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Andrew LopezESPN
Portland’s Anfernee Simons smiled when he became the first Trail Blazers player to win the NBA dunk game, which took place during the halftime of the All-Star Game in Atlanta.
Simons brought rookies Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks and Cassius Stanley of the Indiana Pacers to bring home the trophy, which Simons “” became a dream. “
Simons won the match over Toppin in the final round by a new rule called the ‘Judge’s choice’. Simons and Toppin each had one victim in the round, and instead of a score, the five judges chose a name, with Simons receiving three votes versus Toppin’s two.
“The chance to come in and be a part and win it is surreal,” Simons said.
For his last dunk, Simons started in the corner and picked up the ball. When he catches it, he jumps as high as he can and blows a kiss to the edge while being as even as possible with it. While missing to kiss the edge, he showed his vertical jump.
Simons said his goal for the last dunk was to kiss the edge, but he also wanted to make sure he did not hit his head.
“In practice, I never kissed the edge, but I was like, ‘I have to commit to it,'” Simons said. “I tried to put a mouthpiece at the last minute, but it did not fit in my mouth. I just scratched, and I’m just going to emphasize the smooch face so people know I’m at the edge and trying to kiss it. ‘
Simons said he’s about wild ideas and actively joking about the kiss-around-the-edge dunk as he discusses his plans for the game, before deciding to give it a try.
I was like, okay, ‘Let’s actually do this this time. “It was something no one had ever done before,” Simons said. “Just very unique and very creative to do. I think some people can actually do it. I think it’s going to show the judges a lot.”
On his first dunk, Simons had a mini-hoop placed on the goal with a basketball on it. He runs from the side and grabs the ball from the mini-ring – probably two feet above the edge – and dips it. His second blow was a tribute to Tracy McGrady; Simons put on a T-Mac sweater and walked off the seesaw with a 360 dunk.
Simons was introduced as ‘Slam Dunk Champion Anfernee Simons’ during his availability in the media after the game, and Simons just smiled and said, ‘Nice intro.’