Diallo Jumps Over Shaq, Wins Dunk Contest
Feb 16, 2019, 9:14 PM | Updated: 9:14 pm
Hamidou Diallo #6 of the Oklahoma City Thunder dunks two points against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of a NBA game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on October 21, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
(Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Oklahoma City’s Hamidou Diallo is the NBA’s slam dunk champion.
Going over Shaquille O’Neal in the first round, then getting a boost from rapper Quavo in the finale, Diallo soared to the crown by topping New York’s Dennis Smith Jr.
Diallo topped Smith 88-85 in the finale. Charlotte’s Miles Bridges and Atlanta’s John Collins went out in the first round.
OVER SHAQ‼️
ELBOW IN THE RIM‼️
🤯(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/yLWXNEXY9O
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 17, 2019
Smith leapfrogged Miami’s Dwyane Wade and took a lob from Stephen Curry to give himself a chance with his last dunk, getting a perfect score from the judges — and a round of boos from the crowd, many of whom weren’t that impressed.
That left Diallo as the night’s final participant.
Diallo pulled off a dunk that will be talked about for years in the first round — dunking over O’Neal, hanging on the rim by his elbow, then tearing open his jersey to reveal a “Superman” shirt underneath. And then he plucked the ball from Quavo as he went airborne for the dunk that sealed the title.
