It’s about time: Derrick Jones Jr. accepts invitation to Slam Dunk Contest, per report
It’s about time: Derrick Jones Jr. has finally been invited to the Slam Dunk Contest and accepted the invitation.
Jones will be one of four players competing in the contest, The Athletic reported Wednesday. As of Monday, Jones said he had not yet been invited to participate in the event, which will be held next month as part of NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
This will be the second time Jones competes in the event and the first time since he joined the Miami Heat last season. Jones also competed in the Dunk Contest as a rookie with the Phoenix Suns in 2017. He was the runner-up in the contest to Glenn Robinson III, who was then with the Indiana Pacers.
Jones was a virtual nobody last time he was in the contest, though. He was undrafted rookie spending most of his time playing in the NBA G League, which was then the NBA Development League. The Suns waived Jones in 2017, and the Heat signed him to a two-way contract. He has since turned into an important rotation piece for Miami (30-13) and has started 16 games the last two seasons since signing a standard contract in 2018.
The forward is the second player to commit to participating in the contest. Dwight Howard, who has participated three other times from 2007 to 2009 and won in 2008, officially announced his participation Tuesday.
Jones will be just the third Heat player to compete in the Dunk Contest and the first since 1995. Harold Miner won in 1993 and 1995, and Billy Thompson participated in 1990. Jones was a contender to compete in 2019 before an ill-time injury kept him from landing an invitation.
The 22-year-old is in the midst of a career year, averaging career bests with 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 24.1 minutes per game, entering Wednesday. His 41 dunks this season are tied for 41st most in the NBA.
Swingman Duncan Robinson, who is rumored to be under heavy consideration for a spot in the NBA Three-Point Contest, has still not received an invitation, a source said.
