Atlanta Hawks: John Collins to Participate in Slam Dunk Contest

News broke recently that high-flying second-year big man John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks will participate in the Slam Dunk Contest.

At long last, Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins (aka John the Baptist) will participate in the NBA’s slam dunk contest during All-Star weekend per a report by Oliver Maroney. While this is long overdue, we’re glad that JC will be able to showcase his truly unreal hops among the league’s best players during the break.

Collins will be the first member of the Atlanta Hawks to participate in the dunk contest since the early days of J-Smoove’s (Josh Smith) heyday in Atlanta of 2004-06. Smith actually won the contest in his first season participating with some scintillating dunks that showcased his stellar athleticism:

For the first time in a while, the Hawks have an explosive athlete that’s on par with Smith’s ability to rock the rim.

If he performs well, Collins could join the Hawks’ greatest-ever player Dominique Wilkins and Spud Webb as the only players in Atlanta Hawks history to win the Dunk Contest. With slams like these, we think JC has a great shot:

Other than Collins, perhaps the most notable Slam Dunk Contest participant this season is an incredibly gifted rookie dunker out of Charlotte: Miles Bridges. Bridges has already produced some amazing feats of slam dunk artistry this year, including against the Hawks when he absolutely smashed this tomahawk atop the dome of Dewayne Dedmon:

Beyond that, former Slam Dunk Contest runner-up Derrick Jones Jr. will also participate in the contest.

Jones is a stringy swingman with titanic ups who produced a fairly impressive showing in the 2017 Slam Dunk Contest:

The fourth participant in the contest has yet to be unveiled, but who do you think should be included? Perhaps John Collins’s teammate and dunking legend Vince Carter should be chosen as a legacy pick? Maybe former favorites like Aaron Gordon or Zach LaVine could join the festivities?

Let us know in the comments who you’d like to see in the Slam Dunk Contest. As always, keep it locked to Soaring Down South for all your Atlanta Hawks news and updates.