Before the NBA's All-Star Saturday events, the NBA D-League held its All-Star Game and additional events, including a halftime dunk contest that was easily big-league material, if not better. You can thank @crabdribbles, who is an excellent and worthwhile Twitter follow, for capturing the best dunks. Some favorites:
Giannis Antetokounmpo served as a jumping obstacle for his springy little brother, Thanasis:
(Greek Freak Nation, y'all.)
The Antetokounmpo's are the best pic.twitter.com/xjNacPbta3
— The Traveling Crab (@crabdribbles) February 15, 2014
Darren White's second dunk was pretty filthy https://t.co/TJW2YyJhG7
— The Traveling Crab (@crabdribbles) February 15, 2014
HIGHER
Those last two by Tony Mitchell gave him the victory -- his second straight dunk contest crown -- over Ra'Shad James. A little clarification there: There are two people named Tony Mitchell in the D-League and both are on the Fort Wayne Mad Ants because the Fort Wayne Mad Ants just invite headaches, apparently.
WAIT, BOTH NORTH TEXAS TONY MITCHELL AND ALABAMA TONY MITCHELL ENDED UP ON THE SAME D-LEAGUE TEAM?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/3L17ae6iEB
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger_sherman) February 15, 2014
The bigger Tony Mitchell went to North Texas and spends his stints in Fort Wayne on assignment from the Detroit Pistons, who own his rights. He is also a great dunker. He does not, as the roster suggests, wear "(NBA)" appended to the name on the back of his jersey.
This, however, is the smaller Tony Mitchell, who went to Alabama and, though he is one of Fort Wayne's top scorers, is not currently under contract with an NBA team. Good job, Tony the Lesser. Good job, D-League.
Update: Better video of all this stuff can be found here.