Thunder rookie Hamidou Diallo is expected to compete in the NBA dunk contest during the 2019 All-Star weekend. He is set to replace Derrick Jones Jr. who suffered a knee injury and can no longer compete.
Diallo has shown his ability to jump multiple times this season. There’s no doubt that he is one of the more athletic guys in the league.
Hami started the season off really strong, and gained a ton of confidence. So much so that he became a fan favorite as a rookie. However, he started to struggle and lose confidence after a tough stretch of games. He has since been taken out of the rotation.
Perhaps competing in this event is exactly what Diallo needs. Performing well on that big of a stage is a sure way to build back your confidence. Not to mention, the guy might actually have a shot at winning this thing.
