Portland Trail Blazers keeper Anfernee Simons and Indiana Pacers rookie Cassie Stanley are expected to take part in New York Knicks rookie Obi Toppin’s slam dunk game, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The NBA continues with a recent trend to highlight some of the league’s younger players in the game, with 21-year-old Simons competing alongside two rookies. This year’s dunk game takes place halfway through the March 7 All-Star Game.
Toppin was selected with the overall no. 8 in the 2020 NBA draft, while Stanley was a late second-round draft pick from Duke. Although none of the rookies have made another mark in the NBA this season, both boast impressive highlights of their time at college.
Toppin has played limited minutes with the Knicks this season. Stanley averaged 12.4 points in nine games for the Pacers’ G League subsidiary Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Simons is in his third season with the Blazers and has averaged 8.5 points in 17.5 minutes per game this season.