Dunk Contest & Three-Point Shootout: Place Your Bets…

Hip-Hop and basketball go hand-in-hand just like a baby and its stroller; so for the two entities to mesh together for this upcoming All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, Arizona shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

Before you can get to the main course, which is the All-Star game tomorrow night, you first have to get passed the appetizers.

The weekend was capped off by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s (formally known as the Seattle Supersonics) Kevin Durant dropping 46 points in the Sophomore/Rookie Game last night while taking home MVP honors—as the Sophomores continue their dominance over the first-year players.

Obviously one of the most celebrated events of the three-day gala is the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, which takes place tonight.

Two out of the four participants are already Slam Dunk Champions (in Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard and the 5’8” Nate Robinson from the New York Knicks). The two other contestants trying to make sure they don’t go home with another trophy and $35,000.00 in prize money is the Denver Nuggets’ J.R. Smith (who’s replacing Rudy Gay of the Memphis Gizzlies), and the rookie from the Portland Trailblazers, Rudy Fernandez.

Not to worry though, because everyone involved will get a check regardless; the second place finisher will walk off with about $22,500.00 while third and fourth place will both pocket $16,125.00 each (talk about the rich getting richer).

The other main attraction is the Footlocker 3-Point Shootout the with Toronto Raptors’ Jason Kapono going for a three-peat, (no pun intended).

The field of those trying to knock off the long-range specialist are Mike Bibby from the Atlanta Hawks, Daequan Cook from the Miami Heat, Danny Granger from the Indiana Pacers, Rashard Lewis from the Orlando Magic, and Roger Mason (Jr.) from the San Antonio Spurs.

So place your bets, and set your DVR’s and hopefully after tonight people will have something worth talking about…