Mar 16, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Utah Jazz forward Jeremy Evans (40) dunks over San Antonio Spurs forward Marco Belinelli (3) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Athleticism/Dunking: Jeremy Evans
While never more than an average-at-best bench guy during his tenure with his Jazz, Jeremy Evans still had more than his fair share of highlights. Some of this was due to being a long, lanky six-foot-nine, but more than anything, it was his freakish athleticism.
Anytime Evans was in the game, fans sat at the edge of their seats, waiting for something spectacular to happen—a ferocious hammer dunk in the open court, a tip dunk off a missed jumper, a block that landed in the third row or an alley-oop that left all of us with our eyes wide and mouths agape. They were rarely disappointed.
Think I’m wrong? Last year, Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Andrew Wiggins blew everyone away with his record 44-inch vertical, measured at P3 Sports Science in Santa Barbara, California. That record lasted all of one week, when Evans posted a 45-inch vertical leap. If that’s not athleticism, I don’t know what is.
Jeremy Evans breaks his own record at P3, touches 12'9 http://t.co/Bvz6r25BSR pic.twitter.com/Dh0dsDLY02
— Sportando (@Sportando) September 3, 2014
Evans is the only Jazz player in history to win the NBA Slam Dunk Competition. And while that’s not the greatest measuring stick in regards to in-game dunking, it’s still a window into his dunking ability—which is truly elite.
If that’s not enough, take a look at this play from 2012, where Evans sends Ronny Turiaf to the crossroads.
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