Utah Jazz: Previewing Donovan Mitchell and the Dunk Contest field

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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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 11: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against the New York Knicks on February 11, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 11: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against the New York Knicks on February 11, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Victor Oladipo

Team: Indiana Pacers

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 210 lbs.

Experience: Fifth-year pro

Victor Oladipo comes in as the most experienced of the four contestants and also has appeared in a Dunk Contest before. That experience could very well give him an advantage as he knows just what’s going to stand out to fans and judges alike as he looks to put together a perfect routine.

And Victor is no stranger to receiving high recognition for his dunks as he won the Dunk of the Year award in last year’s inaugural NBA Awards with the throwdown below:

Oladipo boasts a nice combination of athleticism and explosiveness that could very well make him a fierce competitor in this contest. As you can see in the impressive compilation below, he suffers from no lack of theatrics or hops as he has put in several impressive in-game dunks even when the rim has appeared out of reach.

For some reason I’ve seen a lot of people counting Oladipo out and I really can’t understand why. Between his experience and a nice combination of flash and finesse, he may very well be the most polished dunker of the bunch. Look for him to want to come out and make a statement in a year where he’s already been turning heads right and left as the likely Most Improved Player of the Year.