Jericho Sims joins slam dunk contest, Joachim Noah picks Quentin Grimes for Rising Stars tournament
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant finally got his wish as New York Knicks high jump center Jericho Sims was invited at the last minute to join the slam dunk contest during the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend in Utah later this month.
Sims will replace rookie Shedon Sharp of the Portland Trail Blazers, who dropped out of contention to focus on the second half of the season, according to The Athletic.
Morant pushed for Sims’ inclusion with a tweet last month.
Sims leads the league in one-mile dunk field goal percentage after the Knicks won 102-98 against the Magic in Orlando on Tuesday night. Sims who are 6-foot-10 hit the 64th percentile, with 56 successful dunks in 43 games. Detroit’s rookie center Jalen Duren is a distant second with a success rate of 44 percent.
Sims has turned heads since he recorded a 44.5-inch max vertical jump at the NBA Draft Combine and his viral dunk video during Klutch Sports Pro Day.
Sims is hoping Nick will become the second in a row to win the event after teammate Obi Tobin last year.
Crowding Sims in the event are Houston Rockets’ KJ Martin, New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III, and Delaware Blue Coats’ Mac McClung of the G League.
Meanwhile, former Knicks center Quentin Grimes and Tom Thibodeau favorite Joaquim Noah have been named to his NBA Rising Stars team.
Grimes joins quarterback Joachim’s squad that includes Trio Doreen, Cleveland’s Evan Mobley, Oklahoma City’s Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Williams and San Antonio’s Jeremy Suchan.
The Rising Stars will feature a four-team, three-match mini-tournament. Each game will be played to the final goal score.
Grimes and Joachim’s team will face off against teams coached by other NBA legends Deron Williams, Pau Gasol and Jason Terry, who will handle a G-League pick.
Grimes averages career-highs across the board (10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 30.5 minutes) for the Knicks in a starting role this season.
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