Edgewater High graduate Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers won Sunday night’s slam-dunk competition during halftime of the NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta.
Simons showed off his leaping ability and creativity to beat New York’s Obi Toppin and Indiana’s Cassius Stanley in the two-round dunk contest that started off with Stanley’s spectacular slam that received a surprisingly low score.
The 6-foot-3 Simons soared, almost kissing the rim, on a powerful right-handed jam to beat Toppin in the final.
“I tried to get close enough so obviously I wouldn’t hit my head on the rim too hard,” said Simons before acknowledging he has never “actually kissed the rim” in practice.