2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Odds and Best Bet
- Indiana Pacers guard Cassius Stanley is the favorite to win at -110
- Should Anfernee Simons really be +400 with only three participants in the contest?
- Check out our predictions below on who the best bet is for the 2021 Slam Dunk Contest
The 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta will be a little different this year.
Instead of the traditional weekend of events, all of the All-Star festivities will be held on the same day of the game. With the new format, the dunk contest will be held at halftime of the all-star game.
Given the limited window for the event, this year’s contest will feature only three participants. Obi Toppin of the Knicks, Cassius Stanley of the Pacers and Anfernee Simons of the Trail Blazers round out the field. None of them have ever participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest before.
The judges for the contest will be comprised of all former winners which sweetens the pot a little. Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown, Jason Richardson, Josh Smith and Spud Webb make up the panel, so the contestants will have to bring their “A” game to impress.
Odds to Win 2021 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
| Contestant | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cassius Stanley | -110 |
| Obi Toppin | +188 |
| Anfernee Simons | +400 |
Odds as of March 5th at William Hill
Ain’t No Stoppin’ Obi Toppin
At 6’8″, Obi Toppin is the biggest player in the field. He was drafted eighth overall by the New York Knicks out of Dayton in the 2020 draft. He doesn’t have much to go on dunk wise in his pro career being that he has missed time this season, but if his college tape is any indication, he could put on a show.
Where Toppin will do well is with the “power dunks”. His dad is actually Obadiah Toppin, known on the streets as “Dunkers Delight”, so he has the pedigree to make noise in this event.
Based on recent comments by Toppin, he may to bring back some old dunks as well as mixing in some we’ve never seen. At +188, he is an intriguing bet this Sunday.
Anfernee Simmons Can Get Up Off the Floor
One look at Simons’ highlight reel and it’s obvious why he got the invite to this year’s contest. The Edgewater High School product was a first-round pick back in 2018 by the Trail Blazers, and has already dropped a couple eyebrow-raising dunks in the NBA.
Listed at 6’3″, he is the smallest player in the contest this season, but that didn’t stop him from baptizing Meyers Leonard last season.
Given that we have Dee Brown and Spud Webb on the panel, Simons has guys that will lobby for the “little guy”. Simons grew up in the Orlando area watching Tracy McGrady and Dwight Howard, so he has the influence bettors will need. He also plays in Portland with last year’s winner, Derrick Jones Jr., which can only help his chances on Sunday.
Don’t Sleep on Cassius
Cassius Stanley may have been a second round pick in the 2020 draft but he is a first class dunker. At 6’5″ he has the size to pull off power dunks but the finesse to pull off the acrobatic stuff. If his college tape is any indication, we could see a few really nasty dunks at halftime on Sunday.
Stanley will be the first two-way player to participate in this event which could take bettors down a narrative street approach. He currently plays for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the G-League but is still eligible to compete in the contest. The big draw for Simons is that he has a 44′ max vertical which is the third-highest ever recorded at the pre-draft combine.
The Pick
Obviously the sportsbooks like Stanley to take home the title on Sunday, as he is priced at -110. Given that he can get the sympathetic vote for being a G-League guy and the fact that he can throw down, he is not a bad bet. Candace Parker and Shaquille O’Neal both picked him to win – which is quite the endorsement.
🗣 REAL ONES KNOW@Candace_Parker and @SHAQ both picking @cassius_stanley to bring home the hardware 🏆 pic.twitter.com/QfJmhfMCPq
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) March 3, 2021
Even with the love for Stanley from the TNT analysts, Simons seems to be the guy to bet. Sometimes the “little guy” with the big odds is the way to go and this may be one of those times. If Simons can pull off Vince Carter’s ball between the legs dunk at 6’3″, it should propel him to this year’s title.
- The pick: Anfernee Simons (+400)
John has spent the past 20+ years betting sports on a daily basis and is considered by many to be a walking sports betting encyclopedia. From obscure player props to sides and totals, if there is an angle, John will find it.
