Lakers' Shannon Brown receiving support to be in dunk contest
Teammates, fans and other NBA players would like to see the Lakersguard participate in the All-Star weekend contest. Brown says he'swaiting until Monday to see if he's
selected.
When TNT announces Monday the participants for the 2010 NBA All-Stargame dunk contest, Lakers guard Shannon Brown said that's when he'llknow if he was selected.
Brown has had his Lakers teammates, Lakers fans and Orlando Magiccenter Dwight Howard, who won the dunk contest in 2008 and was therunner-up in 2009, all say they want to see
him in the contest that will be held Feb. 13 of All-Star weekend at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Brown has become a YouTube sensation because of his dunkingexploits, and there has been a groundswell of support on Facebookcalled "Let Shannon Dunk."
"I haven't heard nothing," Brown said. "I'm waiting until Mondaylike everybody else. I'll be just as surprised. I hope it works out."
Brown was told that with all the support he has received thisseason, and because of his dunk highlights, it seems as if he'll beselected.
Clippers guard Eric Gordon and Toronto rookie guard DeMar DeRozan, aUSC product, were told that they had to compete in the NBA All-Stardunk-in to determine participants in the
contest.
Because Brown wasn't asked to be in that contest, he was told that it was assumed that he would be in the slam dunk contest.
"I hope he makes it," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. "It would be good for him.
"Now, I don't see any need for [Cleveland's] LeBron [James] to doit. Everybody kind of wants to see him in it. If Cleveland is hostingthe game, then it's something else."
Jackson recalled the 1988 dunk contest in Chicago had plenty of bignames such as Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler and SpudWebb.
"I don't think it has the luster it had in those days," Jackson said.
"Now these guys get like three chances to make their one dunk. It'snot really like a contest. It's not like a show, like do your animaltricks and now you can leave type of
thing."
Another celebration
It's been seven months since the Lakers won the NBA title, but the spoils of success are still being felt.
The team will visit President Obama at the White House on Jan. 25, aday before the Lakers' road game against the Washington Wizards.
The Lakers went to the White House only once when they won threeconsecutive titles in the early 2000s. They haven't been there sinceJanuary 2002, seven months after beating
the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals.
"Obviously, it's an experience because you're going to see thepresident," said Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw, who was a guard onthose championship teams. "Plus, Obama
knows the game and respects the game. It's not going to be a scripted visit."
Obama called Jacksona few days after the Lakers won the championshiplast June and talked about the keys to the Lakers' success, as well ashis personal interest in the Lakers'
triangle offense, according to a brief synopsis released by the White House.
Obama, a former senator from Illinois, also told Jackson he had admired him since his days as the Chicago Bulls' coach.
