2018 NBA Slam-Dunk Contest: Betting Predictions for Each Contestant

On Saturday night, the NBA slam-dunk contest and the three-point contest unfold from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The coverage starts at 8:00pm Eastern time, and you can catch this on television on TNT or stream it using the WatchTNT app. There are only four contestants this year — and unlike the three-point contest, you have to win over the judges to take home the trophy here. Take a look at our Slam Dunk Contest betting preview for this high-flying event that always features creativity.

2018 NBA Slam-Dunk Contest: Betting Predictions for Each Contestant

Dennis Smith Jr.

• NBA Slam Dunk Contest Odds: +175

The rookie point guard for the Dallas Mavericks comes in as the favorite, with 27 dunks so far this year. He has an explosive first step and finishes his dunks with an aggressive flourish. Smith has gotten more national press than he might otherwise, with Dallas going through a rebuilding process and the Mavericks not having any representatives in the All-Star Game. Standing 6’3”, Smith has an electric vertical leap — and he has flushed down a 360-degree dunk in a game this season, leaving audiences to wonder what he will deliver in the contest.

Donovan Mitchell

• NBA Slam Dunk Contest Odds: +200

Mitchell is another rookie, putting together a terrific campaign for the Utah Jazz. He is just behind Smith with 25 dunks on the season, and he has punctuated the majority of them with a flashy attitude. His open-court windmills have brought some speculation as to the creativity he will bring to the contest. Another positive to consider is how he makes dunks that require explosive lateral movement look like a walk in the park, which also makes you curious as to how he will fare with no opposition ahead of him on the floor.

Larry Nance Jr.

• NBA Slam Dunk Contest Odds: +300

Nance is one of the newest members of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and at 6’9” he is one of the bigger competitors to enter the contest. He has 59 dunks on the season, which ranks first in this group of competitors. His father took home the trophy from the slam-dunk contest 34 years ago. Expect the fans to get into his action, because he was a part of the Los Angeles Lakers for 2 ½ seasons before Cleveland pulled off their day of dealing. It can be hard for competitors this tall to pull off creative dunks, but Nance could prove the doubters wrong.

Victor Oladipo

• NBA Slam Dunk Contest Odds: +450

Victor Oladipo has thrown down 41 dunks this season — and his whole offensive game has emerged in a terrific season. He put down a 360 against Chicago this year, and his vertical is sneaky-big. Oladipo wants to broaden his profile in the league, and walking away with this trophy would give him that opportunity. It would also give the Pacers the slam-dunk contest winner for the second straight year, as Glenn Robinson III took the hardware a year ago. All four of these competitors know how to put on a show. Nance will be playing in front of his former home crowd, and the enthusiastic response from the fans could push the judges to up his numbers somewhat. Mitchell has shown a lot of flair in many of his dunks this season and has the attitude to pull this off on the big stage. You could same the same things about Oladipo, who is looking to emerge as a star. However, I’m putting my money on the favorite, as DSJ has hung tough with the best point guards in the league this season, continuing to develop, and his dunks serve as exclamation points for his progress. I’m taking Dennis Smith Jr. at +175 to bring home this trophy.