @hamidoudiallo 😤 pic.twitter.com/2t0fb14imR
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 25, 2020
Players participating in the Slam Dunk contest this year are Dwight Howard, who is making his return after winning the event 12 years ago in 2008, Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard Pat Connaughton, Orlando Magic power forward Aaron Gordon, and Miami Heat small forward Derrick Jones Jr.
The 2020 AT&T Dunk Contest will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. CT on TNT.