As always, Sunday's NBA Slam Dunk Contest did not end without controversy. This has become somewhat of a norm for the annual dunking exhibition, and 2021 was no different. For his part, former Dunk Contest champ Blake Griffin, who himself recently signed with the Brooklyn Nets, has weighed in on the debate surrounding Cassius Stanley's controversial dunk scores.
Griffin had a bit to say about the Dunk Contest's current format, as he also called out the judges for giving the Indiana Pacers rookie a poor grade for what he believes to be an awesome dunk:
“Let them all dunk the same amount of times and put the total scores together,” the new Nets forward suggested in a recent appearance on a B/R AMA. “Don't do the rounds, because it limits the competition. Less judges too. I don't know who gave Cassius Stanley a 8 but they can't be invited back. That dunk was insane and he got a 44.”
Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers eventually came away with the 2021 Dunk Contest crown, but there are more than a few folks out there like the Nets forward who will argue that Stanley was robbed.
For what it's worth, Griffin made sure to make his feelings known about it.
Here's Stanley's dunk in question:
As Blake Griffin stated above, that was a sick dunk form Stanley. That could have easily been a 50 in any other Dunk Contest, but for some reason, the judges thought it deserved a mere 44.
Cassius Stanley ultimately finished third in the Dunk Contest, but he certainly made a name for himself with his performance. The fact that the new Nets signing in Griffin himself took note of his dunk is proof that he's way better than what the judges made it look like.
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