2025 Slam Dunk Contest field set: Mac McClung, Stephon Castle, Matas Buzelis, Andre Jackson Jr.
Source: x.com
What's the buzz on Twitter?
Chicago Bulls Open for Business, Matas Buzelis Untouchable sportando.basketball/en/chicago-bul… - 10:24 AM
Starting tonight in LA County:
Bucks: Damian Lillard/Andre Jackson Jr./Taurean Prince/Giannis Antetokounmpo/Brook Lopez
Clippers: James Harden/Norman Powell/Derrick Jones Jr./Kawhi Leonard/Ivica Zubac - 10:02 PM
Paul George just put Matas Buzelis on skates at the perimeter, then drew a foul off him at the rim. Rookie getting taken to class by one of his favorite players. - 8:31 PM
Matas Buzelis ranks 12.7 minutes per game but his team ranks in blocks is 1st and dunks is 2nd (behind LaVine) - 8:30 PM
17 points for Stephon Castle with 10 paint points. He threw down the 2-handed dunk by bringing the ball behind his head in the air over Sheppard.
Spurs though are just trading baskets with Pacers early in 4th, leading to a Pacers 16-point lead - 2:05 PM
The Spurs have quickly cut the Pacers' 17 point lead down to 7 points.
The rook Stephon Castle and the vet Harrison Barnes leading the way.
Barnes with 7 points in the quarter and now a team high 18.
Castle with 12 points, being very aggressive attacking the basket. - 1:35 PM
More on this storyline
“They targeted [Buzelis] right away, right when he got in the game,” Donovan said. “Wiggins went right at him, and that’s a great learning experience for him because what you’re seeing now in the NBA a lot is they’re taking starters and staggering them and putting them in second units, and it’s going to be matchups that he’s got to learn and grow from. “Even though that was a two- or three-minute stint, I think that’s valuable for him. He’s got to understand it can’t be OK.” -via Chicago Sun-Times / January 26, 2025
Entering the game Saturday, Buzelis was 31st among rookies, averaging 12.7 minutes. Coach Billy Donovan says Buzelis isn’t equipped to handle 30 minutes a night right now. Take the game against Golden State, for example. As soon as Buzelis checked in, the Warriors ran flex action to get Buzelis on Andrew Wiggins in the post. Because of his strength advantage, Wiggins comfortably got to the middle of the lane for a turnaround hook shot and drew enough contact for a foul. -via Chicago Sun-Times / January 26, 2025
Besides rookie Matas Buzelis – not that he’s completely untouchable – Karnisovas would be willing to part with anyone on the roster if they felt it would make the Bulls a better product long term and help them keep the 2025 top-10 protected draft pick. A source reiterated that Karnisovas has come down on what teams felt were unrealistic asks from earlier in the season, but that still doesn’t mean the executive is willing to just give guys away. -via Chicago Sun-Times / January 26, 2025
Shams Charania: Milwaukee Bucks forward Andre Jackson Jr. has committed to the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, sources tell ESPN. Jackson, a 2023 champion at UConn, has emerged as a Bucks starter in his second season and joins Stephon Castle and Matas Buzelis so far in dunk contest. -via x.com / January 23, 2025
Shams Charania: San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle has committed to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in the Bay Area, sources tell ESPN. -via x.com / January 20, 2025
Chris Haynes: Sources: San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle receives invite to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco. #haynesbriefs -via x.com / January 20, 2025
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: 2025 Slam Dunk Contest field set: Mac McClung, Stephon Castle, Matas Buzelis, Andre Jackson Jr.
