Portland Trail Blazers rookie Shaedon Sharpe will reportedly participate in the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Sharpe is the first known player to commit to the event, which will take place on Feb. 18 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He entered the NBA this season highly touted for his athleticism and ability as a dunker. He has shown both through the first half of the year.
The seventh pick is averaging 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds on 47.7% shooting from the field in 36 games this season. He is 11th in scoring among all rookies and has scored in double figures 15 times.
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Sharpe has dazzled at times on the court with Portland and is seemingly a perfect candidate to participate in the annual contest. The rest of the contestants will likely become known in the coming days now that Sharpe has committed to take part in the festivities.
New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin won the event last year after out-dunking Cole Anthony, Jalen Green and Juan Toscano-Anderson in Cleveland, Ohio. Green could be a candidate to participate again. He expressed interest in doing so after losing last year.
Voting for the All-Star Game runs through Saturday, Jan. 21.
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