ASW: Faried a “Rising Star”; Nuggets in the dunk contest?

February 6, 2013
by Joel

For the second consecutive season, the Denver Nuggets will not be represented in the NBA All-Star Game. While there is a strong case to be made that their two leading scorers Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson have been playing at an All-Star caliber level in 2013, dreadfully slow season starts and a talent-rich Western Conference left them far outside the bubble of serious consideration.

This does not mean, however, that Nuggets players will be completely absent from All-Star Weekend. Last week when the NBA announced the rosters for the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, Kenneth Faried received the honor of being selected to the sophomore team. While it may fall short of being named a full-fledged All-Star, this remains a fairly prestigious distinction for an NBA underclassman.

And he may just get the chance to showcase his acclaimed athleticism in an even brighter limelight.

Yesterday, Nuggets radio announcer Jason Kosmicki tweeted: “I’m hearing Faried may be in slam dunk contest.” If his sources are correct, the Manimal will have the opportunity to showcase his talent on two of the most prominent stages outside the big game itself.

Additionally, Matt Moore of CBS and Hardwood Paroxysm tweeted that JaVale McGee has expressed interest in making a second appearance: “JaVale says he would do dunk contest, has NOT been asked.”

Of course, who could forget McGee’s first dunk contest performance two years ago, in which he dunked two balls in two separate hoops and then proceeded to dunk three balls in one?

The last Denver player to enter the contest was J.R. Smith in 2009, but he failed to deliver on the high expectations Nuggets fans had going in. So the prospect of having both Kenneth and JaVale representing the Nuggets, and getting the chance to display their creativity and athleticism individually and as teammates, sounds pretty good in my book.

Stay tuned…

Posted on February 6, 2013 at 12:10 pm | filed in News | 17 Comments

17 Responses to “ASW: Faried a “Rising Star”; Nuggets in the dunk contest?”

  1. AaronCAPS says:
    February 6, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    if Faried & McGee both entered that’d be so awesome man!!! it’d be so exciting but idk who i’d go for haha. hope it happens though!

  2. Mario says:
    February 6, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    If Faried isn’t asked to be in the Slam Dunk competition, then I will lose faith in humanity…or at least in the selection committee

  3. fakename says:
    February 6, 2013 at 2:46 pm

    The most hilarious dunk contest ever is when Birdman kept failing to dunk the ball (while on meth)

  4. Kalen says:
    February 6, 2013 at 4:01 pm

    JaVale and McGee in the same dunk contest would be great for the Nuggets, and the NBA. They need stars, or at least people who generate buzz. As athletic as Jeremy Evans is, him winning does nothing for the NBA.

  5. charles romero says:
    February 6, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    Nuggets fans join my Facebook group!
    #GoNuggets
    #Bluenyellow

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/128239594016747/

  6. googergieger says:
    February 6, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Fourth Seed baby!

    Wooooooooooooooo

    hoo.

  7. Aurress20 says:
    February 7, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    Would love to see Mile High representation on All-Star weekend! It would make some of it watchable as a Nuggets fan. I’d worry that Faried wudnt have the creativity required for the dunk contest; power dunkers & gamers that posterize opponents in-game don’t always show in the dunk contest… unless u kinda sorta jump over the front bumper of a car & people just randomly go ape shit for that.

    I’d hope JaVale would bring something new to the contest. Maybe ACTUALLY dunk over a car!

  8. CJP32 says:
    February 7, 2013 at 9:25 pm

    Faried needs to turn back the clock and wear a Antonio McDyess jersey and do some power jams.

    McGee could do his best Mutombo act and block dunk attempts from the other competitors, then wag his finger.


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