The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Previewing Donovan Mitchell and the Dunk Contest field

By Jared Woodcox

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the U.S. Team dunks during the Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Game during All-Star Friday Night as part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at the STAPLES Center on February 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 16: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the U.S. Team dunks during the Mtn Dew Kickstart Rising Stars Game during All-Star Friday Night as part of 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend at the STAPLES Center on February 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 11: Larry Nance Jr. #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 11, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 11: Larry Nance Jr. #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on February 11, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Larry Nance Jr.

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Height: 6’9″

Weight: 230 lbs.

Experience: Third-year pro

Larry Nance Jr. is the lone big man participating in tonight’s Dunk Contest and, man, does he ever deserve to be there! Not only is he the son of a former Dunk Contest winner, but he’s a freak athlete with insane length that allows him to throw down dunks from unfathomable distances.

Don’t believe me? Maybe the jams below will help explain what I mean:

Maybe Larry should get a defender to try and stop him in his Dunk Contest routine so that he can posterize him in similar fashion as he did in the dunks over Kevin Durant and Brook Lopez above. As the third video shows, Nance can be miles away from the jam and still find a way to throw it down.

Not to mention, although Larry Nance was recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he’s still going to have a loud contingent of loyal Lakers fans inside Staples Center tonight who absolutely loved him when he played in LA. With their support potentially giving him some added motivation, it’s completely within reason to expect that he’ll have an extra edge.

Some have counted him out due to the fact that he’s bigger and less explosive than the other three, but I would caution anybody from sleeping on Nance. He’s been a dunker extraordinaire since his college days, helping earn his University of Wyoming team the nickname “Dunktown”. Throwing it down runs in his blood and he could very well be a showstopper tonight.

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