Anfernee Simons, the goalkeeper of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Cassius Stanley, the debutant Indiana Pacers, are expected to join the New York Knicks rookie, Obi Toppin, in the slam dunk competition, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN.
The NBA continues a recent trend to highlight some of the youngest players in the league in competition, 21-year-old Simons, competing alongside two recruits. This year’s dunk contest will take place at the All-Star Game break on March 7.
Toppin was selected with the general option no. 8 in the 2020 NBA Draft, while Stanley was selected to Duke at the end of the second round. While no rookie has yet made his mark as a dunker in the NBA this season, they both boast impressive roles from college time.
Toppin has played limited minutes with the Knicks this season. Stanley averaged 12.4 points in nine games for Pacers’ League G affiliate Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Simons is in his third season with the Blazers, averaging 8.5 points in 17.5 minutes per game this season.