Nate Robinson is the NBA’s solely three-time slam dunk champion, and he is aware of precisely what he needs to see from contestants this 12 months. The previous level guard might be bringing followers behind the scenes this weekend because the AT&T Chief Dunk Officer.
“You simply gotta faucet into your creativity bag,” Robinson advised CBS Sports activities. “You gotta be spontaneous, you gotta catch folks off guard and check out one thing that has by no means been finished. You possibly can pay homage to the greats earlier than you, that is at all times a good suggestion to do, cannot go mistaken with that. You simply gotta add some swag, some Ric Aptitude to your dunks.”
Robinson mentioned bounce is crucial factor, which he positively noticed from the G League’s Mac McClung final 12 months when he “placed on a present” and received the title.
He hopes to see the identical power from McClung this weekend, but in addition has excessive hopes for the opposite contestants: the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, Warmth rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the Knicks’ Jacob Toppin.
The most important piece of recommendation he has for everybody is to have enjoyable but in addition are available well-prepared.
“Discover that inside baby, think about your self within the health club by your self attempting dunks,” he defined. “Deliver that swag and be able to entertain all of the greats which can be there watching you do your factor. Undoubtedly make your dunk and positively have a recreation plan getting in. Do not simply wing it, have your dunks able to go.”
Arising with one thing inventive and executing isn’t at all times simple as a result of there’s at all times the likelihood to mess up and that would stay endlessly on the web. However that is not the best way Robinson likes to method it. He mentioned it’s a must to go all in with each try.
Was Robinson ever nervous he would mess up?
“After all, however I did it anyway. Within the dunk contest it is not likely a fail, it is only a missed try,” he mentioned. “And generally it goes your approach, generally it would not. However you continue to get the chance to exit and dunk in entrance of tens of millions of followers and also you get the chance to get new followers. It is at all times enjoyable doing the dunk contest, win or lose.”
His favourite dunk he ever did, which didn’t occur in a dunk contest, was off the glass between the legs. Relating to different dunk contestants he has watched, there are a number of that come to thoughts.
One among them was Zach Lavine’s between the legs from the free throw line. One other he’ll always remember is Aaron Gordon’s under-the-legs, over the Orlando Magic mascot dunk in 2016.
“That was fairly cool,” Robinson mentioned. “That was superior as a matter of truth.”
Robinson was drafted twenty first total within the 2005 NBA Draft and spent the vast majority of his profession with the New York Knicks. He additionally performed with the Celtics, Thunder, Warriors, Bulls, Nuggets, Clippers and Pelicans. His final recreation within the NBA was within the 2015-16 season, and so much has modified since then.
“After I performed again within the day lots of people targeted on protection. Now it is prefer it has shifted. It is offense and no protection,” Robinson remarked.
“I’d’ve most likely had much more enjoyable enjoying in as we speak’s period now as a result of being a showman and scoring factors is what I did,” Robinson mentioned “… However I am pleased with how every little thing unfolded in my profession. I used to be within the NBA at a good time. Performed towards Kobe, LeBron, Iverson, so many [greats].”
Though he’s now not enjoying, Robinson remains to be having fun with the sport as we speak. He’s “a giant fan” of Kyrie Irving and thinks Victor Wembanyama would not look human in comparison with his competitors.
“You bought Luka Doncic cooking it up,” he added. “Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Ant-Man – he’s doing a fairly first rate job. Everyone within the league, it is simply enjoyable to observe.”
The 2024 AT&T Slam Dunk contest is ready for tonight on TNT. Click on right here for a full schedule of the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend.
