Milwaukee Bucks swingman Pat Connaughton has accepted his invitation to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. He will join Dwight Howard, Aaron Gordon, and Derrick Jones Jr. — the other three players who have already committed to the event.
Connaughton is the only one our of the four with guard nomination, making this a big-man-heavy competition of high-flyers.
The Bucks wing might not be one of the most recognizable names in the contest, but he certainly has the ups to prove he belongs. The 6-foot-5 role player has a 44-inch vertical, which he has showcased in different opportunities in his career.
This come-out-of-nowhere stick-back dunk with the left hand is one of the most impressive of his NBA reel, slamming home a Khris Middleton miss with effortless ups:
Connaughton is no stranger to this level of competition, as he did it for kicks during his time at Notre Dame.
The Bucks guard might be known for his shooting, but the guard can throw down when given the opportunity — making him a potential dark-horse pick among a former Dunk Contest winner in Howard, a skywalking Jones, and the crowd favorite in Gordon.
Here's a clip of a windmill and a 360 windmill dunk he threw down while he was still in high school before he started his career at Notre Dame:
The Bucks wing will have a shot at taking home the trophy, should he impress enough in the earlier rounds and get past the other three high-risers who will throw down in Chicago.
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